The proliferation of smart technologies has undeniably brought forth numerous advantages. However, it has also introduced critical security issues and vulnerabilities that need to be addressed. In response, the development of appropriate and continuously adaptable countermeasures is essential to ensure the uninterrupted operation of critical environments. This paper presents an innovative approach through the introduction of an Software-Defined Networking (SDN)-enabled Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system. The proposed SIEM solution effectively combines the power of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and SDN to protect Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) applications. Leveraging AI capabilities, the SDN-enabled SIEM is capable of detecting a wide range of cyberattacks and anomalies that pose potential threats to IIoT environments. On the other hand, SDN plays a crucial role in mitigating identified risks and ensuring the security of IIoT applications. In particular, AI-driven insights and analysis guide the SDN-C in selecting appropriate mitigation actions to neutralize detected threats effectively. The experimental results demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed solution.