An HTTP Event Collector (HEC) token is a 32-bit globally unique identifier (GUID) that Splunk uses to authenticate incoming data from clients. It ensures that only authorized applications can send data to the HEC endpoint. Administrators can create and manage these tokens through two primary methods: the user-friendly interface in Splunk Web (under Settings > Data Inputs) or programmatically by making calls to the Splunk REST API endpoints, specifically /services/data/inputs/http.

A. HEC tokens are application-level credentials for data ingestion; they are not associated with or mapped to a specific Splunk user account or its permissions.

B. The HTTP Event Collector is designed exclusively for sending data to Splunk (ingestion). It cannot be used to query, retrieve, or download data from Splunk.

1. Splunk Enterprise Documentation

Getting Data In

"Set up and use HTTP Event Collector in Splunk Web". This document states

"When you enable HEC

Splunk Enterprise or Splunk Cloud Platform creates a token that applications can use to authenticate their connections to HEC." It also details the process of creating tokens in Splunk Web.

2. Splunk Enterprise Documentation

Getting Data In

"About the HTTP Event Collector". This section describes the token as the authentication mechanism for HEC. The example token format shown (11111111-1111-1111-1111-111111111111) is a standard GUID.

3. Splunk Enterprise REST API Reference Manual

"services/data/inputs/http". This reference details the REST endpoints for managing HEC tokens. A POST request to /services/data/inputs/http is used to create a new HEC token

confirming that tokens can be created via the REST API.