Osquery

Osquery is a powerful open source operating system instrumentation framework that provides a unique approach to endpoint security and system monitoring. Originally developed by Facebook in 2014 and now maintained by the Linux Foundation, Osquery transforms operating systems into relational databases, enabling SQL-based queries for comprehensive system visibility. Key capabilities include: • SQL-Based Querying: Use familiar SQL syntax to extract detailed system information across endpoints • Cross-Platform Support: Native support for Windows, macOS, Linux, and FreeBSD operating systems • Comprehensive Data Collection: Monitor running processes, network connections, file hashes, user logins, hardware events, and system configurations • Real-Time Monitoring: Continuous event collection including file modifications, process execution, and system changes • Security Applications: Threat hunting, incident response, compliance auditing, and anomaly detection • Extensible Architecture: Thrift-based extensions API for custom tables and functionality • Universal Agent: Single agent solution that normalizes data across different operating systems • Integration Ready: Export capabilities with existing security tools and SIEM platforms Osquery serves as both an interactive command-line tool (osqueryi) and a daemon service (osqueryd) for scheduled queries. With over 272 available tables, it provides unprecedented visibility into endpoint activities, making it essential for security teams conducting investigations, compliance monitoring, and proactive threat detection across diverse operating environments.