A mind-numbing array of applications, operating systems, routers, firewalls, VPNs, and cloud resources confront IT security professionals, with no shortage of logs and security events that need to be correlated and interpreted. The "old-school" way of one-off solutions for various security challenges just won't work anymore. What is needed is a comprehensive solution that integrates disparate data and processes and provides knowledge and insight into security threats and a capacity to manage risks more effectively.

The Open Source Security Information and Event Management (OSSIM) system [1] is a Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) application. SIEMs are multipurpose tools for the security operations professional. They offer asset discovery, behavioral monitoring, data aggregation and correlation, security/threat intelligence, threat detection, and vulnerability assessment, among other features. SIEMs are a necessary evolution in the technology used to manage modern threats, and OSSIM is a key leader in the space.

OSSIM offers an expansive array of features that would leave any IT security professional duly impressed, including:

• Security information management
• Security event management
• Asset management and discovery
• Log management
• Network management
• IDS (intrusion detection)
• HID (host intrusion detection)
• Vulnerability assessment
• Threat detection
• Behavioral monitoring
• Netflow support
• Incident response
• Reporting
• Powerful and user-friendly web interface
• Simple-to-install, prepackaged virtual machines

OSSIM has many core components born of the open source community. It takes all of these disparate, often time-consuming-to-integrate tools and puts them under one beautifully usable web interface.

It takes the complexity of configuring these single-use tools and brings them together into a powerhouse of information security insight and control. Or, as OSSIM/AlienVault usually speaks of it, provides visibility without complexity. A few critical open source projects are listed in the "OSSIM Open Source Projects" box. As you may note, many of these tools are commonly deployed and may already be in use in your organization. OSSIM, however, takes the process one step further by bringing these separate tools to a single place and making the whole even better than its astounding parts. All these amazing open source applications work as one cohesive whole for your information security insights.

OSSIM vs. USM

OSSIM, like most successful open source products, has many commercially supported options for the needs of corporations and larger organizations that want enhanced features and support. OSSIM is the community open source version of the project, and Alien Vault Unified Security Management (USM) [3] offers even more in the way of features, scalability, and support. Additionally, it is worth noting that all USM versions offer a key feature not available in stock OSSIM: long-term forensic storage of events.

USM All-In-One

Squarely focused on small businesses, this version starts at US$ 3,600 and provides most of the features of the enterprise-focused USM Standard and Enterprise. Critical differences are seen in capacities such as administration, performance, and reporting.

Among the key features of USM All-In-One is support for PCI, HIPAA, GPG13, and ISO 27001 (SOX). This support helps you maintain critical compliance with the constant quagmire of regulatory frameworks. Also present is enhanced log management and threat intelligence from AlienVault Labs, a service that provides continuous intelligence on IP reputation, which helps you make more informed decisions. The All-In-One option includes 100+ compliance and threat reports and support from AlienVault.

USM Standard/Enterprise

The Standard and Enterprise USM versions offer even more expansive features, in addition to those detailed in the USM All-In-One above, including options and multi-tier deployment options for large-scale environments. If your corporate overlords need a SIEM, AlienVault commercial solutions might be right up their alley. That said, my focus in this article is the open source, community-driven OSSIM, not its commercial big brothers.