diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/siem/server/lib/source_status/elasticsearch_adapter.ts b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/siem/server/lib/source_status/elasticsearch_adapter.ts
index 17d203918d825..bb4693a7749e7 100644
--- a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/siem/server/lib/source_status/elasticsearch_adapter.ts
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/siem/server/lib/source_status/elasticsearch_adapter.ts
@@ -6,26 +6,54 @@
 
 import { FrameworkAdapter, FrameworkRequest } from '../framework';
 import { SourceStatusAdapter } from './index';
+import { buildQuery } from './query.dsl';
+import { ApmServiceNameAgg } from './types';
+
+const APM_INDEX_NAME = 'apm-*-transaction*';
 
 export class ElasticsearchSourceStatusAdapter implements SourceStatusAdapter {
   constructor(private readonly framework: FrameworkAdapter) {}
 
-  public async hasIndices(request: FrameworkRequest, indexNames: string | string[]) {
-    return this.framework
-      .callWithRequest(request, 'search', {
-        index: indexNames,
-        size: 0,
-        terminate_after: 1,
-        allow_no_indices: true,
-      })
-      .then(
-        response => response._shards.total > 0,
-        err => {
-          if (err.status === 404) {
-            return false;
-          }
-          throw err;
-        }
-      );
+  public async hasIndices(request: FrameworkRequest, indexNames: string[]) {
+    // Intended flow to determine app-empty state is to first check siem indices (as this is a quick shard count), and
+    // if no shards exist only then perform the heavier APM query. This optimizes for normal use when siem data exists
+    try {
+      // Remove APM index if exists, and only query if length > 0 in case it's the only index provided
+      const nonApmIndexNames = indexNames.filter(name => name !== APM_INDEX_NAME);
+      const indexCheckResponse = await (nonApmIndexNames.length > 0
+        ? this.framework.callWithRequest(request, 'search', {
+            index: nonApmIndexNames,
+            size: 0,
+            terminate_after: 1,
+            allow_no_indices: true,
+          })
+        : Promise.resolve(undefined));
+
+      if ((indexCheckResponse?._shards.total ?? -1) > 0) {
+        return true;
+      }
+
+      // Note: Additional check necessary for APM-specific index. For details see: https://github.com/elastic/kibana/issues/56363
+      // Only verify if APM data exists if indexNames includes `apm-*-transaction*` (default included apm index)
+      const includesApmIndex = indexNames.includes(APM_INDEX_NAME);
+      const hasApmDataResponse = await (includesApmIndex
+        ? this.framework.callWithRequest<{}, ApmServiceNameAgg>(
+            request,
+            'search',
+            buildQuery({ defaultIndex: [APM_INDEX_NAME] })
+          )
+        : Promise.resolve(undefined));
+
+      if ((hasApmDataResponse?.aggregations?.total_service_names?.value ?? -1) > 0) {
+        return true;
+      }
+    } catch (e) {
+      if (e.status === 404) {
+        return false;
+      }
+      throw e;
+    }
+
+    return false;
   }
 }
diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/siem/server/lib/source_status/query.dsl.ts b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/siem/server/lib/source_status/query.dsl.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..ead08fff474c7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/siem/server/lib/source_status/query.dsl.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License;
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
+ */
+
+const SERVICE_NAME = 'service.name';
+
+export const buildQuery = ({ defaultIndex }: { defaultIndex: string[] }) => {
+  return {
+    allowNoIndices: true,
+    index: defaultIndex,
+    ignoreUnavailable: true,
+    terminate_after: 1,
+    body: {
+      size: 0,
+      aggs: {
+        total_service_names: {
+          cardinality: {
+            field: SERVICE_NAME,
+          },
+        },
+      },
+    },
+    track_total_hits: false,
+  };
+};
diff --git a/x-pack/legacy/plugins/siem/server/lib/source_status/types.ts b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/siem/server/lib/source_status/types.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..247495ffe4b23
--- /dev/null
+++ b/x-pack/legacy/plugins/siem/server/lib/source_status/types.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright Elasticsearch B.V. and/or licensed to Elasticsearch B.V. under one
+ * or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License;
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the Elastic License.
+ */
+
+export interface ApmServiceNameAgg {
+  total_service_names: {
+    value: number;
+  };
+}