Internet security for companies can be implemented in several ways. Hardware, software, updates, team training and cloud solutions. Complete solutions that normally involve costs for implementation on the company's network.
As a solution to high costs and dependence on updates and features, open source security tools, or more commonly called open source, bring customization possibilities and also cost reduction.
In the next few lines, you will see important information on the topic, and you will also be able to learn about the main open source tools for cybersecurity in companies.
Free or Open Source?
To start talking about open source cybersecurity tools, we need to clarify the difference between open source and free software.
Something very common in cyber culture is to confuse freedom with gratuitousness. The key point for understanding that “open source” is not synonymous with “free” is time.
Any open source software requires time to study and adapt its use to the company's needs. IT professionals in companies, especially small and medium-sized ones, usually have so many tasks and support to be attended to, that their time ends up becoming a simple explanation of the saying “time is money”.
Open source solutions are free, but that doesn't mean that using them won't cost anything. It will cost time! Time that, perhaps, could generate better results from the technology-dependent team, for example.
Therefore, whenever you choose between an open source solution and a truly “free” closed source solution, remember that you will need time to implement it in the ideal way for your needs.
Advantages of open source tools
There are several advantages adjacent to the main ones about using open source tools in companies. But, more broadly, there are three:
- Low cost
- Possibility of customization and adaptation to the company’s needs
As we saw previously, open source tools are free and “only” require the IT professional’s time to adapt the solution to the purpose for which it was chosen, costing the professional time in these adjustments. This is perhaps one of the main advantages of this type of tool.
Another advantage is that, unlike paid tools, where there are “fixed” plans and solutions that do not perfectly suit the company's needs, open source tools can be customized according to the IT professional's desires. For this same reason, there is a third advantage: in case of errors or problems, the IT professional can resolve them in a more agile way, without the need to contact support or open tickets with the tool developer.
However, there are also dangers and disadvantages, which you will see below.
Disadvantages of open source software
Typically, open source software is developed with full focus on solving the problem, leaving the interface part a little aside. Without worrying about usability, these software are often complex to install with difficult-to-use interfaces.
As the code is created collaboratively, normally with specific changes and adjustments according to the knowledge and desire of the responsible professional, some integrations with other platforms can become complicated. In some cases, this integration can generate financial costs as well as time for the responsible professional.
Furthermore, the lack of support can also make the “freedom” of the software a “prison” taking up a lot of time around the tool. Whenever there is a failure, it is the company's IT professional who must correct it, and if this happens frequently, it can cause a lot of headaches.
Main categories of open source cybersecurity tools
There are several contact points and security barriers on the internet that can be implemented in companies. While the shortage of qualified cybersecurity professionals continues to impact the IT industry, companies can still learn about open source tools for internet security. Among the main types are:
Network traffic visibility
Increasing the degree of visibility of network traffic is important. Some tools of this type track packages, observe and qualify them. Furthermore, in some cases, such as proxies, they can monitor certain network traffic and change it, making network protection effective and instantaneous.
Vulnerability scanners
This category includes tools that range from finding hosts on a network and determining which ports are open to finding software glitches and misconfigurations in operating systems, applications, and firmware.
Vulnerability testing
Tools in this category imitate a cyber attack in order to test the protection of the company's network. It's as if you yourself created a cyber attack on your company, to discover where the weakest point is and what needs to be improved.
In the next few lines you will see some of the main open source cybersecurity tools to use in 2021.
Open Source Cybersecurity Tools
There are several open source enterprise cybersecurity tools available. Many are launched each month, with various new features and functions.
Below, we mention some of the main and most used ones. Each one has specific characteristics and functions that can adapt to your needs within the company, as you can see in the next lines.
Wireshark
With this tool it is possible to have visibility over network traffic, analyze it and try to understand it. Known for having integration with hundreds of protocols and applications, this tool is basic and useful for those who need to quickly identify unknown protocols and detailed information about the company's network.
OpenVAS
OpenVAS is a vulnerability scanner that includes over 50,000 scans and allows the user to create their own custom scans. Additionally, OpenVAS can look for vulnerabilities in operational technology, such as industrial control systems, for example.
Sqlmap
sqlmap is a vulnerability testing tool, which specifically targets database servers. It can exploit password cracking, privilege bypassing and also copy database tables.
It is typically used on database servers in a testing environment to avoid exposing sensitive data.
OpenIAM4
One of the best-known open source identity management tools, Open IAM has user and group management, flexible authentication, and automated provisioning. It can greatly help reduce company operational costs and improve identity audits through a centralized control station.
What to do now?
As we can see throughout the text, open source cybersecurity tools are good alternatives for companies and IT professionals looking for low-cost solutions that can be customized according to the company's needs.
Special care must be taken with such tools to ensure that what should be a benefit does not become a nuisance.
The first step is to find a qualified professional to implement solutions of this type, identifying the most appropriate tool to maintain the company's internet security.
Furthermore, always remember that open source solutions are not supported and depend directly on the effort and knowledge of the responsible professional, therefore, they must be treated as a priority in IT tasks.
Complementary solutions can also serve as support for open sources, reducing IT professional working time and, even so, reducing operational costs and increasing productivity.
Firewall solutions that block ports and also manage internet use in the business environment, such as Lumiun, already remove a large workload from the IT professional's shoulders.
Unlike open source software, Lumiun has support for installation and configuration by a qualified team prepared for the diversity of the company's network system. Furthermore, corrections and improvements are made periodically, and the product takes an average of 20 minutes to be installed on the company's network.
If you want to know more about how to use Lumiun in conjunction with an open source tool, or if you already use one, talk to one of our consultants , or take a free trial and see in practice how our solution works and meets your needs. expectations and needs.
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