Top 5 Prisma Cloud Alternatives for 2025

Why Look for an Alternative to Prisma Cloud?

While Prisma Cloud is a powerful platform, there are a few common reasons users consider switching to an alternative:

• High Cost: Prisma Cloud’s pricing can be difficult to justify for some teams. “Can be pricey – the cost adds up, especially for smaller teams,” notes one G2 reviewer. Others mention that the price is “hard to digest” when comparing vendors. Budget-conscious organizations may seek a tool with a more flexible or lower-cost pricing model.
• Complexity & Learning Curve: Users have reported that Prisma Cloud can be complex to deploy and manage. According to reviews, “the initial setup can be a bit complex and time-consuming, especially for new users”. Another user mentions “a steep learning curve, complex user interface” that can feel overwhelming. Teams lacking extensive DevSecOps expertise might prefer an alternative that is easier to implement and use.
• Limited Feature Support or Flexibility: Some find that certain Prisma Cloud features are rigid or lacking. For example, “some of the features feel a bit hidden or not fully documented”, making it harder to realize the full value​. If Prisma Cloud’s modules don’t fully meet an organization’s needs (such as advanced runtime defense or specific compliance frameworks), an alternative with a different feature focus could be attractive.

In summary, cost concerns, implementation complexity, and specific feature gaps are driving organizations to evaluate Prisma Cloud alternatives. Next, we compare the top options side by side.

TL;DR: Top 5 Prisma Cloud Alternatives Comparison

(Note: Pricing is approximate. Enterprise tools often require custom quotes based on exact needs.)

Top 5 Alternatives To Prisma Cloud

1. AccuKnox – Zero Trust CNAPP (Best Overall Alternative)

Overview: AccuKnox is a Zero Trust Cloud Native Application Protection Platform co-developed with SRI and Stanford. It provides end-to-end cloud security, from code to runtime, across public and private clouds, containers, and on-premises workloads. AccuKnox combines multiple security modules: Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM), Cloud Workload Protection (CWPP), Kubernetes Security Posture Management (KSPM), Infrastructure as Code scanning, and more in one integrated suite​. It emphasizes a zero-trust approach, leveraging runtime enforcement (through technologies like KubeArmor) to lock down workloads at the system level.

Features:

• CNAPP Coverage: AccuKnox covers the full spectrum of cloud security. Its platform includes CSPM for misconfiguration detection, CWPP for container/VM runtime protection, KIEM (Kubernetes with Identity and Entitlement Management), and even Application Security Posture Management (code and IaC scanning), all accessible through one dashboard. This breadth means DevSecOps teams can address risks holistically (code, cloud, runtime) using a single tool.
  
• Zero Trust and Runtime Security: A standout aspect is AccuKnox’s focus on zero-trust principles and runtime defense. It can create kernel-level enforcement policies (based on the open-source KubeArmor project) to restrict process/file/network activity of containers or VMs, drastically reducing the attack surface. This inline protection helps stop sophisticated attacks in real time, beyond Prisma Cloud’s baseline monitoring.
  
• Agentless Risk Assessment: AccuKnox offers agentless scanning options for cloud workloads, providing visibility without installing agents. It uses APIs and integrations to gather cloud config and workload data. This lowers deployment friction and overhead, especially in environments where installing security agents is challenging.
  
• Adversarial Attack Simulation: Unique to AccuKnox, the platform can simulate attacker tactics to identify gaps (referenced as “adversarial attack creation” in marketing materials). This helps organizations test their cloud defenses against real-world attack paths, a feature not prominent in Prisma Cloud.
  
• Compliance and Reporting: Out-of-the-box support for 30+ compliance standards (PCI, HIPAA, NIST, GDPR, etc.)​. AccuKnox continuously monitors and reports on compliance posture, which is valuable for regulated industries. It streamlines audits by mapping cloud and workload configurations to required controls.
  
• Deployment Flexibility: Supports multi-tenant SaaS deployment or on-premises self-hosted, including air-gapped environments. AccuKnox can be deployed in AWS, Azure, GCP, and private clouds (OpenShift, VMWare Tanzu, etc.), fitting a variety of enterprise architectures.
  
• Value Proposition: AccuKnox is positioned for organizations that need robust, granular security controls and are possibly hitting limits with Prisma Cloud’s capabilities. Its value lies in deep runtime protection (preventing attacks, not just detecting), a unified zero-trust approach (enforcing least privilege), and breadth of features in one platform. While Prisma Cloud offers a broad CNAPP, AccuKnox differentiates by leveraging newer, open-core technologies (like eBPF-based runtime enforcement) and providing more specialized features for advanced cloud security practitioners.

Pros:

• Broad Environmental Coverage: Offers unified protection beyond containers, extending to cloud VMs, Kubernetes clusters, and distributed edge environments like 5G.
• Unified CNAPP Consolidation: Provides a single platform that integrates multiple security tools, leading to reduced complexity and lower total cost of ownership.
• Real-Time Runtime Protection: Leverages open-source eBPF technology (via KubeArmor) to deliver immediate runtime threat detection and significantly accelerate incident response.
• Flexible Deployment Options: Engineered for diverse deployment needs, offering SaaS and fully on-premises (including air-gapped) solutions, crucial for regulated sectors.

Cons: 

• Newer Market Entrant: May lack the established brand recognition and extensive community size of more mature competitors like Wiz (with Falco).
• Potential Initial Overwhelm: The platform's breadth of features might initially seem complex for users seeking a highly specific, singular function (though modular usage is available).
• Setup Critical for Full Value: Realizing the complete benefits of an all-in-one platform necessitates thorough and proper initial configuration.

Pricing

AccuKnox offers tiered subscription plans. A free trial is available, and all plans include full platform access.

Why choose AccuKnox over Prisma Cloud?

AccuKnox offers deeper runtime protection, zero-trust security, and broader workload coverage (cloud, on-prem, and IoT) at a lower cost. Powered by open-source innovations like KubeArmor and tightly aligned with eBPF-based monitoring, AccuKnox enables real-time policy enforcement, not just alerting. It also supports 33+ compliance frameworks out of the box and gives you full control over your deployments with flexible on-prem, cloud, or hybrid options. Unlike Prisma Cloud, AccuKnox empowers you with stronger, more customizable security without vendor lock-in.

AccuKnox vs Prisma Cloud Comparison

2. Wiz – Agentless Cloud Security Platform

Wiz is a leading agentless cloud security platform that connects to AWS, Azure, GCP, and more via read-only APIs, scanning VMs, containers, IAM, and storage without deploying agents. It builds a graph-based risk map of your cloud, prioritizing critical attack paths for faster remediation. Known for fast deployment, intuitive UI, and DevSecOps-friendly collaboration, Wiz helps teams fix security issues early by integrating with tools like Slack and Jira.

Key Features:

• Agentless multi-cloud scanning (AWS, Azure, GCP)
• Vulnerability management for VMs, containers, and serverless
• Misconfiguration and secrets detection
• Attack Path Analysis and Risk Prioritization
• Compliance reporting (CIS, GDPR, ISO 27001)
• Continuous monitoring and auto-remediation options

Pros:

• Extremely fast and easy setup (hours, not weeks)
• Clear prioritization reduces alert fatigue
• Intuitive, developer-friendly UI
• Strong DevSecOps integrations and customer support

Cons:

• Filtering can be tricky at a very large scale
• Focused on detection, not inline blocking
• Premium pricing (enterprise-focused)

Pricing

Annual enterprise subscription; typical deals start around $100k–$150k/year. No small-tier options; built for mid-to-large organizations. Custom quotes after the pilot phase.

Why choose Wiz over Prisma Cloud?

Wiz delivers faster time-to-value, easier setup, and lower operational overhead compared to Prisma Cloud. It focuses on actionable insights, strong DevSecOps integration, and agentless coverage, making it ideal for teams that want powerful cloud security without complexity.

3. Orca Security – Agentless Full-Stack Cloud Security

Orca Security is an agentless CNAPP that scans cloud environments via APIs and its patented “SideScanning” technology, reading workload storage snapshots out-of-band. It covers CSPM, CWPP, and Cloud Detection & Response, identifying vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, exposed secrets, and compliance risks across AWS, Azure, GCP, and others. Known for quick setup and deep visibility, Orca helps organizations dramatically improve their cloud security posture within days.

Features:

• Agentless SideScanning for vulnerabilities, malware, and secrets
• Risk Prioritization with contextual attack path analysis
• Unified cloud asset inventory with tagging and risk scoring
• Continuous compliance monitoring (CIS, PCI, SOC 2, ISO)
• Incident detection from cloud activity logs (e.g., suspicious logins)
• Guided remediation with integrations (Slack, Jira, Splunk, ServiceNow)

Pros:

• Very fast deployment and immediate value
• Intuitive UI with powerful filtering and reporting
• Detailed, actionable findings with low false positives
• Minimal maintenance and strong customer support
• Innovative, frequently updated feature set

Cons:

• Premium pricing (higher than some competitors)
• Detection-only (does not block threats inline)
• Potential alert noise without tuning for context
• Marketplace purchase requires Private Offer negotiations

Pricing:

Starter packs for concurrent workloads (EC2) start at $7,000/month (Small) and scale up to $30,000/month (Large) depending on needs, with infrastructure overhead included. For enterprises, annual packs start at $84,000/year and go up to $360,000/year, offering greater scalability for high-demand environments.

Why choose Orca over Prisma Cloud?

Orca offers deeper vulnerability detection, faster deployment, and an easier, more intuitive experience than Prisma Cloud, without agent complexity. It’s ideal for teams seeking fast, effective cloud security with minimal disruption.

4. Lacework – Data-Driven Cloud Security for DevOps

Lacework is a cloud security platform that leverages machine learning through its Polygraph® technology to baseline cloud workloads and detect anomalies. Covering CSPM, CI/CD security, container/Kubernetes protection, and workload monitoring, Lacework focuses on behavioral analytics to reduce noise and catch unknown threats. Delivered as SaaS, it offers strong visibility across AWS, Azure, and GCP environments.

Key Features:

• Polygraph® ML Engine for anomaly detection and entity mapping
• Runtime threat detection for workloads and containers
• Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) for AWS, Azure, GCP
• Container image scanning and runtime anomaly detection
• File Integrity Monitoring (FIM) and Host Intrusion Detection (HIDS)
• Compliance reporting (SOC2, PCI, HIPAA, etc.)
• Risk-scored alerting with customizable suppression
• DevOps integrations (Slack, Jira, PagerDuty, Splunk, APIs)
• SaaS platform with continuous model updates

Pros:

• Powerful behavioral detection beyond static rules
• Unified view across compliance, runtime, and cloud configs
• Easy setup and strong UI for quick adoption
• Frequent feature updates and responsive customer support
• Reduces manual tuning and alert fatigue

Cons:

• Steep learning curve to fully leverage Polygraph analytics
• Possible alert delays due to anomaly analysis time
• Limited third-party integrations compared to some competitors
• Premium pricing with complex usage-based licensing in some cases
• ML models may require tuning for very unique environments

Pricing:

Custom-quoted, starting around $25,000/year, based on usage. Enterprise-focused; free trials available. AWS Marketplace listing (via Fortinet) requires direct contact for pricing.

Why choose Lacework over Prisma Cloud?

Lacework’s machine learning-driven anomaly detection offers a modern alternative to Prisma Cloud’s rule-heavy approach, with faster time-to-insights, less noise, and a unified view across security and compliance, ideal for dynamic cloud and containerized environments.

3. Aqua Security – CNAPP with DevSecOps Strength

Aqua Security is a full-spectrum cloud-native security platform offering end-to-end protection for containers, VMs, Kubernetes, serverless, and cloud infrastructure. Combining CSPM, CWPP, and CIEM, Aqua emphasizes DevSecOps enablement and is powered by open-source innovation like Trivy, its popular vulnerability scanner. It integrates security across the entire application lifecycle, from build to runtime.

Features:

• Full Lifecycle Security: Scans images (CVEs, secrets, malware), integrates with CI/CD, and provides runtime protection (network segmentation, file integrity).
• Multi-Cloud Compliance: Offers reporting and enforcement across various cloud environments.
• Kubernetes Security: Detects drift and misconfigurations within Kubernetes, IaC, and cloud setups.

Pros:

• Scalable and Performant: Reliable and efficient even under high operational loads.
• Developer-Friendly: Feature-rich across the development pipeline and aligns with CNCF standards.

Cons:

• Complex UI: Numerous modules can lead to a steeper initial learning curve.
• Support Response: Some users report slower response times for support.
• Tiered Features: Advanced capabilities may be locked behind higher pricing tiers.

Pricing:

Annual subscription model, often custom-quoted. AWS Marketplace lists:

• Standard: ~$50,000/year
• Advanced: ~$100,000/year
• Ultimate: ~$150,000/year

Why Choose Aqua over Wiz?

Aqua provides deeper CI/CD pipeline security, stronger Kubernetes-native runtime protection, and a more open, developer-centric approach compared to Prisma Cloud’s heavier, agent-driven model, making it ideal for organizations prioritizing shift-left security and agile DevSecOps practices.

Important Features to Consider When Choosing a Prisma Cloud Alternative 

When evaluating Prisma Cloud alternatives, it’s crucial to know which features matter most for your security and compliance outcomes. Below are core features or capabilities you should consider, why they are important, and the potential impact if they’re missing:

1. Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM): What it is: CSPM continuously scans cloud configurations (IAM roles, storage settings, security groups, etc.) for misconfigurations or policy violations. Pain points solved: It addresses the human error factor in cloud setups – misconfigs are a leading cause of cloud breaches (e.g., an open S3 bucket). Good CSPM tools provide guided remediation (so you know how to fix an issue) and even auto-remediation for simple issues. Outcome: Strong CSPM means your cloud stays in a secure state and compliant with best practices. If missing, Misconfigurations could go unnoticed, leaving glaring holes (like public data or overly permissive access) that attackers or auditors will eventually find. Ensure the alternative has broad CSPM coverage for all your cloud providers and supports custom policies (so you can enforce internal standards too).
   
2. Cloud Workload Protection (CWPP) & Runtime Defense: What it is: CWPP focuses on securing cloud workloads, VMs, containers, serverless functions, especially at runtime. This includes malware detection, vulnerability management, and in some cases, runtime behavioral monitoring or application control. Pain points solved: Traditional endpoint security often doesn’t extend well into ephemeral cloud workloads or containers. CWPP fills that gap by scanning images for vulnerabilities, monitoring running apps for anomalies, and preventing attacks (depending on the tool). Outcome: With strong CWPP, your workloads are hardened, and you can catch exploits or malicious activity (like a webshell dropped on a VM) in real time. If missing: You might only know about an issue after a breach has happened. For example, without runtime security, a crypto-mining malware could run undetected on an EC2 instance, racking up costs and risk​. Look for features like agentless scanning, host-based intrusion detection, or container runtime protection, depending on your environment.
   
3. Integration with CI/CD and DevOps (Shift-Left Security): What it is: The ability to integrate security scans into the development lifecycle – e.g., scanning Infrastructure-as-Code templates, container images, and code repositories for vulnerabilities and secrets before deployment. Pain points solved: Catching issues early (like an insecure Terraform script) prevents them from ever making it to production. It’s cheaper and safer to fix in dev than in prod. DevOps integration also fosters shared responsibility – devs get feedback within their tools (like a failed build if a security check fails). Outcome: Faster, safer delivery of applications. Security becomes part of the pipeline, reducing last-minute fire drills. If missing: Security remains a siloed, after-the-fact process. Issues will be found later by the security platform, meaning emergency patching or redeployments, which slows down delivery and increases friction between teams. All the top alternatives above have some form of API or plugin to integrate with CI/CD, ensure it matches your toolchain (e.g., GitHub, Jenkins, GitLab, etc.).
   
4. Compliance and Governance Features: What it is: Pre-built checks and reports for compliance standards (PCI DSS, HIPAA, GDPR, ISO 27001, etc.), as well as the ability to map your cloud/resources to these controls. Some tools also provide audit assistance features like evidence collection. Pain points solved: Meeting compliance can be daunting. These features save time by automatically checking controls and flagging gaps. They also help demonstrate to auditors that you have continuous compliance monitoring. Outcome: Quicker, smoother compliance audits and reduced risk of fines or security incidents due to non-compliance. A tool that auto-updates compliance frameworks as they change (e.g., new CIS benchmarks) keeps you current without manual effort. If missing: Your team might have to do manual compliance checks or use separate tools, which is labor-intensive and prone to error. If a Prisma Cloud alternative lacks robust compliance support, you might fail to notice that a requirement slipped (for instance, an unencrypted database storage in a regulated environment).

By focusing on these features: CSPM, CWPP, DevSecOps integration, and compliance, you can evaluate which Prisma Cloud alternative will truly meet your needs. The pain points they solve often align with the reasons you left Prisma Cloud (cost, complexity, gaps). Look for a solution that excels in the areas where Prisma Cloud is weak for you. Each organization’s priorities differ: for one, compliance automation might be key; for another, integration with developer workflow might trump everything. Identify your top requirements and use the above as a checklist when assessing alternative platforms. Remember, a missing feature isn’t always a deal-breaker if it can be compensated elsewhere, but it should be a conscious decision with a plan to address that gap.

Conclusion

In summary, Prisma Cloud is a strong cloud security platform, but it isn’t one-size-fits-all. High costs, deployment complexity, and specific feature limitations are prompting many companies to explore other options. In this article, we reviewed five top Prisma Cloud alternatives for 2025:

• AccuKnox – a zero-trust CNAPP that we highlighted as the best overall alternative, thanks to its advanced runtime protection and feature set.
• Wiz – an agentless cloud security leader known for its quick deployment and powerful risk visualization.
• Orca Security – another agentless platform delivering full-stack visibility with an intuitive approach to risk prioritization.
• Lacework – a platform leveraging machine learning to detect anomalies and automate cloud security monitoring.
• Aqua Security – a pioneer in container and cloud-native security, offering rich features for securing modern application stacks.
  

Each of these Prisma Cloud alternatives brings a unique value proposition. Whether it’s ease of use, depth of container security, innovative risk graphing, or zero-trust enforcement. The comparison table and detailed overviews provided should help you discern which tool (or combination of tools) aligns best with your requirements around security features, compliance, scalability, and budget.

When choosing, consider the “important features to consider” that we discussed: make sure the solution you pick addresses your primary pain points (be it simplifying compliance or catching threats in real time) and fits your team’s workflow. It’s often helpful to do a proof-of-concept or trial with a couple of finalists to see them in action on your infrastructure.

Ultimately, the goal is to enhance your cloud security posture without overburdening your team. The Prisma Cloud alternatives we’ve covered are all capable platforms used by organizations worldwide to secure their cloud environments. By evaluating them against your needs, you can find a solution that provides stronger security, potentially at a lower cost or with better usability, than what you experienced with Prisma Cloud.

Remember that cloud security is a journey, whichever platform you choose, invest time in tuning it to your environment, training your staff, and integrating its outputs into your processes. With the right choice, you’ll empower your DevOps and security teams to work together to keep your cloud assets safe, compliant, and resilient against emerging threats in 2025 and beyond.

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