Ranked based on agentless efficiency, risk prioritization, multicloud support, and ease of deployment.
1. Wiz (Best Overall)
Strengths:
- Fully agentless, deploys in minutes.
- Best-in-class risk prioritization (contextual cloud risks).
- Unified visibility across VMs, containers, serverless, and IaC.
- Strong Identity & Entitlement Management.
Weaknesses:
- Relies on integrations for runtime protection (no built-in EDR).
Best for: Any organization needing fast, comprehensive cloud risk insights without heavy agents.
2. Palo Alto Prisma Cloud (Most Comprehensive)
Strengths:
- Full CSPM + CWP + IaC + K8s security.
- Strong runtime protection (compared to Wiz).
Weaknesses:
- Complex setup, expensive.
Best for: Large enterprises needing end-to-end security.
3. CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security (Best Runtime Protection)
Strengths:
- Lightweight agent, integrates with Falcon XDR.
- Excellent cloud workload protection (CWP).
Weaknesses:
- CSPM is newer, not as mature as Wiz/Prisma.
Best for: Companies already using CrowdStrike's EDR.
4. Orca Security (Best Agentless Alternative to Wiz)
Strengths:
- No agents, fast deployment.
- Strong vulnerability prioritization.
Weaknesses:
- Limited proactive response capabilities.
Best for: Mid-large enterprises wanting agentless scanning.
5. Aqua Security (Best for Containers/K8s)
Strengths:
- Best container & Kubernetes security.
- Strong runtime protection.
Weaknesses:
- Weaker CSPM/IaC than Wiz/Prisma.
Best for: Container-first security teams.
6. Lacework (Strong Anomaly Detection)
Strengths:
- Good behavioral analytics.
Weaknesses:
- Future uncertain post-Snyk acquisition.
Best for: DevOps teams needing threat detection.
7. Sysdig Secure (K8s-Focused)
Strengths:
- Deep container visibility.
Weaknesses:
- Narrower scope than full CNAPPs.
Best for: Kubernetes-heavy environments.
8. Check Point CloudGuard (Good for Hybrid Cloud)
Strengths:
- Strong network security.
Weaknesses:
- Less developer-friendly.
Best for: Traditional enterprises with hybrid cloud.
9. Trend Micro Cloud One (Workload Protection)
Strengths:
- Solid workload security.
Weaknesses:
- Lacks advanced IaC scanning.
Best for: Existing Trend Micro customers.
10. Microsoft Defender for Cloud (Azure-Only Focus)
Strengths:
- Deep Azure integration, good CSPM.
Weaknesses:
- Weak in non-Azure clouds.
- Limited IaC & identity security.
Best for: Azure-only organizations.