# Getting started with Security Engines

Security Engine elements are used for the configuration and management of your Engines, IPS engines, and Layer 2 Engines.

Security Engine elements contain settings that cannot be reused in the configuration of other components, such as the network interface configuration. Security Engine elements also determine which reusable elements are included in the configuration of a particular component. For example, a component can send its log data to the Log Server, which is a reusable element. All Security Engines are centrally managed through the Management Server.

If you are creating Security Engine elements for the first time, follow the instructions in the Forcepoint Network Security Platform Installation Guide.