Who has the authority to delete an investigation in Splunk Enterprise Security?

The ability to delete an investigation in Splunk Enterprise Security is a critical function that ensures the integrity and security of the investigation process. Only users with the ess_admin role possess the authority to delete investigations. This restriction is in place to prevent unauthorized changes that could affect the continuity and transparency of security operations.

The ess_admin role is designed specifically for users who manage security events, investigations, and their statuses. This level of access is essential in maintaining strict oversight over sensitive investigations, where unnecessary deletions could result in loss of important data and hinder the organization's ability to respond to security incidents effectively.

In contrast, users with admin privileges, while having significant authority, may not be directly aligned with security event management, allowing for a higher risk of misuse. Security analysts, despite their operational role, typically do not have privileges to delete investigations to ensure that investigations are preserved for auditing and compliance. Users with editing rights, while they may be able to modify various elements within Splunk, do not extend that level of access to critical actions such as deletion, reinforcing the principle of least privilege in security operations.