Microsoft announces public preview of CCF Push, a new codeless connector framework that enables real-time security data delivery to Sentinel with automated setup and reduced complexity.
Microsoft has unveiled the public preview of its new Sentinel Codeless Connector Framework (CCF) Push feature, marking a significant advancement in how organizations can deliver security data to Microsoft Sentinel in real time. This innovation addresses a critical gap in the security operations landscape, where timely threat detection and response can mean the difference between a minor incident and a major breach.
The Evolution of Security Data Ingestion
Traditionally, Microsoft Sentinel connectors have operated on two primary patterns. The polling pattern requires partners and customers to expose web-facing REST API endpoints, with Sentinel periodically polling these endpoints to gather data. While effective, this approach introduces latency - security events are only captured at the polling interval, which could be minutes or even hours.
The push pattern, conversely, allows partners and customers to send data directly to a Sentinel workspace as events occur. This real-time delivery is crucial for modern security operations, but building push connectors has historically been complex and resource-intensive.
What Makes CCF Push Different?
CCF Push fundamentally reimagines the connector development process. Where traditional push connectors required manual setup of multiple Azure resources - Data Collection Endpoints (DCE), Data Collection Rules (DCR), Entra app registrations, client secrets, and RBAC assignments - CCF Push automates this entire infrastructure deployment.
When developers press "Deploy," Sentinel automatically provisions all necessary resources. This automation dramatically reduces the friction typically associated with connector development, enabling partners and customers to release integrations quickly and onboard with minimal effort.
Built on Modern Foundations
The technical architecture of CCF Push leverages Microsoft's Log Ingestion API, bringing several powerful capabilities to connector developers:
Streamlined User Experience: The entire setup process is managed through the Sentinel Solution Content Hub, providing a unified interface for connector deployment. This eliminates the need for developers to navigate multiple Azure services and configuration screens.
High Throughput Performance: CCF Push supports rapid, large-scale data ingestion, ensuring that security events reach Sentinel without delay. This is particularly critical for high-volume security sources where data velocity is essential.
Data Transformation Capabilities: Developers can transform data before ingestion, allowing them to tailor the format and content to meet specific customer requirements. This flexibility ensures that data is optimized for analysis and correlation within Sentinel.
Direct System Table Targeting: The ability to deliver data directly to system tables streamlines integration and analysis workflows, reducing the complexity of data routing and processing.
Future-Ready Architecture: The foundation supports advanced scenarios including data lake integrations and agentic AI use cases, positioning CCF Push as a long-term solution for evolving security needs.
Real-World Adoption and Impact
Several partners have already embraced CCF Push to build connectors that enhance security for mutual customers. Two notable examples demonstrate the practical value of this approach:
Keeper Security SIEM Integration: This connector streams audit logs and privileged access events from Keeper's password and secrets management platform into Sentinel. Security teams gain centralized visibility into credential usage and potential misuse, supporting Zero Trust principles and strengthening identity security across hybrid environments. The integration supports custom queries and automated playbooks, accelerating investigations and response times.
Obsidian Threat and Activity Feed: Obsidian's connector delivers deep visibility into SaaS application activity, helping security teams detect account compromise and insider threats. By streaming user behavior and configuration data into Sentinel, organizations can correlate SaaS risks with enterprise telemetry for faster investigations. Prebuilt analytics and dashboards enable proactive monitoring, while automated playbooks simplify response workflows.
Bryan Smoltz, VP of Tech Alliances at Obsidian Security, highlighted the collaborative development process: "Working with Microsoft's App Assure team was instrumental in bringing our Sentinel integration to market. Their technical guidance, cross-team coordination, and deep understanding of the CCF Push model helped us navigate a complex development and certification process with confidence."
Getting Started with CCF Push
Sentinel solution developers can begin leveraging CCF Push immediately. Microsoft provides comprehensive technical guidance and step-by-step instructions through MS Learn documentation, ensuring that developers have the resources needed to build effective connectors.
For organizations encountering challenges during development or deployment, Microsoft's App Assure program offers engineering-backed support. This dedicated team assists customers and software development companies throughout their Sentinel integration journey, streamlining the path to market and ensuring successful implementations.
Strategic Implications for Security Operations
The introduction of CCF Push represents more than just a technical enhancement - it's a strategic shift in how security data can be collected and analyzed. By reducing the complexity and time required to build connectors, Microsoft is effectively lowering the barrier to entry for security data integration.
This democratization of connector development means that organizations can more easily integrate diverse security data sources into their Sentinel environment. Whether it's specialized security tools, custom applications, or emerging threat intelligence feeds, the ability to quickly and easily build connectors enables more comprehensive security visibility.
Looking Ahead
As organizations continue to grapple with increasingly sophisticated and persistent cyber threats, the ability to collect and analyze security data in real time becomes ever more critical. CCF Push positions Microsoft Sentinel as a more flexible and accessible platform for security operations, capable of integrating data from an expanding ecosystem of security tools and services.
The public preview phase will be crucial for gathering feedback and refining the feature based on real-world usage patterns. Organizations interested in exploring CCF Push should consider reaching out to Microsoft's partner team to discuss their specific integration needs and potential use cases.
For security teams looking to enhance their threat detection and response capabilities, CCF Push offers a compelling path forward - one that combines the immediacy of real-time data delivery with the simplicity of automated infrastructure management. As the preview progresses and more partners adopt this approach, we can expect to see an expanding ecosystem of connectors that further strengthen the Microsoft Sentinel platform's ability to protect organizations in an increasingly complex threat landscape.
Contact Information: Organizations seeking assistance with CCF Push connector development can contact Microsoft Sentinel Partners at [email protected]. The App Assure team stands ready to support integration efforts and help organizations realize the full potential of real-time security data delivery.
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