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 DIVD 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: DIVD 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: DIVD likely integrates the stack with its CNA 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: DIVD may 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: DIVD, as a non-profit, 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 DIVD CNA might use¶

Primary Choice: Likely 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 DIVD values vendor support or specific commercial analytics capabilities.

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