Quick Overview
- 1#1: Velociraptor - Open-source DFIR platform for rapid endpoint triage, threat hunting, and artifact collection across large fleets.
- 2#2: TheHive - Collaborative incident response platform designed for triaging, investigating, and managing security alerts.
- 3#3: Osquery - SQL-powered tool for querying and triaging operating system data for security monitoring and forensics.
- 4#4: KAPE - Automated artifact parser and extractor for quick triage collection and timeline generation in DFIR.
- 5#5: Autopsy - User-friendly digital forensics platform for triaging and analyzing disk images and filesystems.
- 6#6: Volatility - Advanced memory forensics framework for triaging volatile data and malware analysis.
- 7#7: Splunk Enterprise Security - SIEM platform with correlation rules and workflows for triaging security incidents from logs.
- 8#8: Elastic Security - Unified SIEM and XDR solution for detecting, triaging, and responding to threats at scale.
- 9#9: MISP - Threat intelligence platform for sharing, storing, and triaging indicators of compromise.
- 10#10: DefectDojo - Open-source vulnerability management tool with workflows for triaging and tracking software defects.
Tools were ranked based on technical robustness, feature relevance, ease of integration, and overall value, ensuring they address the diverse needs of security professionals across varying operational scales.
Comparison Table
This comparison table examines key triage software tools, including Velociraptor, TheHive, Osquery, KAPE, and Autopsy, highlighting their core features and practical applications. Readers will learn how these tools differ, aiding in selecting the right solution for incident response and forensic analysis tasks.
| # | Tool | Category | Overall | Features | Ease of Use | Value |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Velociraptor Open-source DFIR platform for rapid endpoint triage, threat hunting, and artifact collection across large fleets. | specialized | 9.7/10 | 9.9/10 | 8.5/10 | 10/10 |
| 2 | TheHive Collaborative incident response platform designed for triaging, investigating, and managing security alerts. | specialized | 9.1/10 | 9.5/10 | 7.8/10 | 9.8/10 |
| 3 | Osquery SQL-powered tool for querying and triaging operating system data for security monitoring and forensics. | specialized | 8.8/10 | 9.5/10 | 7.8/10 | 9.8/10 |
| 4 | KAPE Automated artifact parser and extractor for quick triage collection and timeline generation in DFIR. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.4/10 | 7.2/10 | 10.0/10 |
| 5 | Autopsy User-friendly digital forensics platform for triaging and analyzing disk images and filesystems. | specialized | 8.2/10 | 9.1/10 | 6.8/10 | 9.5/10 |
| 6 | Volatility Advanced memory forensics framework for triaging volatile data and malware analysis. | specialized | 8.7/10 | 9.5/10 | 6.5/10 | 10.0/10 |
| 7 | Splunk Enterprise Security SIEM platform with correlation rules and workflows for triaging security incidents from logs. | enterprise | 8.4/10 | 9.3/10 | 6.7/10 | 7.6/10 |
| 8 | Elastic Security Unified SIEM and XDR solution for detecting, triaging, and responding to threats at scale. | enterprise | 8.4/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.5/10 | 8.1/10 |
| 9 | MISP Threat intelligence platform for sharing, storing, and triaging indicators of compromise. | specialized | 8.5/10 | 9.2/10 | 7.0/10 | 9.8/10 |
| 10 | DefectDojo Open-source vulnerability management tool with workflows for triaging and tracking software defects. | specialized | 7.8/10 | 8.5/10 | 6.8/10 | 9.5/10 |
Open-source DFIR platform for rapid endpoint triage, threat hunting, and artifact collection across large fleets.
Collaborative incident response platform designed for triaging, investigating, and managing security alerts.
SQL-powered tool for querying and triaging operating system data for security monitoring and forensics.
Automated artifact parser and extractor for quick triage collection and timeline generation in DFIR.
User-friendly digital forensics platform for triaging and analyzing disk images and filesystems.
Advanced memory forensics framework for triaging volatile data and malware analysis.
SIEM platform with correlation rules and workflows for triaging security incidents from logs.
Unified SIEM and XDR solution for detecting, triaging, and responding to threats at scale.
Threat intelligence platform for sharing, storing, and triaging indicators of compromise.
Open-source vulnerability management tool with workflows for triaging and tracking software defects.
Velociraptor
specializedOpen-source DFIR platform for rapid endpoint triage, threat hunting, and artifact collection across large fleets.
VQL (Velociraptor Query Language), enabling arbitrary, real-time queries and artifact collection across entire fleets with unparalleled flexibility.
Velociraptor is an open-source digital forensics and incident response (DFIR) platform that excels in endpoint triage, threat hunting, and rapid data collection across large fleets of devices. It uses the powerful Velociraptor Query Language (VQL) to execute custom queries for forensic artifacts, volatile memory analysis, and real-time monitoring. The tool's notebook-style GUI facilitates collaborative investigations, making it a top choice for security teams needing scalable, flexible triage capabilities.
Pros
- Exceptionally powerful VQL for custom artifact collection and threat hunting
- Scalable to thousands of endpoints with low overhead
- Open-source with active community and frequent updates
Cons
- Steep learning curve for VQL and advanced features
- Initial server setup can be complex for non-experts
- Resource usage may increase on heavily monitored endpoints
Best For
Security operations centers (SOCs) and incident response teams requiring advanced, scalable endpoint triage and threat hunting across enterprise fleets.
Pricing
Completely free and open-source; optional commercial support and hosting available via Velocidex.
TheHive
specializedCollaborative incident response platform designed for triaging, investigating, and managing security alerts.
Observable-centric triage with Cortex integration for one-click automated analysis and enrichment
TheHive is an open-source incident response platform designed for security operations centers (SOCs) to triage, investigate, and manage cybersecurity alerts and incidents efficiently. It enables analysts to create structured cases from incoming alerts, enrich observables with integrated analyzers via Cortex, and collaborate through tasks, logs, and sharing. With strong integrations to tools like MISP for threat intelligence, it streamlines the triage process from alert ingestion to resolution.
Pros
- Highly extensible with Cortex analyzers and responders for automated triage enrichment
- Robust case management and collaboration tools tailored for SOC workflows
- Open-source with strong community support and integrations like MISP
Cons
- Complex initial setup requiring Docker or Kubernetes expertise
- UI feels dated compared to commercial alternatives
- Full functionality often needs additional components like Cortex
Best For
SOC teams and incident responders seeking a scalable, free platform for structured alert triage and investigation.
Pricing
Free open-source core; optional enterprise support and hosting via partners like StrangeBee starting at custom quotes.
Osquery
specializedSQL-powered tool for querying and triaging operating system data for security monitoring and forensics.
Treating the entire operating system as a SQL-queryable relational database for unprecedented host visibility
Osquery is an open-source tool developed by Facebook that exposes operating system data as a high-performance relational database, enabling users to query system information using SQL. It provides deep visibility into processes, files, network connections, users, and hardware across Linux, macOS, Windows, and other platforms. In triage scenarios, it excels at rapid host forensics, live response, and endpoint monitoring by allowing ad-hoc queries during incident investigations.
Pros
- Extremely powerful SQL querying for real-time system introspection
- Broad cross-platform support and vast ecosystem of pre-built queries
- Highly extensible with custom tables, packs, and SIEM integrations
Cons
- Steep learning curve for mastering the schema and query optimization
- Scalable deployment requires additional management layers like Fleet
- Primarily CLI-focused with limited built-in GUI for beginners
Best For
Security incident responders and SOC analysts needing deep, query-driven host triage and forensics at scale.
Pricing
Free and open-source (Apache 2.0); enterprise management via FleetDM (free OSS tier) or paid support from partners.
KAPE
specializedAutomated artifact parser and extractor for quick triage collection and timeline generation in DFIR.
The flexible Targets and Modules system allowing customizable, lightning-fast triage collections tailored to specific investigations
KAPE (Kroll Artifact Parser and Extractor) is a free, open-source digital forensics tool designed for rapid triage and artifact extraction from Windows systems, disk images, and memory dumps. It employs a modular system of Targets (for collecting files) and Modules (for parsing artifacts like browsers, event logs, and registries), enabling quick identification of key evidence. Primarily command-line driven with optional GUI support, it's optimized for DFIR triage where time-sensitive analysis is essential.
Pros
- Extensive library of over 100 modules and targets for comprehensive artifact coverage
- Extremely fast processing speeds ideal for triage scenarios
- Free and open-source with frequent community-driven updates
Cons
- Steep learning curve due to command-line focus and configuration requirements
- Primarily Windows-centric with limited cross-platform support
- Requires significant disk space for outputs and dependencies
Best For
DFIR analysts and incident responders needing rapid, targeted artifact extraction during time-critical investigations.
Pricing
Completely free and open-source.
Autopsy
specializedUser-friendly digital forensics platform for triaging and analyzing disk images and filesystems.
Modular ingest process with customizable triage modules for rapid, targeted data extraction and reporting
Autopsy is an open-source digital forensics platform built on The Sleuth Kit, providing a graphical interface for analyzing disk images, smartphones, and local drives. It excels in triage by enabling rapid keyword searches, timeline reconstruction, hash lookups, and recent activity reporting to quickly identify relevant evidence. While powerful for initial assessments, it transitions seamlessly to full investigations with its modular architecture.
Pros
- Completely free and open-source with no licensing costs
- Rich ecosystem of modules for keyword search, timelines, and hash analysis
- Highly customizable for tailored triage workflows
Cons
- Steep learning curve for non-expert users
- Resource-intensive on hardware for large datasets
- Less streamlined automation compared to commercial triage tools
Best For
Budget-conscious forensic investigators or teams needing a versatile, no-cost solution for initial digital evidence triage.
Pricing
Free (open-source); optional paid training and enterprise support from Basis Technology.
Volatility
specializedAdvanced memory forensics framework for triaging volatile data and malware analysis.
Advanced symbol table support for precise parsing of OS-specific memory structures across versions
Volatility 3 is an open-source memory forensics framework that analyzes volatile memory dumps from Windows, Linux, macOS, and other systems to extract critical artifacts like processes, network connections, injected code, and malware indicators. It excels in incident response triage by enabling rapid identification of suspicious activities without requiring the original system. With a plugin-based architecture, it supports automated scripting for scalable analysis in forensic investigations.
Pros
- Extensive plugin library for deep memory artifact extraction
- Cross-platform support for major OSes
- Fully scriptable for automation in triage workflows
Cons
- Command-line only with no native GUI
- Steep learning curve for non-experts
- Resource-intensive on very large memory dumps
Best For
Experienced incident responders and forensic analysts performing memory-based triage in high-stakes investigations.
Pricing
Free (open-source)
Splunk Enterprise Security
enterpriseSIEM platform with correlation rules and workflows for triaging security incidents from logs.
Incident Review dashboard with dynamic risk scoring for rapid, context-aware alert triage
Splunk Enterprise Security (ES) is a premium SIEM platform designed for enterprise-scale security operations, ingesting and correlating massive volumes of log data to detect anomalies and threats. It provides a centralized Incident Review dashboard for triaging alerts, using risk-based scoring to prioritize high-impact incidents. ES integrates with Splunk's broader ecosystem for investigation, response orchestration, and threat hunting workflows.
Pros
- Powerful risk-based alerting and incident prioritization for efficient triage
- Highly scalable with advanced correlation searches and ML-driven analytics
- Deep integration with SOAR for automated response actions
Cons
- Steep learning curve requiring Splunk expertise
- High resource consumption and complex setup
- Premium pricing limits accessibility for smaller teams
Best For
Large enterprises with dedicated SecOps teams handling high-volume alerts that need advanced analytics for precise incident triage.
Pricing
Custom enterprise licensing based on daily data ingestion (GB/day); typically $10,000+ annually for mid-sized deployments, scaling steeply with volume.
Elastic Security
enterpriseUnified SIEM and XDR solution for detecting, triaging, and responding to threats at scale.
Interactive Timeline for pivoting through alerts, processes, and network events in a single investigative view
Elastic Security, built on the Elastic Stack, is a unified platform providing SIEM, endpoint detection and response (EDR), threat hunting, and cloud security capabilities. It excels in ingesting vast amounts of log data from diverse sources, applying detection rules, and enabling rapid incident triage through Kibana's powerful querying and visualization tools. Security analysts can investigate alerts using interactive timelines, entity explorers, and response actions to prioritize and remediate threats efficiently.
Pros
- Highly scalable for massive data volumes with petabyte-scale search
- Extensive library of pre-built detection rules and custom rule support
- Unified view across SIEM, EDR, and threat hunting for streamlined triage
Cons
- Steep learning curve requiring ELK Stack expertise
- Resource-intensive for self-hosted deployments
- Complex pricing model that scales with data ingestion
Best For
Large enterprises with experienced SOC teams needing a customizable, high-volume triage platform.
Pricing
Free tier available; paid plans (Gold/Platinum/Enterprise) start at ~$95/user/month, with Elastic Cloud priced by resources and data volume.
MISP
specializedThreat intelligence platform for sharing, storing, and triaging indicators of compromise.
Advanced event correlation engine that automatically links and enriches related IoCs across shared intelligence feeds
MISP (Malware Information Sharing Platform) is an open-source threat intelligence platform that enables the collection, storage, sharing, and correlation of Indicators of Compromise (IoCs) and cybersecurity events. It supports structured data models for malware campaigns, vulnerabilities, and targeted attacks, allowing users to collaborate securely across organizations. In triage workflows, MISP excels at prioritizing threats by correlating disparate indicators, integrating with other tools, and providing contextual analysis via its Galaxy knowledge base.
Pros
- Powerful IOC correlation and event enrichment for efficient threat prioritization
- Extensive ecosystem of integrations and export formats (STIX, OpenIOC, etc.)
- Free, open-source with a large community and regular updates
Cons
- Steep learning curve and complex initial setup for self-hosting
- Web interface feels dated and less intuitive for non-experts
- Requires significant maintenance and server resources for production use
Best For
Security operations centers (SOCs) and threat intelligence teams needing collaborative IOC sharing and correlation for incident triage.
Pricing
Free and open-source (self-hosted); optional paid support via partners.
DefectDojo
specializedOpen-source vulnerability management tool with workflows for triaging and tracking software defects.
Advanced deduplication engine that intelligently merges duplicate findings across scanners
DefectDojo is an open-source DevSecOps platform designed for managing and triaging application security vulnerabilities from various scanners. It centralizes findings, enables deduplication, risk assessment, prioritization, and remediation tracking through customizable workflows. The tool supports integrations with over 100 scanners and tools, making it suitable for security teams handling diverse testing outputs.
Pros
- Extensive integrations with 100+ scanners for comprehensive vulnerability import
- Powerful deduplication and customizable triage workflows reduce noise
- Robust reporting and JIRA/Slack integrations for team collaboration
Cons
- Self-hosted setup requires DevOps expertise and infrastructure
- User interface is functional but dated and less intuitive
- Limited built-in automation and AI features compared to commercial alternatives
Best For
Security teams in mid-sized organizations with technical resources seeking a free, customizable platform for vulnerability triage and management.
Pricing
Free open-source software; self-hosted with no licensing costs.
Conclusion
The top triage software reviewed provide powerful tools for managing security, incident response, and threat analysis, with Velociraptor leading as the best choice for rapid endpoint triage and large-fleet management. TheHive excels with its collaborative workflows, while Osquery’s SQL-powered approach simplifies querying operating system data. Together, these tools cater to diverse needs, ensuring effective triage across various environments.
Experience Velociraptor’s strengths firsthand—test its open-source capabilities to enhance your triage efficiency and streamline security operations.
Tools Reviewed
All tools were independently evaluated for this comparison
