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Fluency vs. Splunk Enterprise Security

Splunk's brand is iconic in cybersecurity and observability. But its strength as a log search engine has also become its ceiling. It was built for a world where storing and querying large datasets was the hard part. Today, that problem has shifted—we now need real-time decision-making, not better archives.

The Cisco acquisition, in that context, highlights a tension. Cisco is focused on consolidating and integrating its stack. That's not a bad strategy—but it's a slow one. It puts Splunk in a defensive posture during a time when the market is being redefined by AI-driven detection, autonomous response, and streaming-first architectures. In contrast, newer or more focused vendors like Fluency can move faster and design around these new capabilities from the ground up.

AI Implementation

Logs Aren't Enough—Detection Requires Process

Splunk is an excellent log collector and search engine. But it wasn't built for real-time threat detection or autonomous workflows. Fluency, by contrast, is a full-process system that handles alert evaluation, scoping, response, and review using live data and intelligent logic.

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DSplunk Enterprise Security

Splunk Enterprise Security: Splunk is an excellent log collector and search engine, but it wasn't built for real-time threat detection or autonomous workflows. Its strength as a log search engine has also become its ceiling in the modern AI-driven security landscape.
• Query-based detection introduces lag and misses live context
• Expensive index/search cycles discourage high-fidelity detection
• No native AI workflows for triage, response, or remediation
• Heavy reliance on SOAR for post-alert handling
• Rules must be manually tuned and maintained without feedback loops
Fluency: Fluency isn't just a destination for logs—it's a system that reacts. Every alert is evaluated in context, enriched with history, and handled by AI workflows that perform or recommend action in real time.
• Streaming-first architecture—no search delay, no polling
• Structured AI workflows from validation through remediation
• Integrated MCP support for memory, state, and context handling
• Actions are executed directly—not just recommended
• Reduced need for SOAR thanks to native automation and logic

Detection Philosophy

Search vs. Stream: Two Detection Mindsets

Splunk treats detection as a saved search problem: find events after they happen. Fluency treats detection as an ongoing process—evaluating state and behavior as data flows through the system.

Splunk Enterprise Security: Splunk treats detection as a saved search problem: find events after they happen. It's built around the concept of storing logs and then querying them retrospectively, which introduces inherent delays and misses real-time context.
• Detection is done by scheduled queries or dashboards
• No awareness of prior events or behavioral chains
• Alert floods require external tooling to manage
• Custom rule logic must be hand-built in SPL
• Reactive approach—threats are found after they occur
Fluency: Fluency treats detection as an ongoing process—evaluating state and behavior as data flows through the system. It's built for streaming processing and real-time decision-making rather than retrospective analysis.
• Logic executes inline—evaluating and responding in real time
• Tracks memory and thresholds across behavior streams
• FPL makes rule logic reusable and auditable
• Handles scoping and ticket closure automatically
• Proactive approach—threats are neutralized as they emerge

Direct Comparison

Head-to-Head: Fluency vs Splunk Enterprise Security

See how Fluency's streaming AI workflows compare to Splunk's search-based detection. While Splunk excels at log analysis, Fluency excels at real-time threat response.

Feature	Fluency	Splunk ES
Detection Method	Streaming AI workflows	Saved searches
Latency	Sub-second	5–15 minutes typical
AI Capability	Real-time decision engine	Experimental, unstructured
Remediation	Autonomous ticket resolution	Manual via SOAR
Cost Profile	Flat or usage-tiered	Data ingest + compute + retention

Real-time processing.: Fluency processes events as they occur with sub-second latency, while Splunk relies on scheduled searches with 5-15 minute delays.
Cost efficiency.: Fluency uses flat or usage-tiered pricing, while Splunk charges for data ingest, compute, and retention separately.
AI integration.: Fluency has structured AI workflows built-in, while Splunk's AI capabilities are experimental and unstructured.
Autonomous response.: Fluency closes tickets and takes action automatically, while Splunk requires manual intervention via SOAR.
Streaming architecture.: Fluency evaluates data as it flows, while Splunk stores everything first then searches retrospectively.
Rule management.: Fluency uses FPL for clear, reusable logic, while Splunk requires hand-built SPL with manual maintenance.

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