Ossec vs Wazuh: What are the differences?

Both Ossec and Wazuh are open-source host-based intrusion detection systems (HIDS) that provide real-time monitoring and analysis of security events in computer systems. Here are some key differences that set them apart from each other.

1. Agent Management: One key difference between Ossec and Wazuh lies in their agent management capabilities. Ossec has a central manager that controls and coordinates all connected agents. It provides centralized configuration management, allowing administrators to easily manage and deploy agents across multiple systems. On the other hand, Wazuh offers improved agent management with features like remote agent installation and auto-registration, making it easier and more efficient to deploy agents on a large scale.

2. Integration with ELK Stack: Another significant difference is the level of integration with the ELK (Elasticsearch, Logstash, and Kibana) stack. Wazuh is tightly integrated with the ELK stack, offering out-of-the-box dashboards, visualizations, and alerts within the Kibana interface. This integration provides a seamless experience for security analysts who are already familiar with ELK. On the contrary, while Ossec does support integration with ELK, it requires additional configuration and customization to achieve the same level of integration as Wazuh.

3. Scalability: When it comes to scalability, Wazuh holds an advantage over Ossec. Wazuh employs a distributed architecture, allowing it to handle larger environments and scale horizontally by adding more agents and managers. This scalability is especially beneficial for organizations with a vast number of systems to monitor and manage. On the other hand, Ossec's architecture is more suitable for smaller-scale deployments.

4. Rule-Based FIM (File Integrity Monitoring): Wazuh offers a unique feature called rule-based file integrity monitoring (FIM), which allows administrators to define specific rules for monitoring and detecting changes in files and directories. These rules can identify unauthorized modifications, potentially indicating a security breach or tampering. Ossec, while providing file integrity monitoring as well, lacks the ability to define rules for more granular control over FIM.

5. Compliance Management: Wazuh places a strong emphasis on compliance management and includes pre-configured compliance templates for major regulations such as PCI DSS, GDPR, and CIS Benchmark. These templates simplify the process of compliance monitoring and reporting by providing predefined rules and alerts tailored to meet specific compliance requirements. On the other hand, Ossec, while capable of achieving compliance monitoring, requires more manual configuration and customization.

6. User-Friendly Interface: Wazuh offers a more user-friendly and intuitive interface compared to Ossec. Its web-based management interface provides a modern and visually appealing experience, making it easier for administrators and security analysts to navigate and interact with the system. Ossec, while functional, has a more outdated and less user-friendly interface.

In summary, Ossec and Wazuh differ in agent management capabilities, integration with the ELK stack, scalability, rule-based FIM, compliance management, and user-friendly interface. These differences make Wazuh a compelling choice for organizations that require advanced agent management, ELK integration, scalability, compliance management, and a user-friendly interface. However, Ossec may still be suitable for smaller-scale deployments or those looking for a more customizable solution.