This project presents the design and implementation of a lightweight, open-source Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) platform tailored for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and academic environments. The system aims to provide an affordable, deployable, and educational solution for centralized log management, anomaly detection, and automated security response. It aggregates and normalizes logs from multiple sources—including hosts, network sensors, and cloud services—enabling comprehensive visibility across the infrastructure. Through real-time telemetry, correlation rules, and intelligent alerting mechanisms, the platform supports effective threat detection and incident response. An intuitive dashboard offers visualization and analysis capabilities aligned with Security Operations Center (SOC) workflows, allowing users to investigate alerts and track attack patterns efficiently. Emphasizing scalability, log retention, and the reduction of false positives, the platform demonstrates that open-source  technologies  can  achieve SIEMs for their target use case. Ultimately, the system serves as both a practical educational framework for cybersecurity students and a cost-effective defensive tool for smaller organizations, promoting accessibility, transparency, and hands-on understanding of modern security monitoring challenges.