Understanding Wazuh by Exploring the Open Source Projects Behind It
Wazuh is a powerful security information and event management (SIEM) platform, but its documentation can often feel complex and overwhelming—especially for newcomers. However, by exploring the open-source technologies that Wazuh is built upon, we can break it down into manageable parts and gain a much clearer understanding of how it all works.
Why Understanding the Stack Matters
Instead of diving directly into Wazuh as a monolithic black box, a better approach is to study the key open-source components that power it. This bottom-up method gives you more control and insight, allowing you to debug, customize, and extend your setup with confidence.
The Core of Wazuh: Open Source Stack Overview
At its core, Wazuh is a modern fork of OSSEC, extended with powerful integrations and built for scalability.
graph TD
A["OSSEC Core (HIDS)"] --> B["Wazuh Manager"]
B --> C["Elasticsearch"]
B --> D["Filebeat / Logstash"]
C --> E["Kibana (Wazuh Plugin)"]
B --> F["OpenSCAP"]
B --> G["YARA"]
Breakdown of Key Components
| Layer | Project | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| HIDS Core | OSSEC | Detect file changes, rootkits, log anomalies |
| Compliance | OpenSCAP | Check against security baselines (CIS, STIG, etc.) |
| Malware Detection | YARA | Pattern-based malware detection engine |
| Log Collection | Filebeat / Logstash | Collect and process logs from agents |
| Indexing & Search | Elasticsearch | Stores and queries event data |
| Visualization | Kibana + Wazuh Plugin | Dashboards and search interface |
Learning Path to Master Wazuh
1. Start with OSSEC
- Learn how agents send data to the manager
- Understand rule-based alerting and decoders
- Explore the original HIDS design
2. Explore OpenSCAP
- Run a scan on your Linux system
- Study how security compliance benchmarks work
- Generate reports using
oscapCLI
3. Learn YARA
- Write custom rules to detect threats
- Scan files and processes
- Integrate YARA rules into Wazuh
4. Try Filebeat or Logstash
- Send system logs to Elasticsearch
- Use processors and filters to enrich data
- Experiment with input/output plugins
5. Understand Elasticsearch
- Learn about indices, mappings, and queries
- Use Kibana Dev Tools to explore stored logs
- Build alerting logic based on indexed data
6. Visualize with Kibana
- Install and configure the Wazuh plugin
- Build custom dashboards for your security alerts
- Learn to use filters, timelines, and visual tools
Why This Matters
By understanding each open-source component, you will:
- Debug problems more effectively
- Customize your environment for specific needs
- Contribute to or extend Wazuh itself
- Build trust in your SIEM infrastructure
Conclusion
Wazuh may seem complex at first, but breaking it down into its open-source roots reveals a modular and understandable system. By mastering each component—OSSEC, OpenSCAP, YARA, Elasticsearch, and more—you become empowered to not only use Wazuh, but to innovate with it.
Get in Touch with us
Related Posts
- How Agentic AI and MCP Servers Work Together: The Next Step in Intelligent Automation
- DevOps in Django E-Commerce System with DRF and Docker
- How AI Can Solve Real Challenges in Agile Development
- Connecting TAK and Wazuh for Real-Time Threat Awareness
- Scaling Wazuh for Multi-Site Network Security Monitoring
- Why ERP Projects Fail — and How to Avoid It
- How to Build Strong Communities with Technology
- How AI Can Make Open Zoos More Fun, Smart, and Educational
- How to Choose the Right Recycling Factory for Industrial Scrap
- Understanding Modern Database Technologies — and How to Choose the Right One
- The Future Is at the Edge — Understanding Edge & Distributed Computing in 2025
- NVIDIA and the Two Waves: From Crypto to AI — The Art of Riding a Bubble
- From Manual Checks to AI-Powered Avionics Maintenance
- Automated Certificate Generator from XLSX Templates
- Introducing SimpliPOS (COFF POS) — A Café-Focused POS System
- Building a Local-First Web App with Alpine.js — Fast, Private, and Serverless
- Carbon Footprint Calculator (Recycling) — Measuring CO₂ Savings in Recycling Operations
- Recycle Factory Tools: A Smarter Way to Track Scrap Operations
- Running Form Coach — Cadence Metronome, Tapper, Drills, Posture Checklist
- How to Build a Carbon Credit Calculator for Your Business













