Osquery vs. OSSEC: Which Is Best for Linux Security in 2020?

For security analysts working on Linux, the lack of flexible, transparent and comprehensive tools is an ongoing problem. As is often the case, security professionals are turning to open-source solutions that can be more easily customized to solve specific problems.

OSSEC has been the go-to choice to shore up Linux defenses for many years, but some would argue it’s now overshadowed by osquery. As companies are now using more modern infrastructure, it begs the question of whether OSSEC is still the best choice.

Below we compare osquery vs. OSSEC, starting by defining the differences between the two and then offering some guidance on how to determine which tool is the best option for you.

What is OSSEC?

OSSEC is an open-source, host-based intrusion detection system that works on both Linux and Windows operating systems.

Typically, your security teams will deploy OSSEC whenever they need something running on the server to alert them about potential intrusions. You can use it to monitor log files and send automated alerts if it detects a rootkit or a suspicious file change.

The OSSEC configuration uses a client-server architecture, so OSSEC can be run with or without an agent. On the latter, the server will connect with each machine, analyze its status, and report the findings.

Since its inception in 2008, OSSEC has established itself as a reliable tool among security professionals. Today, OSSEC is still in use in many big industries, including finance, banking, and also tech companies. In all cases, these are companies (Read more...)