diff --git a/salt/manager/init.sls b/salt/manager/init.sls
index 0ff4fa85a..c62a41999 100644
--- a/salt/manager/init.sls
+++ b/salt/manager/init.sls
@@ -117,6 +117,51 @@ rules_dir:
     - group: socore
     - makedirs: True
 
+{% if STRELKAMERGED.rules.enabled %}
+strelkarepos:
+  file.managed:
+    - name: /opt/so/conf/strelka/repos.txt
+    - source: salt://strelka/rules/repos.txt.jinja
+    - template: jinja
+    - defaults:
+      STRELKAREPOS: {{ STRELKAMERGED.rules.repos }}
+    - makedirs: True
+strelka-yara-update:
+  {% if MANAGERMERGED.reposync.enabled and not GLOBALS.airgap %}
+  cron.present:
+  {% else %}
+  cron.absent:
+  {% endif %}
+    - user: socore
+    - name: '/usr/sbin/so-yara-update >> /opt/so/log/yarasync/yara-update.log 2>&1'
+    - identifier: strelka-yara-update
+    - hour: '7'
+    - minute: '1'
+strelka-yara-download:
+  {% if MANAGERMERGED.reposync.enabled and not GLOBALS.airgap %}
+  cron.present:
+  {% else %}
+  cron.absent:
+  {% endif %}
+    - user: socore
+    - name: '/usr/sbin/so-yara-download >> /opt/so/log/yarasync/yara-download.log 2>&1'
+    - identifier: strelka-yara-download
+    - hour: '7'
+    - minute: '1'
+{% if not GLOBALS.airgap %}
+update_yara_rules:
+  cmd.run:
+    - name: /usr/sbin/so-yara-update
+    - onchanges:
+      - file: yara_update_scripts
+download_yara_rules:
+  cmd.run:
+    - name: /usr/sbin/so-yara-download
+    - onchanges:
+      - file: yara_update_scripts
+{% endif %}
+{% endif %}
+
 {% else %}
 
 {{sls}}_state_not_allowed:
diff --git a/salt/manager/tools/sbin_jinja/so-yara-download b/salt/manager/tools/sbin_jinja/so-yara-download
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..aa9576253
--- /dev/null
+++ b/salt/manager/tools/sbin_jinja/so-yara-download
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+NOROOT=1
+. /usr/sbin/so-common
+
+{%- set proxy = salt['pillar.get']('manager:proxy') %}
+{%- set noproxy = salt['pillar.get']('manager:no_proxy', '') %}
+
+# Download the rules from the internet
+{%- if proxy %}
+export http_proxy={{ proxy }} 
+export https_proxy={{ proxy }} 
+export no_proxy="{{ noproxy }}" 
+{%- endif %}
+
+repos="/opt/so/conf/strelka/repos.txt"
+output_dir=/nsm/rules/yara
+gh_status=$(curl -s -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" https://github.com)
+clone_dir="/tmp"
+if [ "$gh_status" == "200" ]  || [ "$gh_status" == "301" ]; then
+
+  while IFS= read -r repo; do
+    if ! $(echo "$repo" | grep -qE '^#'); then
+      # Remove old repo if existing bc of previous error condition or unexpected disruption
+      repo_name=`echo $repo | awk -F '/' '{print $NF}'`
+      [ -d $output_dir/$repo_name ] && rm -rf $output_dir/$repo_name
+
+      # Clone repo and make appropriate directories for rules
+      git clone $repo $clone_dir/$repo_name
+      echo "Analyzing rules from $clone_dir/$repo_name..."
+      mkdir -p $output_dir/$repo_name
+      # Ensure a copy of the license is available for the rules
+      [ -f $clone_dir/$repo_name/LICENSE ] && cp $clone_dir/$repo_name/LICENSE $output_dir/$repo_name
+
+      # Copy over rules
+      for i in $(find $clone_dir/$repo_name -name "*.yar*"); do
+        rule_name=$(echo $i | awk -F '/' '{print $NF}')
+        cp $i $output_dir/$repo_name
+     done
+     rm -rf $clone_dir/$repo_name
+    fi
+    done < $repos
+
+  echo "Done!"
+
+/usr/sbin/so-yara-update 
+  
+else
+  echo "Server returned $gh_status status code."
+  echo "No connectivity to Github...exiting..."
+  exit 1
+fi
diff --git a/salt/manager/tools/sbin_jinja/so-yara-update b/salt/manager/tools/sbin_jinja/so-yara-update
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..07c940f47
--- /dev/null
+++ b/salt/manager/tools/sbin_jinja/so-yara-update
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+# Copyright Security Onion Solutions LLC and/or licensed to Security Onion Solutions LLC under one
+# or more contributor license agreements. Licensed under the Elastic License 2.0 as shown at 
+# https://securityonion.net/license; you may not use this file except in compliance with the
+# Elastic License 2.0.
+
+NOROOT=1
+. /usr/sbin/so-common
+
+echo "Starting to check for yara rule updates at $(date)..."
+
+newcounter=0
+excludedcounter=0
+excluded_rules=({{ EXCLUDEDRULES | join(' ') }})
+
+# Pull down the SO Rules
+SORULEDIR=/nsm/rules/yara
+OUTPUTDIR=/opt/so/saltstack/local/salt/strelka/rules
+
+mkdir -p $OUTPUTDIR
+# remove all rules prior to copy so we can clear out old rules
+rm -f $OUTPUTDIR/*
+
+for i in $(find $SORULEDIR -name "*.yar" -o -name "*.yara"); do
+  rule_name=$(echo $i | awk -F '/' '{print $NF}')
+  if [[ ! "${excluded_rules[*]}" =~ ${rule_name} ]]; then
+    echo "Adding rule: $rule_name..."
+    cp $i $OUTPUTDIR/$rule_name
+    ((newcounter++))
+  else
+    echo "Excluding rule: $rule_name..."
+    ((excludedcounter++))
+  fi
+done
+
+if [ "$newcounter" -gt 0 ] || [ "$excludedcounter" -gt 0 ];then
+  echo "$newcounter rules added."
+  echo "$excludedcounter rule(s) excluded."
+fi
+
+echo "Finished rule updates at $(date)..."
diff --git a/salt/strelka/backend/config.sls b/salt/strelka/backend/config.sls
index b39e06ac8..db18a68cc 100644
--- a/salt/strelka/backend/config.sls
+++ b/salt/strelka/backend/config.sls
@@ -50,6 +50,16 @@ backend_taste:
     - user: 939
     - group: 939
 
+{% if STRELKAMERGED.rules.enabled %}
+strelkarules:
+   file.recurse:
+     - name: /opt/so/conf/strelka/rules
+     - source: salt://strelka/rules
+     - user: 939
+     - group: 939
+     - clean: True
+{% endif %}
+
 {% else %}
 
 {{sls}}_state_not_allowed:
diff --git a/salt/strelka/backend/enabled.sls b/salt/strelka/backend/enabled.sls
index 9ebb1a148..fc56f4197 100644
--- a/salt/strelka/backend/enabled.sls
+++ b/salt/strelka/backend/enabled.sls
@@ -42,8 +42,8 @@ strelka_backend:
       {% endfor %}
     {% endif %}
     - restart_policy: on-failure
-    #- watch:
-    #  - file: strelkarules
+    - watch:
+      - file: strelkarules
 
 delete_so-strelka-backend_so-status.disabled:
   file.uncomment: