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SPECIFICTION
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Suricata

suricata.io

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Spec score 7.6 #16 of 39 in Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software

What it is

Suricata is a free, open-source engine for network analysis, intrusion detection and prevention, and security monitoring. It uses signature rules to match known threats, policy violations, and malicious behavior, and can also detect traffic anomalies. A single instance can inspect multi-gigabit traffic using multi-threading and hardware acceleration. It logs HTTP requests, DNS queries and responses, TLS certificate and exchange data, and can extract files from network flows. Suricata automatically detects protocols such as HTTP on any port and applies relevant detection and logging. Its EVE output provides JSON event and alert data for Logstash and similar tools. The Open Information Security Foundation owns the code and supports the project. Suricata is licensed under GPLv2; OISF offers non-GPL licensing for organizations that want to use it in their products. Listed platforms include Linux, macOS, and Windows; downloads also include source for FreeBSD and UNIX and a Windows 64-bit installer. The listed stable release is 8.0.7, released September 15, 2026. Community support is available through a forum and Discord.

Spec sheet

Purpose
Suricata is a high performance, open source network analysis and threat detection engine used for network IDS, IPS, and security monitoring.Read 30 Sep 2026 · suricata.io
Audience
The project describes its community as including home users, corporate and government users, developers, researchers, and third-party tooling developers.Read 30 Sep 2026 · suricata.io
Support
The project directs users to its community forum for community support and also lists a Discord server.Read 30 Sep 2026 · suricata.io
License
The project says Suricata is licensed under GPLv2 and permits users to run, copy, modify, and distribute the software under its stated open source freedoms.Read 30 Sep 2026 · suricata.io
Headquarters
Lafayette, Indiana, USARead 23 Sep 2026 · suricata.io
Founded
2009Read 23 Sep 2026 · suricata.io
Current release
The page lists Suricata 8.0.7 as the stable release, released September 15, 2026.Read 30 Sep 2026 · suricata.io
Embedded use
The project says Suricata integrates with networks and can be embedded in commercial and open source solutions.Read 30 Sep 2026 · suricata.io
Network monitoring
Suricata can log HTTP requests, DNS queries and responses, and TLS certificate and exchange data, and can extract files from network flows.Read 30 Sep 2026 · suricata.io
Non-GPL licensing
OISF offers non-GPL licensing for organizations that want to use Suricata in their products without violating GPL.Read 30 Sep 2026 · suricata.io
Output and integrations
Its EVE output is JSON event and alert data designed for integration with Logstash and similar tools.Read 30 Sep 2026 · suricata.io
Project owner
The Open Information Security Foundation (OISF), a nonprofit, owns the code and supports the Suricata project.Read 30 Sep 2026 · suricata.io
Protocol detection
Suricata automatically detects protocols such as HTTP on any port and applies detection and logging logic.Read 30 Sep 2026 · suricata.io
Rule detection
It uses a signature language to match known threats, policy violations, and malicious behavior, and can detect traffic anomalies.Read 30 Sep 2026 · suricata.io
Supported platforms
The download page lists source for Linux, Mac, FreeBSD, UNIX, and Windows, plus a Windows 64-bit installer.Read 30 Sep 2026 · suricata.io
Traffic capacity
A single Suricata instance can inspect multi-gigabit traffic and supports multi-threading and hardware acceleration.Read 30 Sep 2026 · suricata.io

Plans and prices

Suricata Free Free and open source; GPLv2 Read 30 Sep 2026 · suricata.io

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Strong points and limits

Strong points

  • Supports intrusion detection and inline prevention
  • Can inspect multi-gigabit traffic per instance
  • Logs HTTP, DNS, and TLS data
  • EVE provides JSON alerts and events
  • Free and licensed under GPLv2

Limits

  • GPLv2 applies to the open-source software
  • Embedding in products without GPL requires non-GPL licensing

Who it suits

Suricata suits home, corporate, and government users, as well as developers, researchers, and third-party tooling developers who need network detection or monitoring.

Verdict

Suricata combines signature-based detection with network logging and JSON output for integration. Organizations embedding it in products can seek non-GPL licensing from OISF.

Where Specifiction places it

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