Connect Data Sources to Microsoft Sentinel by using Data Connectors
In brief
The article received clearer navigation links, updated wording and formatting, and refreshed metadata. It now directs readers to connector-specific configuration guidance and identifies the connector details page for support contacts.
What Defender admins need to know
Administrators can use the updated links and navigation when configuring connectors, querying data, or finding connector support.
Summaries are generated from the documentation change itself.
Documentation change
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title: Connect data sourcesData Sources to Microsoft Sentinel by using data connectorsData Connectors
description: Learn how to connect data sources to Microsoft Sentinel using data connectors for improved threat detection.
ms.author: edbaynash
author: EdB-MSFT
ms.reviewer: krishsa
ms.topic: how-to
ms.date: 07/09/202501/2026
appliesto:
- Microsoft Sentinel in the Microsoft Defender portal
- Microsoft Sentinel in the Azure portal
ms.collection: usx-security
ai-usage: ai-assisted
ms.custom: msecd-doc-authoring-1016
#Customer intent: As a security analyst, I want to install and configure data connectors in my SIEM platform so that I can ingest and analyze data from various sources for threat detection and response.
- You must have read and write permissions on the Microsoft Sentinel workspace.
- Install the solution that includes the data connector from the Content Hub in Microsoft Sentinel. For more information, see Discover and manage Microsoft Sentinel out-of-the-box content.
Enable a data connector
After you or someone in your organization installs the solution that includes the data connector you need, configure the data connector to start ingesting data.
Follow the steps outlined in the Configurations section for your data connector.
For some connectors, find more specific configuration information in the Collect data section of the relevant connector article in
the Microsoft Sentinel documentation.Find your Microsoft Sentinel data connector.
Configure data retention and tiering
If you have onboarded to the Microsoft Sentinel data lake, you can configure data retention and tiering for the data connector. The data lake consists of an analytics tier - your current Microsoft Sentinel workspaces, and a data lake tier where you can store data for up to 12 years. For more information on onboarding, see Onboarding to Microsoft Sentinel data lake.
When you enable a connector, by default the data is sent to the analytics tier and mirrored in the data lake tier. Configure data retention in each tier or send the data only to the data lake tier. Retention and tiering are managed from the connector setup pages, or using the Table management page in the Defender portal. For more information on table management and retention, see Manage data tiers and retention in Microsoft Defender Portal.
Once you have set up your connector, configure data retention and tiering using the following steps:
:::image type="content" source="media/configure-data-connector/connector-details.png" lightbox="media/configure-data-connector/connector-details.png" alt-text="A screenshot showing a connector details page.":::
The table panel is displayed showing the current retention settings.
To configure retention, select Manage table. :::image type="content" source="media/configure-data-connector/manage-table.png" lightbox="media/configure-data-connector/manage-table.png" alt-text="A screenshot showing the manage table panel.":::
The Manage table panel is displayed, showing the current retention settings. You can change the retention settings for the analytics tier and the data lake tier. The default is to mirror the data to the data lake tier with the same retention as the analytics tier.
Under Analytics retention select the retention period for the analytics tier.
To configure the data lake tier, select a retention period from the Total retention drop-down list. :::image type="content" source="media/configure-data-connector/analytics-and-data-lake-tier.png" lightbox="media/configure-data-connector/analytics-and-data-lake-tier.png" alt-text="A screenshot showing the analytics and data lake tier options.":::
To change the tier to data lake only, select the Data lake tier and select a retention period from the Retention drop-down list. Selecting this option stops further ingestion to the analytics tier.
:::image type="content" source="media/configure-data-connector/data-lake-tier-only.png" lightbox="media/configure-data-connector/data-lake-tier-only.png" alt-text="A screenshot showing the data lake tier retention only option.":::
After you configure the data connector, it might take some time for the data to be ingested into Microsoft Sentinel. It takes 90 -to 120 minutes for data to be ingested into the data lake. When the data connector is connected, you see a summary of the data in the Data received graph, and the connectivity status of the data types.
:::image type="content" source="media/configure-data-connector/connected-data-connector.png" alt-text="Screenshot of a data connector page with status connected and graph that shows the data received.":::
After you enable the connector successfully, the connector begins to stream data to the table schemas related to the data types you configured.
In the Defender portal, query data in the Advanced hunting page, or in the Azure portal, query data in the Logs page.
Navigate to Data lake explorer ,> KQL queries to query data in the data lake. For more information, see KQL and the Microsoft Sentinel data lake.
Find support for a data connector
Both Microsoft and other organizations author Microsoft Sentinel data connectors. Find the support contact from dataon the connector's details page in Microsoft Sentinel.
In the Microsoft Sentinel Data connectors page, select the relevant connector.
To access support and maintenance for the connector, use the support contact link in the Supported by field on the side panel for the connector.
:::image type="content" source="media/configure-data-connector/support.png" alt-text="Screenshot showing the Supported by field for a data connector in Microsoft Sentinel." lightbox="media/configure-data-connector/support.png":::
Related content
For more information about solutions and data connectors in Microsoft Sentinel, see the following articles.
@@ -1,15 +1,17 @@ ----title: Connect data sources to Microsoft Sentinel by using data connectors+title: Connect Data Sources to Microsoft Sentinel by using Data Connectors description: Learn how to connect data sources to Microsoft Sentinel using data connectors for improved threat detection. ms.author: edbaynash author: EdB-MSFT ms.reviewer: krishsa ms.topic: how-to-ms.date: 07/09/2025+ms.date: 07/01/2026 appliesto: - Microsoft Sentinel in the Microsoft Defender portal - Microsoft Sentinel in the Azure portal ms.collection: usx-security+ai-usage: ai-assisted+ms.custom: msecd-doc-authoring-1016 #Customer intent: As a security analyst, I want to install and configure data connectors in my SIEM platform so that I can ingest and analyze data from various sources for threat detection and response.@@ -33,7 +35,6 @@ Before you begin, make sure you have the appropriate access and you or someone i - You must have read and write permissions on the Microsoft Sentinel workspace. - Install the solution that includes the data connector from the **Content Hub** in Microsoft Sentinel. For more information, see [Discover and manage Microsoft Sentinel out-of-the-box content](sentinel-solutions-deploy.md). - ## Enable a data connector After you or someone in your organization installs the solution that includes the data connector you need, configure the data connector to start ingesting data.@@ -54,16 +55,16 @@ After you or someone in your organization installs the solution that includes th 1. Follow the steps outlined in the **Configurations** section for your data connector. - For some connectors, find more specific configuration information in the **Collect data** section in the Microsoft Sentinel documentation.+ For some connectors, find more specific configuration information in the **Collect data** section of the relevant connector article in [Find your Microsoft Sentinel data connector](data-connectors-reference.md). - [Connect Microsoft Sentinel to Azure, Windows, Microsoft, and Amazon services](connect-azure-windows-microsoft-services.md) - [Data connector prerequisites](data-connectors-reference.md#windows-security-events-via-ama) ### Configure data retention and tiering- -If you have onboarded to the Microsoft Sentinel data lake, you can configure data retention and tiering for the data connector. The data lake consists of an analytics tier - your current Microsoft Sentinel workspaces, and a data lake tier where you can store data for up to 12 years. For more information on onboarding, see [Onboarding to Microsoft Sentinel data lake](datalake/sentinel-lake-onboarding.md). -When you enable a connector, by default the data is sent to the analytics tier and mirrored in the data lake tier. Configure data retention in each tier or send the data only to the data lake tier. Retention and tiering are managed from the connector setup pages, or using the **Table management** page in the Defender portal. For more information on table management and retention, see [Manage data tiers and retention in Microsoft Defender Portal](manage-data-overview.md). +If you have onboarded to the Microsoft Sentinel data lake, you can configure data retention and tiering for the data connector. The data lake consists of an analytics tier - your current Microsoft Sentinel workspaces, and a data lake tier where you can store data for up to 12 years. For more information on onboarding, see [Onboarding to Microsoft Sentinel data lake](datalake/sentinel-lake-onboarding.md).++When you enable a connector, by default the data is sent to the analytics tier and mirrored in the data lake tier. Configure data retention in each tier or send the data only to the data lake tier. Retention and tiering are managed from the connector setup pages, or using the **Table management** page in the Defender portal. For more information on table management and retention, see [Manage data tiers and retention in Microsoft Defender Portal](manage-data-overview.md). Once you have set up your connector, configure data retention and tiering using the following steps: @@ -71,13 +72,13 @@ Once you have set up your connector, configure data retention and tiering using :::image type="content" source="media/configure-data-connector/connector-details.png" lightbox="media/configure-data-connector/connector-details.png" alt-text="A screenshot showing a connector details page."::: -1. The table panel is displayed showing the current retention settings. +1. The table panel is displayed showing the current retention settings. 1. To configure retention, select **Manage table**. :::image type="content" source="media/configure-data-connector/manage-table.png" lightbox="media/configure-data-connector/manage-table.png" alt-text="A screenshot showing the manage table panel."::: -1. The **Manage table** panel is displayed, showing the current retention settings. You can change the retention settings for the analytics tier and the data lake tier. The default is to mirror the data to the data lake tier with the same retention as the analytics tier. -1. Under **Analytics retention** select the retention period for the analytics tier. -1. To configure the data lake tier, select a retention period from the **Total retention** drop-down list. +1. The **Manage table** panel is displayed, showing the current retention settings. You can change the retention settings for the analytics tier and the data lake tier. The default is to mirror the data to the data lake tier with the same retention as the analytics tier.+1. Under **Analytics retention** select the retention period for the analytics tier.+1. To configure the data lake tier, select a retention period from the **Total retention** drop-down list. :::image type="content" source="media/configure-data-connector/analytics-and-data-lake-tier.png" lightbox="media/configure-data-connector/analytics-and-data-lake-tier.png" alt-text="A screenshot showing the analytics and data lake tier options."::: 1. To change the tier to data lake only, select the **Data lake tier** and select a retention period from the **Retention** drop-down list. Selecting this option stops further ingestion to the analytics tier.@@ -86,8 +87,7 @@ Once you have set up your connector, configure data retention and tiering using :::image type="content" source="media/configure-data-connector/data-lake-tier-only.png" lightbox="media/configure-data-connector/data-lake-tier-only.png" alt-text="A screenshot showing the data lake tier retention only option."::: --After you configure the data connector, it might take some time for the data to be ingested into Microsoft Sentinel. It takes 90 - 120 minutes for data to be ingested into the data lake. When the data connector is connected, you see a summary of the data in the **Data received** graph, and the connectivity status of the data types. +After you configure the data connector, it might take some time for the data to be ingested into Microsoft Sentinel. It takes 90 to 120 minutes for data to be ingested into the data lake. When the data connector is connected, you see a summary of the data in the **Data received** graph, and the connectivity status of the data types. :::image type="content" source="media/configure-data-connector/connected-data-connector.png" alt-text="Screenshot of a data connector page with status connected and graph that shows the data received."::: @@ -101,15 +101,16 @@ After you configure the data connector, it might take some time for the data to After you enable the connector successfully, the connector begins to stream data to the table schemas related to the data types you configured. -In the Defender portal, query data in the **Advanced hunting** page, or in the Azure portal, query data in the **Logs** page. -Navigate to **Data lake explorer** , **KQL queries** to query data in the data lake. For more information, see [KQL and the Microsoft Sentinel data lake](datalake/kql-overview.md).+In the Defender portal, query data in the **Advanced hunting** page, or in the Azure portal, query data in the **Logs** page.++Navigate to **Data lake explorer** > **KQL queries** to query data in the data lake. For more information, see [KQL and the Microsoft Sentinel data lake](datalake/kql-overview.md). ## Find support for a data connector -Both Microsoft and other organizations author Microsoft Sentinel data connectors. Find the support contact from data connector page in Microsoft Sentinel.+Both Microsoft and other organizations author Microsoft Sentinel data connectors. Find the support contact on the connector's details page in Microsoft Sentinel. 1. In the Microsoft Sentinel **Data connectors** page, select the relevant connector.-1. To access support and maintenance for the connector, use the support contact link in the **Supported by** field on the side panel for the connector. +1. To access support and maintenance for the connector, use the support contact link in the **Supported by** field on the side panel for the connector. :::image type="content" source="media/configure-data-connector/support.png" alt-text="Screenshot showing the Supported by field for a data connector in Microsoft Sentinel." lightbox="media/configure-data-connector/support.png"::: @@ -117,8 +118,6 @@ For more information, see [Data connector support](connect-data-sources.md#data- ## Related content -For more information about solutions and data connectors in Microsoft Sentinel, see the following articles.- - [Microsoft Sentinel data connectors](connect-data-sources.md) - [Find your Microsoft Sentinel data connector](data-connectors-reference.md) - [Connect Microsoft Sentinel to Azure, Windows, Microsoft, and Amazon services](connect-azure-windows-microsoft-services.md) 