ELK vs OpenSearch stack¶

Choosing a data analytics platform¶

CVE Numbering Authorities (CNAs) require robust data ingestion and analysis platforms to handle vulnerability reports, case data, and metrics for operational decision-making. While the exact stack used by CNA’s is not publicly disclosed, it likely revolves around a powerful search and analytics stack such as ELK (Elasticsearch, Logstash, Kibana) or its open-source fork OpenSearch. Key requirements include:

Ingesting and normalizing structured and unstructured case data.
Generating custom dashboards for analysts, management, and reporting.
Integrating with incident response platforms (e.g., DFIR-IRIS, TheHive) and threat intelligence sources.
Ensuring security, auditability, and GDPR/NIS2 compliance.

Both ELK and OpenSearch stacks are capable, but they differ in licensing, enterprise features, and open-source openness.

Core features comparison¶

ELK Stack¶

Elasticsearch: Powerful search engine for indexing and querying case data.
Logstash: Data ingestion and transformation pipeline.
Kibana: Dashboarding and visualization with advanced charting, filtering, and reporting.
Security: Enterprise features (role-based access, encryption, audit logging) available in commercial offerings.
Extensibility: Rich plugin ecosystem; machine learning and alerting available with paid license.

OpenSearch Stack¶

OpenSearch: Fork of Elasticsearch, fully Apache 2.0 licensed.
Logstash / Fluentd: Flexible data ingestion options.
OpenSearch Dashboards: Kibana fork with similar visualization capabilities.
Security: Built-in authentication, authorization, encryption, and audit logging.
Extensibility: Plugins and open-source machine learning/anomaly detection available.

Security considerations¶

Aspect	ELK Stack	OpenSearch Stack
Authentication & Access	Basic in OSS, advanced in commercial Elastic	Built-in RBAC, TLS, audit logging
Data Protection	Enterprise encryption requires paid license	Full encryption and access controls included
Audit Logging	Commercial features only	Included and configurable
GDPR/NIS2 Compliance	Possible but depends on license and config	Fully open-source stack easier to audit

Speculative: small orgs would prioritise built-in security and audit logging, making OpenSearch attractive. ELK could be used if commercial licensing is acceptable.

Integration & extensibility¶

Integration	ELK Stack	OpenSearch Stack
Threat Intelligence	Via APIs, plugins, custom scripts	Same via APIs, native integration options
Incident Response	Connect to TheHive / DFIR-IRIS	Connect to TheHive / DFIR-IRIS
Automation	Paid machine learning & alerting	Open-source alerting & anomaly detection
API	Full-featured REST APIs	Comprehensive REST APIs

Speculative: orgs likely integrate the stack with its workflow, incident response tools, and MISP feeds for enrichment.

Deployment & scalability¶

Aspect	ELK Stack	OpenSearch Stack
Deployment	Docker, Kubernetes, or bare-metal	Docker, Kubernetes, or bare-metal
Scalability	Mature, enterprise-ready	Mature, open-source, flexible
Maintenance	Moderate to high for large deployments	Moderate, supported by open-source community
Flexibility	High with plugins, commercial features optional	High with plugins, fully open-source

Speculative: orgs could use Docker-based deployment for flexibility, with OpenSearch preferred for fully open-source compliance and cost efficiency.

Cost considerations¶

Aspect	ELK Stack	OpenSearch Stack
Licensing	Commercial features require paid license	Fully Apache 2.0, free
Implementation	Mature ecosystem, enterprise docs	Open-source, community docs
Maintenance	Requires commercial support for advanced features	Community-driven, flexible

Speculative: Non-profit orgs, would likely favour OpenSearch for cost-effective, secure, and fully open-source deployment, while ELK could be an alternative if enterprise features justify the expense.

Informed guess: What small orgs might use¶

Primary Choice: OpenSearch Stack.

Fully open-source, aligns with non-profit and transparency principles.
Built-in security, audit logging, and alerting suitable for GDPR/NIS2 compliance.
Flexible integration with MISP, DFIR-IRIS or TheHive.

Alternative/Commercial Option: ELK Stack with commercial licenses.

Offers polished enterprise features and machine learning capabilities.
Could be used if org values vendor support or specific commercial analytics capabilities.

A CNA usually balances cost, compliance, and security. OpenSearch Stack fits the open-source ethos while offering enterprise-level features required for CNA operations.