Profile
Sysdig is a comprehensive cloud-native application protection platform that combines security, compliance, and monitoring capabilities for containerized environments. Built on deep kernel-level instrumentation, it provides unified visibility and control across container ecosystems and Kubernetes deployments. The platform integrates runtime security, vulnerability management, and compliance monitoring with AI-powered threat analysis. Originally developed by Wireshark co-creator Loris Degioanni, Sysdig has evolved into a mature enterprise solution backed by significant venture funding and widespread adoption in production environments.
Focus
Sysdig addresses the fundamental challenge of securing and monitoring dynamic, ephemeral containerized environments where traditional tools fall short. The platform solves the operational complexity of monitoring distributed microservices architectures by providing comprehensive visibility without requiring container modifications. It enables organizations to implement consistent security controls, maintain compliance, and gain deep observability across their cloud-native infrastructure. Primary users include DevOps teams, security professionals, and platform engineers managing containerized applications and Kubernetes environments.
Background
Founded in 2013, Sysdig began as an open-source system visibility tool before expanding into a full-featured security and monitoring platform. The company maintains both open-source projects (including the core sysdig tool and Falco runtime security engine) and commercial enterprise offerings. The platform operates under a dual licensing model, with open-source components using Apache 2.0 licenses while commercial features remain proprietary. Falco has graduated from the CNCF, demonstrating the maturity of Sysdig's open-source foundations and community governance model.
Main features
Kernel-level container monitoring and visibility
The platform's foundation is built on sophisticated kernel instrumentation that captures system calls and OS events without requiring container modifications. This architecture enables comprehensive visibility into container behavior, network traffic, and system interactions across distributed environments. The monitoring system correlates data from multiple sources including system calls, network activity, file system events, and Kubernetes metadata to provide detailed insights into application behavior and performance patterns.
Runtime security and threat detection
Powered by the Falco engine, Sysdig provides continuous runtime security monitoring for container environments. The system implements rule-based threat detection across hosts, containers, and cloud environments, identifying security incidents such as privilege escalation attempts, container escapes, and suspicious process launches. The architecture enables real-time threat detection and automated response capabilities, with support for custom security policies and integration with existing security workflows.
Vulnerability and compliance management
The platform implements a sophisticated approach to vulnerability management that focuses on runtime package analysis rather than static scanning alone. This system provides accurate risk assessment by identifying vulnerabilities in packages actually loaded during execution, significantly reducing false positives. The compliance engine automates adherence to major standards including PCI, NIST, and CIS benchmarks, with built-in policies and continuous compliance monitoring capabilities that generate comprehensive audit trails.
