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Malcolm vs Security Onion: catalog facts
Malcolm	Security Onion
Free Free to use; the source is published on GitHub by CISA.	Freemium The platform is free, while Onion AI features are offered through sales representatives.
Linux, Self-hosted	Linux, Self-hosted
Brings PCAP, Zeek and Suricata data together in one searchable interface Deployable with Docker, Kubernetes or an installable ISO	Complete monitoring platform installed from a single ISO Includes packet capture, detection rules and threat hunting
A large multi-container stack that needs substantial server resources Aimed at trained analysts rather than casual home users	Needs dedicated hardware or virtual machines and setup time Onion AI details are only available through sales
Self-hosted	Self-hosted, Operating system
Open source	Closed source
License not stated	License not stated
Not stated if an account is needed	Not stated if an account is needed
Works offline	Not stated if it works offline
Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026	Official website Full listing and sources Checked September 23, 2026

Catalog facts only. Anything “not stated” is unconfirmed. Check full listings for details.