The Splunk Core User Study Companion

Splunk is a software technology for monitoring, searching, analyzing, and visualizing machine-generated data in real time. This book, divided into three modules, is structured to help readers prepare for Splunk certification exams.

The first module focuses on the Splunk Core Certified User and Power User exams. It covers Splunk installation across operating systems, license management, and user role configuration. Readers will learn the Splunk Processing Language (SPL) to create search queries, extract fields, and handle complex data formats like JSON and XML. Topics also include creating field aliases, macros, and event tags; using lookups to enrich data; setting up alerts; building data models; and designing advanced dashboards for presenting insights.

The second module prepares readers for the Splunk Enterprise Certified Admin exam through four chapters on essential administrative tasks. These include managing Splunk licenses, configuring the Splunk Forwarder for efficient data collection, and setting up indexer clusters for redundancy and high availability. The module also explores security best practices, advanced data input options, and troubleshooting tools like btool for managing .conf files. This section equips readers with the skills to optimize and secure Splunk environments.

The third module builds on the Architect certification by delving into advanced infrastructure management and troubleshooting. It covers search head configuration, multisite indexer clustering, and resource management. Readers will also learn to use REST API services, deploy apps via the deployment server, and manage Splunk on AWS. Each module includes chapter-end MCQs and module-specific tests to reinforce learning and exam readiness.

What You Will Learn
•    Pass the Splunk Core Certified User, Power User, and Enterprise Certified Admin exams.
•    Manage multi-site clustering and complex Splunk Enterprise topologies.
•    Master Splunk Admin roles and advanced troubleshooting.
•    Configure a Splunk lab environment in AWS.

Who This Book Is For

This book is ideal for individuals preparing for Splunk certification exams and for Splunk administrators or support engineers managing existing deployments.

Carlos Moreno Buitrago is a cybersecurity and observability specialist focused on Splunk architecture, operations, and administration. He designs end-to-end data pipelines related to log, metric, and event flows, from source to search, with a strong emphasis on governance, reliability, and cost control. Carlos has deep hands-on experience with Cribl for routing, shaping, enrichment, and ROI optimization, alongside Splunk features like indexer/search head clustering, HEC, CIM/data models, and Enterprise Security content. Additionally, Carlos has worked across leading security and networking stacks, bridging security operations with platform engineering. That experience helps teams turn messy telemetry into trustworthy, searchable data that powers real-world detections and business insights.

Deep Mehta is an AWS Certified Associate Architect, Docker Certified Associate, Certified Splunk Architect (ongoing), and Certified Splunk User, Power User, and Admin. He’s worked on the Splunk platform since 2017, having experience consulting in the telecommunication, aviation, and healthcare industries. Apart from being passionate about big data technologies, he also loves playing squash and badminton.