Cloud Workload Security Platforms -- Wiz Alternatives
Cloud workload security platforms protect the compute resources running in cloud environments — virtual machines, containers, serverless functions, and Kubernetes clusters. These platforms provide vulnerability management, malware detection, runtime protection, intrusion detection, and compliance monitoring at the workload level. Unlike posture-only tools, workload security platforms often include agent-based capabilities for real-time threat detection and prevention, making them essential for organizations that need to protect running workloads against active attacks.
Usage-based per module / Enterprise licensing
The deepest workload protection platform with anti-malware, IDS/IPS, virtual patching, and file integrity monitoring built on decades of Trend Micro endpoint expertise. Best for hybrid environments spanning on-premises and cloud that need traditional workload security controls.
Custom enterprise pricing
A data-driven approach to workload security using Polygraph behavioral analytics to automatically detect anomalies without manual rule writing. Best for organizations that want ML-driven threat detection with minimal alert fatigue.
Custom enterprise pricing / Free (Falco OSS)
The strongest runtime workload protection powered by Falco with deep system call visibility and cloud detection and response (CDR). Best for organizations that need to detect and respond to active threats in real-time across containers and cloud workloads.
Multi-cloud security platform offering modular workload protection and posture management
Usage-based per module / Enterprise licensing
Enterprises with hybrid cloud environments that need strong workload protection with anti-malware and IDS/IPS capabilities alongside cloud posture management
Data-driven cloud security platform using behavioral analytics for automated threat detection
Custom enterprise pricing
Organizations that want behavioral analytics-driven threat detection to reduce alert fatigue and automate cloud security monitoring
Cloud and container security platform built on open-source Falco for runtime threat detection
Custom enterprise pricing / Free (Falco OSS)
Organizations that need strong runtime security and real-time threat detection alongside cloud posture management, especially in Kubernetes environments
Compare all 3 Wiz alternatives side-by-side across pricing, deployment, and key capabilities.
| Feature | Trend Micro Cloud One 4.1/5 | Lacework 4.1/5 | Sysdig 4.3/5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing Model | Per-workload (per protected instance) | Resource-based (per cloud resource) | Node-based (per protected node) |
| Open Source | -- | -- | -- |
| Cloud-Hosted | + | + | + |
| Self-Hosted | + | -- | + |
| Best For | Enterprises with hybrid cloud environments that need strong workload protection with anti-malware and IDS/IPS capabilities alongside cloud posture management | Organizations that want behavioral analytics-driven threat detection to reduce alert fatigue and automate cloud security monitoring | Organizations that need strong runtime security and real-time threat detection alongside cloud posture management, especially in Kubernetes environments |
| Key Features |
|
|
|
| Website | Visit | Visit | Visit |
Wiz provides agentless workload scanning that identifies vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, malware signatures, and exposed secrets on cloud workloads. However, it does not provide real-time runtime protection because it scans snapshots rather than monitoring running processes. For organizations that need to detect and block active threats on running workloads, a dedicated workload protection platform like Sysdig, Aqua Security, or Trend Micro Cloud One is needed alongside Wiz.
Virtual patching, offered by Trend Micro Cloud One, uses IDS/IPS rules to block exploitation of known vulnerabilities without modifying the actual workload. This buys time for organizations that cannot immediately patch production systems due to change management processes, testing requirements, or legacy application constraints. Wiz identifies unpatched vulnerabilities but cannot protect against their exploitation — virtual patching bridges this gap.
Traditional workload protection uses signature-based detection and rule-based policies to identify known threats. Behavioral analytics, as used by Lacework's Polygraph engine, builds a baseline of normal behavior for every workload and alerts on deviations. This approach catches novel threats and zero-day attacks that signature-based tools miss, and significantly reduces alert fatigue by only surfacing genuinely anomalous activity. The trade-off is a warm-up period needed to establish accurate baselines.
Choose agentless if your primary concern is visibility — understanding what vulnerabilities and misconfigurations exist across your cloud estate. Choose agent-based if you need protection — blocking exploits, detecting behavioral anomalies, and responding to active threats in real-time. Many mature organizations deploy both: Wiz for comprehensive risk visibility and prioritization, alongside an agent-based tool like Sysdig or Aqua for runtime detection and response on their most critical workloads.
Multi-cloud security platform offering modular workload protection and posture management
ComparisonData-driven cloud security platform using behavioral analytics for automated threat detection
ComparisonCloud and container security platform built on open-source Falco for runtime threat detection
CategoryCompare the best agentless cloud security alternatives to Wiz in 2026. Orca Security, Ermetic (Tenable), Check Point CloudGuard — features, scanning depth, and pricing compared.
CategoryCompare the best CNAPP alternatives to Wiz in 2026. Prisma Cloud, Aqua Security, Sysdig — CNAPP capabilities, deployment models, and pricing compared.
Use CaseCompare the best Wiz alternatives for cloud security posture management (CSPM) in 2026. Orca Security, Prisma Cloud, Ermetic, Check Point CloudGuard — CSPM capabilities compared.
Use CaseCompare the best Wiz alternatives for container and Kubernetes security in 2026. Aqua Security, Sysdig, Prisma Cloud, Trend Micro — container security capabilities compared.