Beelzebub

Beelzebub is a security deception platform that uses protocol decoys and canary credentials to surface attacker activity. It suits security teams seeking investigation context as well as detection, especially those able to operate a self-hosted deployment. Its strongest case is the free, open-source core; teams wanting managed service or enterprise support should consider the trial and enterprise options.

Overview

Beelzebub combines multi-layer decoys, credential lures and cloud decoys, covering HTTP, SSH, Telnet, MCP and other protocols. That range is useful for teams looking to observe activity across different services rather than deploy a single-purpose honeypot. The free core is self-hosted, which avoids a license charge but leaves deployment and operation with the team.

Key features

Session investigation

Specialized agents investigate decoy sessions for triage, threat hunting, malware analysis, incident response and reporting. Each session yields a plain-English account of attacker actions, observed techniques and captured artifacts, linked to the original session. This gives analysts context to review after a decoy is triggered, while keeping the evidence tied to the event rather than presenting only a bare alert.

Integrations and controls

APIs and webhooks route structured events and investigation context into workflows, with integrations spanning SIEM, SOAR, identity, firewall and cloud systems. The maker says deployments can run through Docker or Kubernetes in cloud and on-premises environments, with local model options for restricted and air-gapped evaluation. Active testing can be restricted to an approved scope, and exploitation requires human approval with evidence preserved for review; those controls suit deliberate evaluation, though they do not remove the need for human oversight.

Reporting and assurance

Findings can be mapped to MITRE ATT&CK, NIST CSF, ISO 27001, DORA and NIS2. The site lists ISO 9001:2015 and ISO/IEC 27001:2022 certifications. These are useful for teams that need findings organized against established frameworks, but the practical value depends on how those mappings fit the team's own reporting process.

Pricing

Open source

The Open source plan costs nothing and includes the core framework with self-hosted deployment. The FAQ says the core framework is open source and can be self-hosted for free, making this the natural starting point for teams prepared to run it themselves. A 14-day free trial of the managed platform includes enterprise features, while enterprise customers can request a 30-day proof of concept with guided evaluation and dedicated technical support. Enterprise pricing is custom pricing.

Community support is through GitHub issues and documentation. Enterprise customers have 24/7 phone and chat support, a meaningful distinction for teams that need direct assistance rather than community channels.

Platforms

Beelzebub lists API, Linux and self-hosted support. The maker describes Docker and Kubernetes deployment across cloud and on-premises environments. Local model options are intended for restricted or air-gapped evaluation, while the free plan specifically uses self-hosted deployment.

Who it's for

Beelzebub is a good fit for security teams that want multi-protocol deception and session-level investigation in one system, and that can manage a self-hosted core or evaluate the managed platform. Its reporting and framework mapping also suit teams that need findings organized for investigation and security programs. It is less suitable for users seeking a simple standalone decoy with no operational burden or for teams that require enterprise support without moving beyond the community route.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Decoys span HTTP, SSH, Telnet, MCP and other protocols, with multi-layer scope, credential lures and cloud decoys.
• Pros: Session summaries connect attacker actions, techniques and artifacts to the original decoy session, supporting investigation rather than detection alone.
• Pros: The open-source core is free to self-host, and the managed platform offers a 14-day trial with enterprise features.
• Cons: The free core is self-hosted, so teams must take responsibility for operating the deployment.
• Cons: Community support relies on GitHub issues and documentation; 24/7 phone and chat support is for enterprise customers.

Alternatives

For a broader set of honeypot software, compare tools by deployment and investigation needs. Canarytokens is a free hosted-token option, with no free trial, for readers who want tokens deployed through its hosted service. OpenCanary is free, open-source and self-hosted on Linux or macOS, a simpler fit for readers prioritizing a self-managed honeypot. T-Pot is a free open-source self-hosted choice across Linux, macOS and Windows, though hardware and network requirements apply. Cowrie is a free, BSD-licensed SSH and Telnet honeypot for readers focused on those protocols. Endlessh is a free SSH tarpit, suitable when that narrower role is the goal; it defaults to a maximum of 4096 clients. Honeyd is distributed free of charge under the GPL for readers seeking that licensed option. Honeytrap is free Apache-licensed software for self-managed Linux deployment. MedPot is a free open-source repository for Linux self-hosting that requires Go 1.17 or newer.

Verdict

Choose Beelzebub if your security team wants broad decoy coverage paired with session investigation and can operate the free self-hosted core. The combination of forensic summaries, workflow integrations and framework mapping gives it a stronger investigation focus than a basic decoy. Look elsewhere if you want a narrowly focused honeypot or cannot take on self-hosting and need community support alone.