CrowdStrike vs Wazuh: What are the differences?

Introduction

In this document, we will be discussing the key differences between CrowdStrike and Wazuh. Both CrowdStrike and Wazuh are cybersecurity solutions that provide protection against threats, but they differ in several aspects. Below are the key differences:

1. Deployment Model:

   • CrowdStrike: CrowdStrike is a cloud-native solution, which means it is deployed and managed in the cloud. It offers ease of deployment, scalability, and rapid updates.
   • Wazuh: Wazuh, on the other hand, is an on-premises solution, which requires installation and management on the user's local infrastructure. It provides complete control over the environment but may require additional resources for maintenance and updates.

2. Detection Approach:

   • CrowdStrike: CrowdStrike adopts a behavior-based detection approach, known as Indicators of Attack (IOA), which focuses on identifying malicious behaviors rather than relying solely on known signatures. It leverages machine learning algorithms and threat intelligence to proactively detect and respond to threats.
   • Wazuh: Wazuh primarily relies on signature-based detection, known as Indicators of Compromise (IOC), which involves matching patterns against a predefined set of known malicious signatures. While it may detect known threats effectively, it may struggle with detecting unknown or zero-day threats.

3. Endpoint Coverage:

   • CrowdStrike: CrowdStrike specializes in endpoint security solutions and offers comprehensive coverage for various operating systems, devices, and platforms. It provides protection and visibility for endpoints across a wide range of environments.
   • Wazuh: Although Wazuh offers endpoint security capabilities, its primary focus is on intrusion detection and security monitoring. It may not have the same level of breadth and depth in terms of endpoint coverage compared to CrowdStrike.

4. Automation and Response:

   • CrowdStrike: CrowdStrike emphasizes automation and provides advanced response capabilities to mitigate threats in real-time. It offers features like real-time response, containment, threat hunting, and automated remediation actions to minimize the impact of attacks.
   • Wazuh: While Wazuh supports some automation and response capabilities, its main strength lies in security monitoring and alerting. It provides insights into security events, but the response actions often require manual intervention.

5. Managed Services:

   • CrowdStrike: CrowdStrike offers managed services where security experts actively monitor and respond to threats on behalf of the organization. This provides additional expertise and support to enhance the overall security posture.
   • Wazuh: Wazuh does not provide managed services directly. It is primarily a self-managed solution, where organizations need to set up their own security operations center (SOC) or rely on their internal security team to monitor and respond to threats.

In summary, CrowdStrike is a cloud-native solution with behavior-based detection, comprehensive endpoint coverage, advanced automation, and offers managed services. On the other hand, Wazuh is an on-premises solution with signature-based detection, focuses on intrusion detection and security monitoring, and requires organizations to set up their own SOC.