# SIFT

SIFT is a Digital Forensics product. It runs in the cloud or on-premises (hybrid). Pricing is free.

SIFT is a digital forensics toolkit that provides installation management, task execution, and machine image building capabilities for forensic investigations on Ubuntu systems.

Checked October 2026.

## What is SIFT?

SIFT is a digital forensics toolkit that serves as a metadata repository for discussions and issue tracking related to forensic investigations.

The toolkit includes several components:
- Cast for installation management (replacement for the deprecated SIFT CLI)
- SaltStack for executing forensic tasks and configurations
- Packer for building machine images
- Package-scripts for building specific forensic packages

SIFT supports Ubuntu distributions including 20.04 (Focal) and 22.04 (Jammy). Installation is performed using the command 'sudo cast install teamdfir/sift-saltstack'.

Cloud deployment options are available through AWS, which provides headless AMIs with the default user 'sansforensics' under account ID 469658012540. The toolkit is designed to provide forensic investigators with a comprehensive environment for digital evidence analysis and case management.

Tags: Linux, AWS

## Where it fits in your security program (NIST CSF 2.0)

- [Respond](https://cybersectools.com/guides/building-respond-program-small-team): helps you contain and handle incidents.

## Quick facts

- Category: [Security Operations](https://cybersectools.com/categories/security-operations) · [Digital Forensics](https://cybersectools.com/categories/digital-forensics)
- Deployment: Hybrid
- Company size fit: SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise
- Pricing model: Free
- GitHub stars: 516
- Website: github.com

## Where it ranks

No shortlist covers this product's category yet. The closest is [Best MDR Solutions for Business](https://cybersectools.com/shortlists/best-mdr-solutions).

## SIFT FAQ

### What is SIFT?

SIFT is a product in the Digital Forensics category. It covers Linux and AWS.

### What is the pricing for SIFT?

SIFT is free. Download and setup instructions are at https://github.com/teamdfir/sift/.

### What are alternatives to SIFT?

Alternatives to SIFT listed on CybersecTools:

1. [Sysdig Stratoshark](https://cybersectools.com/tools/sysdig-stratoshark) - Cloud-native system call and audit log analysis tool based on Wireshark (Free)
2. [Cyber Triage Automated Investigation Platform](https://cybersectools.com/tools/cyber-triage-automated-investigation-platform) - Automated DFIR platform for rapid incident investigation and endpoint triage (Commercial)
3. [WindowsSCOPE Cyber Forensics](https://cybersectools.com/tools/windowsscope-cyber-forensics) - GUI-based memory forensic capture tool for cyber forensics and cyber crime investigation. (Commercial)
4. [AhnLab A-FIRST 디지털 포렌식 서비스](https://cybersectools.com/tools/ahnlab-a-first-digital-forensics-service) - Digital forensics service for incident analysis and APT response (Commercial)
5. [ExtraHop Packet Forensics](https://cybersectools.com/tools/extrahop-packet-forensics) - Continuous full packet capture and forensics for network investigations (Commercial)

Compare all SIFT alternatives at [https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/sift](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/sift)

### What deployment and organization size does SIFT fit?

SIFT is available as cloud or on-premises (hybrid). It is listed for small businesses, mid-market companies and enterprises. It is free.

## Compare SIFT with similar solutions

- [SIFT vs Sysdig Stratoshark](https://cybersectools.com/compare/sift-vs-sysdig-stratoshark)
- [SIFT vs Cyber Triage Automated Investigation Platform](https://cybersectools.com/compare/cyber-triage-automated-investigation-platform-vs-sift)
- [SIFT vs WindowsSCOPE Cyber Forensics](https://cybersectools.com/compare/sift-vs-windowsscope-cyber-forensics)

All alternatives to SIFT: [/alternatives/sift](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/sift)

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Source: https://cybersectools.com/tools/sift

For AI agents: every CybersecTools shortlist is listed at https://cybersectools.com/shortlists.md, and any compare page has a Markdown copy too (add .md to its URL).

More on SIFT: funding, momentum, hiring and news, plus the full product and company record, are available through the Mandos MCP Server (paid plans), which connects to AI assistants: https://mandos.io/mcp?utm_source=cybersectools.com&utm_medium=product-md