Aqua vs Cortex Cloud: cloud security facts side by side
How do their category maps compare?
Palo Alto Networks Cortex Cloud
- Described on the vendor's pages we read
- Not in our sources (it may exist; we did not find it on the pages we read)
What are the facts, side by side?
| Fact | Aqua | Cortex Cloud |
|---|---|---|
| Positioning | A cloud native security platform built around kernel-layer runtime enforcement, with agentless posture visibility, for public, private and disconnected environments. | Palo Alto Networks' cloud security platform, formed by merging Prisma Cloud with Cortex CDR (announced 13 February 2025). |
| Agent approach | Agentless parts, agent for depth Offers agentless posture visibility; the platform's depth comes from kernel-layer enforcement on the workload. Source: Aqua cloud native security platform, read . | Agentless parts, agent for depth Cortex Cloud documents agentless VM image scanning of cloud workloads; runtime protection uses its agent. Source: VM images assets, Cortex Cloud documentation, read . |
| Runtime sensor | Kernel-layer enforcement that blocks attacks without killing the container itself. Source: Aqua cloud native security platform, read . | A performance-optimized agent that stops attacks as they execute, plus CDR from the Cortex CDR merger. Source: Cortex Cloud overview, read . |
| Clouds named | AWS, Azure, GCP, OCI, Alibaba Aqua names AWS, Azure, GCP, Oracle and Alibaba Cloud environments, plus Kubernetes; its platform page also describes private cloud and disconnected environments. Source: Aqua pricing, read . | AWS, Azure, GCP, OCI, Alibaba Cortex Cloud names AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, OCI and Alibaba Cloud for agentless, full-coverage visibility. Source: Cortex Cloud posture management, read . |
| CNAPP | Described Positions one platform across posture, pipeline scanning and runtime enforcement. Source: Aqua cloud native security platform, read . | Described Palo Alto Networks includes CNAPP at no additional cost for Cortex Cloud Runtime Security customers. Source: Palo Alto Networks press release: Cortex Cloud introduced, read . |
| CSPM | Described CSPM is listed among the capabilities on its pricing page, alongside CWPP, agentless and agent-based scanning and eBPF runtime detection. Source: Aqua pricing, read . | Described Cloud posture security lists CSPM with attack path analysis. Source: Cortex Cloud posture security, read . |
| CWPP | Described Monitor, detect, enforce and contain inside running workloads, with kernel-layer enforcement. Source: Aqua cloud native security platform, read . | Described Runtime security with a performance-optimized agent. Source: Cortex Cloud overview, read . |
| CIEMDiffers | Not in our sources Not named as an Aqua capability on the pricing or CSPM pages we read. Source: Aqua CSPM product page, read . | Described CIEM is listed under cloud posture security. Source: Cortex Cloud posture security, read . |
| DSPMDiffers | Not in our sources Not described on the pages we read. | Described DSPM is listed under cloud posture security. Source: Cortex Cloud posture security, read . |
| Vulnerability management | Described Ranks vulnerabilities by reachability, EPSS scores and evidence of active exploitation. Source: Aqua cloud native security platform, read . | Described Vulnerability management is listed under cloud posture security, with SmartScore ranking. Source: Cortex Cloud posture security, read . |
| Code security | Scans images and repositories for vulnerabilities, secrets and misconfigurations and blocks noncompliant artifacts in the pipeline. Source: Aqua cloud native security platform, read . | Application security is one of the platform's pillars, aimed at stopping risk before it reaches production. Source: Cortex Cloud overview, read . |
| AI security | GenAI application security from code to runtime, and detection of unsanctioned AI usage. Source: Aqua cloud native security platform, read . | AI-SPM maps models, datasets and agents, flags model poisoning and supply chain risk, and classifies data used for RAG. Source: Cortex Cloud AI-SPM, read . |
| Kubernetes runtimeDiffers | Runtime enforcement for containers that blocks attacks without killing the container. Source: Aqua cloud native security platform, read . | Runtime agent and CDR are described; Kubernetes-specific controls are not detailed on the pages we read. Source: Cortex Cloud overview, read . |
| Private cloud or on-premisesDiffers | Supports private cloud environments. Source: Aqua cloud native security platform, read . | Not in our sources |
| Disconnected environmentsDiffers | Supports disconnected environments. Source: Aqua cloud native security platform, read . | Not in our sources |
| Compliance reporting | Out-of-the-box compliance reporting, with built-in compliance and custom reports; the page does not list the frameworks. Source: Aqua pricing, read . | Maps posture against 18+ frameworks, such as PCI, HIPAA and GDPR. Source: Cortex Cloud posture management, read . |
| Public-sector authorizationDiffers | States FedRAMP High Authorization. Source: Aqua cloud native security platform, read . | Not in our sources |
| PriceDiffers | Not published No list prices. Cloud Security is priced by number of workloads (EC2 instances, Fargate containers, Lambda functions) and Dev Security by number of code repositories; request a trial or demo. Source: Aqua pricing, read . | Not published Not published. The Cortex Cloud page offers only a demo request. CNAPP is included at no additional cost for Cortex Cloud Runtime Security customers. Source: Cortex Cloud posture management, read . |
| Open source | Trivy (maintained by Aqua Security, Apache-2.0) | None named |
| Ownership | Aqua Security. Named Mike Dube CEO and Nir Makovski CTO in February 2026. Source: Aqua press release: new leadership and runtime focus, read . | Palo Alto Networks. Prisma Cloud merged with Cortex CDR to form Cortex Cloud, announced 13 February 2025. Source: Palo Alto Networks press release: Cortex Cloud introduced, read . |
Where do they differ?
- CIEM: Aqua is not in our sources; Cortex Cloud describes it.
- DSPM: Aqua is not in our sources; Cortex Cloud describes it.
- Kubernetes runtime: Aqua matches; Cortex Cloud partly matches.
- Private cloud or on-premises: Aqua matches; Cortex Cloud is not in our sources.
- Disconnected environments: Aqua matches; Cortex Cloud is not in our sources.
- Public-sector authorization: Aqua matches; Cortex Cloud is not in our sources.
- Price: Aqua partly matches; Cortex Cloud is not in our sources.
Choose Aqua if
- You run disconnected or private environments, or need FedRAMP High.
- You want enforcement inside containers and already use Trivy.
Choose Cortex Cloud if
- You already run Palo Alto Networks products or Prisma Cloud.
- You want agentless VM image scanning and are comfortable deploying an agent for runtime protection and CDR.
Which limits should you check?
Aqua
- CIEM and DSPM are not described on the pages we read.
- No list prices: Cloud Security is priced by number of workloads, by quote.
Cortex Cloud
- No public price; the Cortex Cloud page offers only a demo request.
Frequently asked questions
How do Aqua and Cortex Cloud differ?
Neither is scored on this site. Aqua describes 4 of six categories and Cortex Cloud 6 on the pages we read, and they differ on 7 recorded facts. Which fits depends on your clouds, agent tolerance and existing tools; the finder checks those.
Which of the two needs an agent?
Aqua: Agentless parts, agent for depth. Cortex Cloud: Agentless parts, agent for depth.
Do Aqua or Cortex Cloud publish prices?
Aqua: No list prices. Cloud Security is priced by number of workloads (EC2 instances, Fargate containers, Lambda functions) and Dev Security by number of code repositories; request a trial or demo. Cortex Cloud: Not published. The Cortex Cloud page offers only a demo request. CNAPP is included at no additional cost for Cortex Cloud Runtime Security customers.