Elastic Security

Basic Information

Elastic Security is a comprehensive security information and event management (SIEM) solution offered by Elastic. It unifies SIEM, Extended Detection and Response (XDR), endpoint security, and cloud security into a single platform. Built upon the Elastic Stack (Elasticsearch, Kibana, Beats, and Logstash), it is designed to help organizations detect, investigate, and respond to security threats and incidents.

• Model: Integrated SIEM, XDR, Endpoint Security, and Cloud Security platform.
• Version: Elastic Security is continuously updated as part of the Elastic Stack. Specific version numbers align with Elastic Stack releases, which are frequent.
• Release Date: Elastic Security evolved from Elastic SIEM, with continuous feature releases and updates. The SIEM application was initially introduced in Elastic Stack 7.2.
• Minimum Requirements: For production environments, a minimum of 8GB RAM is recommended for the underlying Elasticsearch nodes, with at least 50% allocated to the Java heap. Multiple CPU cores are beneficial.
• Supported Operating Systems: Elastic Security agents (e.g., Elastic Defend) support various operating systems, including Windows, Linux, and macOS. The Elastic Stack components themselves are cross-platform.
• Latest Stable Version: The latest stable version corresponds to the latest stable release of the Elastic Stack, which is regularly updated. Users should consult official Elastic documentation for the most current release.
• End of Support Date: End of support dates are tied to specific Elastic Stack versions and subscription levels. Elastic provides support for recent major versions, with details available in their official support policies.
• End of Life Date: End of life dates are tied to specific Elastic Stack versions. Elastic typically provides maintenance for older versions for a defined period.
• Auto-update Expiration Date: Auto-update expiration is not a standard feature for the entire platform but rather managed through deployment strategies and agent updates.
• License Type: Elastic Security operates under a dual-licensing model, combining open-source components with proprietary features available under commercial licenses.
• Deployment Model: Elastic Security supports both on-premises and cloud-based deployments. Cloud options include Elastic Cloud (fully managed service) on AWS, Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure, as well as self-managed deployments using Elastic Cloud Enterprise (ECE) or Elastic Cloud on Kubernetes (ECK).

Technical Requirements

Elastic Security's technical requirements are primarily driven by the underlying Elastic Stack components (Elasticsearch, Kibana, Beats, and Logstash) and the scale of data ingestion and analysis.

• RAM: A minimum of 8GB RAM is recommended for production Elasticsearch nodes, with at least 4GB allocated to the Java heap. For larger deployments, 64GB or more RAM per node is often utilized.
• Processor: Elasticsearch benefits significantly from multiple CPU cores for parallel processing. Modern multi-core processors are recommended.
• Storage: High-performance storage, such as SSDs, is crucial for Elasticsearch to handle large volumes of data and ensure fast query responses. Storage capacity depends heavily on data retention policies and ingestion rates.
• Display: A standard display with sufficient resolution for Kibana's graphical user interface (GUI) and dashboards is required for security analysts.
• Ports: Essential ports include 9200 (default HTTP for Elasticsearch), 9300 (default transport for Elasticsearch node communication), and 5601 (default for Kibana). Other ports may be required for Beats, Logstash, and integrations.
• Operating System: The Elastic Stack is compatible with various operating systems, including Linux distributions (e.g., Ubuntu, RHEL, SUSE), Windows, and macOS for client-side agents.

Analysis of Technical Requirements

The technical requirements for Elastic Security are highly scalable and depend on the specific deployment size, data volume, and performance expectations. While minimums exist, enterprise-grade deployments often require substantial resources, particularly for RAM and high-speed storage, to ensure efficient real-time threat detection and analysis. The distributed nature of Elasticsearch allows for horizontal scaling by adding more nodes. Network bandwidth of at least 1Gbps is recommended for efficient inter-node communication.

Support & Compatibility

Elastic Security is part of a robust ecosystem, offering broad compatibility and extensive support options.

• Latest Version: Elastic Security's features and capabilities are integrated into the latest versions of the Elastic Stack. Users are encouraged to stay updated with the most recent stable releases for optimal performance and security.
• OS Support: The platform supports a wide range of operating systems for its various components. Elastic Defend, the endpoint security component, supports Windows, Linux, and macOS. The core Elastic Stack can be deployed on various Linux distributions, Windows, and Docker containers.
• End of Support Date: Support policies are tied to specific Elastic Stack versions. Elastic typically provides active support for the two most recent major versions, with details available on their official website.
• Localization: Kibana, the visualization layer for Elastic Security, offers localization options, allowing users to interact with the interface in multiple languages.
• Available Drivers: "Drivers" in the traditional sense are not applicable. Instead, Elastic Security relies on a vast array of integrations (e.g., Beats, Logstash, API integrations) to ingest data from diverse sources, including cloud platforms, network devices, and endpoints.

Analysis of Overall Support & Compatibility Status

Elastic Security boasts strong support and compatibility, largely due to its foundation in the open-source Elastic Stack. It integrates seamlessly with other Elastic products and offers extensive data ingestion capabilities through numerous pre-built integrations and APIs. The active community and comprehensive documentation further enhance its support ecosystem. OS support is broad, covering major enterprise environments. However, specific end-of-support dates require consulting Elastic's official lifecycle policies, as they are version-dependent.

Security Status

Elastic Security is designed with a strong focus on enterprise-grade security, leveraging its underlying Elastic Stack capabilities.

• Security Features:
  • Real-time Threat Detection using predefined rules, machine learning, and behavioral analysis.
  • User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) to detect insider threats and abnormal activities.
  • Incident Response capabilities with built-in case management and workflow.
  • Log Management and Retention for compliance, auditing, and forensic analysis.
  • Threat Intelligence Integration to enhance detection with external feeds.
  • Endpoint Security (Elastic Defend) for monitoring and protecting individual devices.
  • Cloud Security Monitoring, including Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) and Cloud Native Vulnerability Management (CNVM).
  • Security Event Correlation from multiple sources.
  • AI Assistant for alert investigation, incident response, and query generation.
  • Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) for granular permissions.
  • IP Filtering to restrict access.
  • Audit Logging to track user activities.
• Known Vulnerabilities: Elastic products, including components of Elastic Security, have had reported CVEs. Examples include:
  • CVE-2025-37735: Local privilege escalation in Elastic Defend on Windows due to improper file permission preservation.
  • CVE-2025-25009: Improper neutralization of special elements in Elastic Cloud Enterprise (ECE) leading to sensitive information exfiltration.
  • CVE-2025-25014: Prototype pollution vulnerability in Kibana leading to arbitrary code execution.
  • CVE-2022-23714: Local privilege escalation in Elastic Endpoint Security for Windows ransomware canaries.
  • Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities in Kibana (e.g., Vega Charts integration, case file upload).
  • Denial of Service (DoS) flaws in Elasticsearch.
  • Improper authorization leading to privilege escalation in ECE or Kibana.
• Blacklist Status: No general blacklist status is applicable to Elastic Security as a product.
• Certifications:
  • Achieved "Certified" status in the AV-Comparatives Endpoint Prevention and Response (EPR) Test 2025.
  • Recognized as a Customers' Choice in the 2021 Gartner Peer Insights 'Voice of Customer': SIEM Report.
  • Offers various professional certifications, including Elastic Certified SIEM Analyst.
• Encryption Support:
  • Transport Layer Security (TLS/SSL) for encrypting communication between Elasticsearch nodes and clients.
  • Encryption at rest for data in Elastic Cloud Hosted deployments and Serverless projects by default.
  • Support for customer-managed encryption keys (BYOK) in Elastic Cloud, integrating with services like AWS KMS, Azure Key Vault, and GCP Cloud KMS.
  • For self-managed deployments, disk-level encryption (e.g., dm-crypt) is recommended for data at rest.
• Authentication Methods:
  • Basic Authentication (username/password).
  • API Key Authentication.
  • JSON Web Token (JWT) Authentication.
  • Native user authentication.
  • Integration with external identity providers: Active Directory, LDAP, PKI, SAML, Kerberos, OpenID Connect.
  • Multi-factor Authentication (MFA) is supported.
• General Recommendations: Implement strong authentication and authorization (RBAC), enable TLS/SSL encryption, configure encryption at rest, regularly monitor and audit logs, keep the Elastic Stack updated with the latest security patches, and follow best practices for secure deployment.

Analysis on the Overall Security Rating

Elastic Security provides a robust and comprehensive security framework, offering a wide array of features for threat detection, prevention, and response. Its strong authentication and authorization mechanisms, coupled with extensive encryption support (both in transit and at rest, especially in cloud deployments), form a solid security foundation. The platform's consistent performance in independent tests like AV-Comparatives further validates its effectiveness in blocking and detecting advanced threats. However, like any complex software, it is subject to vulnerabilities, and continuous patching and adherence to security best practices are crucial. Some users note that the open-source version of Kibana lacks default authentication, requiring external tools for full security. The ongoing identification and remediation of CVEs by Elastic demonstrate a commitment to security, but also highlight the importance of timely updates.

Performance & Benchmarks

Elastic Security leverages the high-performance capabilities of the Elastic Stack to process and analyze vast amounts of security data in near real-time.

• Benchmark Scores:
  • Achieved 99.3% effectiveness in both Active Response (automated blocking) and Passive Response (detection and alerting) categories in the AV-Comparatives Endpoint Prevention and Response (EPR) Test 2025.
  • Received "Certified" status from AV-Comparatives.
• Real-World Performance Metrics:
  • Demonstrated low to minimal false positives in AV-Comparatives tests, contributing to reduced analyst workload.
  • Showed zero workflow delays, indicating no negative impact on user productivity during simulated security incidents.
  • Capable of processing thousands of alerts per minute, providing rapid processing speed for alerts and event data.
  • Users praise its speed and scalability for searching and analyzing data.
• Power Consumption: Specific power consumption metrics for Elastic Security are not directly available, as they depend on the underlying hardware infrastructure and the scale of the Elastic Stack deployment.
• Carbon Footprint: Direct carbon footprint metrics for Elastic Security are not provided. These would be influenced by the chosen deployment model (on-premises vs. cloud) and the energy efficiency of the data centers used.
• Comparison with Similar Assets:
  • Outperformed several well-known competitors, including CrowdStrike, Palo Alto Networks, and Fortinet, particularly in threat detection, while maintaining an equal or lower total cost of ownership over a projected five-year enterprise deployment.
  • Users often compare it favorably to other SIEM solutions like Splunk Enterprise Security and Wazuh, highlighting its cost-benefit ratio.
  • Praised for its search speed, which some users claim no other product can compete with.

Analysis of the Overall Performance Status

Elastic Security exhibits strong performance, particularly in its core functions of threat detection and response. Its high effectiveness rates in rigorous third-party tests, coupled with low false positives and minimal operational delays, underscore its reliability in demanding security environments. The underlying Elasticsearch engine provides exceptional speed and scalability for data ingestion, indexing, and querying, which is critical for real-time security analytics. While specific power and carbon footprint data are not directly attributable to the software itself, the platform's efficiency and cloud deployment options can contribute to optimized resource utilization. Its competitive edge in threat detection and cost-effectiveness makes it a compelling choice against established market players.

User Reviews & Feedback

User reviews and feedback for Elastic Security highlight its strengths in scalability, cost-effectiveness, and powerful analytics, while also pointing out areas for improvement in ease of use and automation.

• Strengths:
  • Intelligence and Scalability: Users commend its intelligence, scalability, and ability to adapt to varying demands.
  • Cost-Effectiveness: Frequently cited as having a good cost-benefit ratio compared to other vendors.
  • Machine Learning and Log Indexing: Excels in machine learning capabilities and efficient log indexing.
  • Threat Detection and Visualization: Strong threat detection, Kibana visualizations, and chat-based threat hunting are highly valued.
  • Speed: The search speed is often described as incredible, with some users stating it's unmatched.
  • Open-Source Nature and Flexibility: Its open-source roots provide flexibility and customization options.
  • Ease of Administration (for some aspects): Some users find it very easy to administer and appreciate its simple user interface.
  • Documentation and Community Support: Comprehensive documentation and strong community support are frequently mentioned as positives.
  • Integration: Seamless integration with other tools and numerous integrations are appreciated.
• Weaknesses:
  • Authentication in Open-Source: The open-source version of Kibana lacks default authentication and authorization features, requiring external tools.
  • Scalability and Resource Consumption Challenges: Some users report difficulties in scaling, upgrading, and setting up, along with high resource consumption.
  • Steep Learning Curve: The platform can be complex for beginners, with a steep learning curve and challenges in configuration.
  • Documentation Complexity: While extensive, some users find the documentation complex and vague, making troubleshooting difficult.
  • Automation Features: Some feedback indicates a lack of advanced automation features.
  • AI Capabilities: As of some reviews, the AI capabilities are considered subpar or less mature compared to expectations.
  • Integration with Legacy Systems: Integration with third-party services and legacy systems, along with prebuilt tools, needs improvement.
  • Difficulty Finding Experienced Engineers: It can be challenging to find experienced engineers working with Elasticsearch.
• Recommended Use Cases:
  • Threat detection and monitoring.
  • Incident response and investigation.
  • SIEM solution for Security Operations Centers (SOCs) and threat hunting.
  • Log management and retention for compliance and auditing.
  • User and Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA).
  • Endpoint security and malware prevention.
  • Cloud security monitoring.
  • Real-time log analysis and application monitoring.

Summary

Elastic Security stands as a powerful, unified platform for modern security operations, integrating SIEM, XDR, endpoint security, and cloud security capabilities. Its foundation on the highly scalable Elastic Stack (Elasticsearch, Kibana, Beats, Logstash) enables it to ingest, process, and analyze vast quantities of security data in near real-time, providing deep visibility into an organization's digital infrastructure. Key strengths include its exceptional threat detection capabilities, validated by a 99.3% effectiveness rate in the AV-Comparatives EPR Test 2025, coupled with low false positives and zero workflow delays. The platform offers robust security features such as real-time threat detection, UEBA, incident response, comprehensive log management, threat intelligence integration, and extensive authentication methods (including integration with AD, LDAP, SAML). Encryption in transit (TLS/SSL) and at rest (especially in Elastic Cloud with customer-managed keys) further bolster its security posture.

However, Elastic Security presents certain challenges. Users often highlight a steep learning curve and the complexity of initial configuration and ongoing management, particularly for those new to the Elastic Stack. While cost-effective for its capabilities, increased log volumes can lead to additional expenses. Some feedback indicates that the open-source version of Kibana requires external tools for full authentication features, and the AI capabilities, while present, may still be maturing. Integration with legacy systems and the level of automation are also areas noted for potential improvement.

Overall, Elastic Security is an excellent choice for organizations seeking a highly scalable, flexible, and performant security solution, especially those already invested in the Elastic ecosystem or requiring deep data analytics for security. Its open nature, strong community support, and continuous development make it a competitive option for threat hunting, incident response, and comprehensive security monitoring. Organizations should be prepared to invest in training and potentially specialized expertise to fully leverage its capabilities and manage its inherent complexity effectively.

The information provided is based on publicly available data and may vary depending on specific device configurations. For up-to-date information, please consult official manufacturer resources.