AWS Shield vs Ossec: What are the differences?

Introduction:

Here are the key differences between AWS Shield and Ossec:

1. Primary Functionality: AWS Shield is a managed Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) protection service that safeguards web applications running on AWS. It helps in detecting and mitigating DDoS attacks to ensure the availability of applications. On the other hand, Ossec is an open-source host-based intrusion detection system (HIDS) that provides real-time monitoring, file integrity checking, rootkit detection, and active response to security incidents on Unix-based systems.

2. Deployment: AWS Shield is a cloud-based service provided by Amazon Web Services (AWS) and is seamlessly integrated with other AWS services and resources. It offers automated protection and scalability for applications hosted on AWS. Ossec, on the other hand, needs to be installed on each individual host or server where security monitoring is required. This makes it suitable for on-premises or multi-cloud environments.

3. Pricing Model: AWS Shield comes in two tiers - Standard and Advanced, with different pricing models based on the level of protection and support required. The pricing is based on the level of traffic and additional features included in the plan. Ossec, being an open-source tool, is free to use but may require resources for deployment, maintenance, and monitoring by in-house security teams.

4. Event Monitoring: AWS Shield focuses primarily on DDoS attacks and provides alerts for suspicious traffic patterns, volumetric attacks, and application-layer attacks. It offers detailed reporting and analysis of DDoS incidents. Ossec, on the other hand, monitors a wider range of security events such as login attempts, file modifications, unauthorized access, and system anomalies. It offers customizable rules for monitoring and alerting based on specific security requirements.

5. Scalability and Flexibility: AWS Shield is designed to automatically scale protections based on traffic patterns and attack scenarios, offering a high level of scalability for dynamic workloads. It integrates well with other AWS services for seamless security management. Ossec, while scalable within its infrastructure, may require manual configuration and tuning for different environments and security needs.

6. Support and Maintenance: AWS Shield provides 24/7 access to DDoS response team for immediate assistance, regular updates, and proactive monitoring of network traffic. Ossec, being an open-source tool, relies on community support, user-contributed modules, and manual maintenance and updates by the users or security teams.

In Summary, the key differences between AWS Shield and Ossec lie in their primary functionality, deployment models, pricing structures, event monitoring capabilities, scalability, and support and maintenance options.