Corelight
Corelight, founded in 2013 by Vern Paxson and Robin Sommer, emerged from the open-source Zeek (formerly Bro) network security monitoring project.
Profile
Corelight provides network detection and response solutions that turn network data into security evidence.
Corelight, founded in 2013 by Vern Paxson and Robin Sommer, emerged from the open-source Zeek (formerly Bro) network security monitoring project. The company commercializes Zeek's capabilities, transforming raw network data into actionable security evidence. Corelight's Open NDR Platform combines dynamic network detections, AI, intrusion detection (IDS), and packet capture (PCAP) into a single tool, leveraging both proprietary and open-source technologies like Zeek, Suricata, and YARA.
The platform is designed to improve detection coverage, accelerate incident response, and increase SOC efficiency. Corelight has gained recognition as a leader in the NDR space, with accolades from Gartner, Forrester, and others. Recent integrations with CrowdStrike Charlotte AI and Cisco Cloud Control highlight its focus on AI-driven SOC workflows.
The company's Entity Collection, introduced in 2025, synthesizes network data into compact logs for faster threat hunting and incident response. Corelight serves a global customer base, including enterprises and government agencies, with a focus on reducing visibility gaps and improving detection accuracy.
Who buys this
- Enterprises with large-scale network security needs
- Government agencies and defense organizations
- Financial institutions and healthcare providers
- Managed security service providers (MSSPs)
- Critical infrastructure operators
Strengths and what to watch
Strengths
- Deep integration with open-source Zeek (Bro) for comprehensive network visibility
- AI-driven workflows that reduce alert fatigue and accelerate triage
- Broad ecosystem integrations with major security platforms like CrowdStrike and Cisco
Watch for
- Dependence on open-source components may limit differentiation as competitors adopt similar approaches
- High-volume network data processing requires significant infrastructure resources
- Competition from larger security vendors expanding into NDR space
Recent moves
Key Information
- Founded
- 2013
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Corelight do?
Corelight provides network detection and response (NDR) solutions that transform raw network data into security evidence. Their Open NDR Platform combines AI, intrusion detection, and packet capture, built on open-source Zeek technology. It helps enterprises improve threat visibility and accelerate incident response.
How does Corelight's platform work?
Corelight's platform processes network traffic using Zeek's monitoring capabilities, enhanced with proprietary AI and integrations like Suricata. It analyzes data for threats, creates compact logs via Entity Collection, and integrates with tools like CrowdStrike for streamlined SOC workflows.
Who uses Corelight's security solutions?
Corelight serves enterprises, government agencies, financial institutions, and critical infrastructure operators. Their platform suits organizations needing comprehensive network visibility, especially those managing large-scale environments or regulated data like healthcare providers and MSSPs.
What makes Corelight different from other NDR tools?
Corelight uniquely combines Zeek's open-source monitoring with commercial-grade AI detection and broad ecosystem integrations. Their Entity Collection reduces data volume without losing forensic detail, while partnerships with Cisco and CrowdStrike enhance threat response capabilities.
What are Corelight's recent product updates?
In 2025, Corelight launched Entity Collection for faster threat hunting. They've since integrated with CrowdStrike Charlotte AI and demonstrated their Open NDR Platform at InCyber Forum 2026, showcasing AI-driven workflows for modern SOC teams.
Is Corelight good for large enterprises?
Yes, Corelight specializes in large-scale deployments, offering high-performance network analysis and reduced visibility gaps. However, its resource requirements mean organizations need robust infrastructure to fully leverage its capabilities against competitors.
Sources
- corelight.com — Description of Open NDR Platform
- corelight.com — Information about Entity Collection
- corelight.com — Recent event participation
- corelight.com — Product capabilities and use cases