SEC (Simple Event Correlator) review

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

SEC (Simple Event Correlator) is a lightweight, open-source tool for processing and correlating events from logs and other sources. It is aimed at technical users handling log monitoring, network or security management, fraud detection, and related event-processing tasks. The tool runs on Linux and Windows, and can operate as a daemon, in shell pipelines, or interactively. Its configurable rules and self-hosted operation suit teams that want to shape event handling directly rather than use a hosted alert-management service.

SEC’s depth is in rule-based correlation. It matches events with regular expressions or Perl-based patterns and correlates them within configurable time windows. Rule types include thresholds, pairs, event groups, calendars, and suppression; contexts can activate or deactivate rules, aggregate events, and support reporting. Contexts also help suppress alerts and prevent duplicate reports. SEC can generate synthetic events, while actions can execute external programs or send mail. This range gives technical teams tools to express event-processing logic, though it puts the emphasis on configuration rather than a broad, ready-made interface.

The event paths are flexible for a self-hosted tool: SEC reads from files, named pipes, and standard input, and handles TCP and UDP. It can write files, send data over TCP or UDP, or invoke Perl subroutines. Mail and SNMP are among its listed integrations. The trade-off is that SEC is a command-line correlator, not a hosted alert-management service, and its integration and interface scope is narrower than that of broader platforms. Choose it if you want open-source correlation and control over event rules and deployment; look elsewhere if you need a hosted service or a wider platform ecosystem.

SEC (Simple Event Correlator) pros and cons

• Where it wins
  • Correlates matching events within configurable time windows
  • Rules cover thresholds, suppression, duplicate prevention, and event groups
  • Accepts events through files, pipes, standard input, TCP, and UDP
• Where it doesn't
  • Command-line tool rather than a hosted alert-management service
  • Rules and operation may demand technical setup and maintenance
  • Narrower integration and interface options than broader alert platforms

SEC (Simple Event Correlator) fact sheet, pricing and score →

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Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update