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Security Onion vs SolarWinds Kiwi Syslog Server comparison

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Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 9, 2024

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

Security Onion
Ranking in Log Management
22nd
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.0
Number of Reviews
7
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
SolarWinds Kiwi Syslog Server
Ranking in Log Management
25th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.6
Number of Reviews
7
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2026, in the Log Management category, the mindshare of Security Onion is 1.6%, down from 4.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of SolarWinds Kiwi Syslog Server is 1.1%, down from 1.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Log Management Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Security Onion1.6%
SolarWinds Kiwi Syslog Server1.1%
Other97.3%
Log Management
 

Featured Reviews

MS
Hands-on monitoring has built my threat detection skills and now supports my graduate research
The biggest challenges I have experienced with Security Onion are the learning curve and resource requirements, as it is not necessarily something you can install and immediately understand without networking and Linux knowledge. I actually encountered an HTTP 500 error with the management interface recently, which required troubleshooting and expanding my storage, showing me how important storage planning and system maintenance are when running Security Onion. What I would improve about Security Onion is probably the documentation around troubleshooting common issues, particularly storage management, and making the interface more approachable for new users. Having documentation of what works best would help, especially since you can have nodes or have it all built-in one as a standalone. If you use nodes, you have to have several different Security Onion instances downloaded, then have a manager and connect all of them together.
SJ
Network Security Engineer at a comms service provider with 51-200 employees
Valuable log segregation aids in auditing, but Windows integration needs enhancement
Our primary use case for Kiwi Syslog is for gathering logs necessary for auditing purposes I appreciate that with Kiwi Syslog, we can segregate the logs based on the display, such as using different colors and fonts, which helps greatly in identifying logs by their severity. This feature is…

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"Security Onion has positively impacted my organization by enabling students to analyze logs, understand network traffic, comprehend intrusion detection, and utilize threat hunting and incident response skills in a practical environment, which are best practices we have implemented with the students."
"What I appreciate most about Security Onion is that it combines multiple security monitoring tools into one platform."
"Security Onion is the most mature solution in the market."
"The most valuable feature of Security Onion for security monitoring is its ability to find infected ports."
"Security Onion is a completely open-source and free platform, making it a cost-effective solution that works smoothly and effectively for our organization."
"Security Onion brings these tools together in one platform, making it easier to investigate security events and understand what's happening across the network."
"We use Security Onion for internal vulnerability assessment."
"The most valuable features of SolarWinds Kiwi Syslog Server include its ability to provide network mapping and deliver information to my customers about their networks through various methods."
"The most valuable feature of this solution is the alerting based on the security logs."
"The most valuable feature of SolarWinds Kiwi Syslog Server is its performance and management. Additionally, the solution integrates well."
"The best thing about Kiwi Syslog is that it filters logs into different levels."
"I appreciate that with Kiwi Syslog, we can segregate the logs based on the display, such as using different colors and fonts, which helps greatly in identifying logs by their severity."
"If anyone needs log management, we recommend SolarWinds Kiwi Syslog Server."
"I definitely recommend this solution."
"We are very happy with the stability of the solution."
 

Cons

"The initial setup of the solution is a little bit difficult."
"The product is not easy to learn."
"The biggest challenges I have experienced with Security Onion are the learning curve and resource requirements, as it is not necessarily something you can install and immediately understand without networking and Linux knowledge."
"One way Security Onion could improve is by making the initial setup and configuration easier, especially for new users."
"Security Onion's user interface could be improved."
"One of the improvements for Security Onion could be to address the issue of many logs and false positive alerts by reducing the number of false positives, as storage management is very hard sometimes due to a lack of storage space for logs, and they could implement methods to expand storage."
"Security Onion can be made easier to set up initially, as it is somewhat difficult at the start, but once configured, it becomes a great tool to use."
"There is a need for an on-premises solution, which could lead to easier sales in larger markets."
"I would like to have email notifications for emergency logs."
"Technical support could definitely be better."
"The Windows log forwarder is not functioning properly. This is a significant concern, as it led to losing a deal due to the inability to provide Windows logs effectively."
"The Windows log forwarder is not functioning properly."
"SolarWinds pricing is perceived as very high in the market, which can be a barrier for many customers."
"I would like to see better search functions and better filters in the next release."
"I would like to see a more user-friendly and customizable dashboard."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Security Onion is an open-source solution."
"It is an open-source solution."
"Security Onion is a free solution."
"We subscribe and pay directly on the website."
"The price of SolarWinds Kiwi Syslog Server could improve."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Comms Service Provider
12%
University
11%
Government
10%
Construction Company
8%
Financial Services Firm
11%
Government
11%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Comms Service Provider
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business3
Midsize Enterprise1
Large Enterprise5
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business4
Midsize Enterprise1
Large Enterprise2
 

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Security Onion?
Security Onion does not require any cost, as it is open-source and free.
What needs improvement with Security Onion?
Security Onion can be made easier to set up initially, as it is somewhat difficult at the start, but once configured, it becomes a great tool to use. I assigned a rating of eight out of ten because...
What advice do you have for others considering Security Onion?
Security Onion is a completely open-source and free platform, making it a cost-effective solution that works smoothly and effectively for our organization. Security Onion integrates well with our e...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SolarWinds Kiwi Syslog Server?
SolarWinds pricing is perceived as very high in the market, which can be a barrier for many customers.
What needs improvement with SolarWinds Kiwi Syslog Server?
The Windows log forwarder is not functioning properly. This is a significant concern, as it led to losing a deal due to the inability to provide Windows logs effectively. It should be more user-fri...
What is your primary use case for SolarWinds Kiwi Syslog Server?
Our primary use case for Kiwi Syslog is for gathering logs necessary for auditing purposes.
 

Also Known As

No data available
Kiwi Syslog Server
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
Holy Cross Energy, West Texas A&M University, Medium Enterprise Industrial Manufacturing Company
Find out what your peers are saying about Security Onion vs. SolarWinds Kiwi Syslog Server and other solutions. Updated: September 2026.
917,433 professionals have used our research since 2012.