Aqua vs Orca: cloud security facts side by side
How do their category maps compare?
- 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 | Orca |
|---|---|---|
| Positioning | A cloud native security platform built around kernel-layer runtime enforcement, with agentless posture visibility, for public, private and disconnected environments. | A cloud security platform built on agentless SideScanning, with an optional runtime sensor, covering posture, workloads, identity, data, vulnerabilities, code and AI. |
| Agent approachDiffers | 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 core SideScanning reads workloads' runtime block storage and reconstructs the file system in a read-only view, covering Linux and Windows VMs, containers and images, and serverless, without agents. Source: Orca agentless SideScanning, read . |
| Runtime sensor | Kernel-layer enforcement that blocks attacks without killing the container itself. Source: Aqua cloud native security platform, read . | The optional Orca Sensor is eBPF-based, runs on Linux, Kubernetes and Windows in public, private cloud and on-premises environments, and can be configured to terminate processes. Source: Orca runtime sensor, read . |
| Clouds namedDiffers | 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, Tencent AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud, Alibaba Cloud and Tencent Cloud. Source: Orca Security platform overview, read . |
| CNAPP | Described Positions one platform across posture, pipeline scanning and runtime enforcement. Source: Aqua cloud native security platform, read . | Described CNAPP is listed as a module on the platform page, built on one Unified Data Model. Source: Orca Security platform overview, 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 CSPM and multi-cloud compliance are listed as modules. Source: Orca Security platform overview, read . |
| CWPP | Described Monitor, detect, enforce and contain inside running workloads, with kernel-layer enforcement. Source: Aqua cloud native security platform, read . | Described Workloads are covered by SideScanning (VMs, containers, serverless) and, for runtime, the optional Orca Sensor. Source: Orca agentless SideScanning, 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 as a module. Source: Orca Security platform overview, read . |
| DSPMDiffers | Not in our sources Not described on the pages we read. | Described DSPM is listed as a module. Source: Orca Security platform overview, 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 as a module, with risk prioritization and attack path analysis. Source: Orca Security platform overview, 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 . | SCM posture, SCA, SAST, secrets, IaC and container image scanning, with GitHub, GitLab and Azure DevOps, and cloud-to-code tracing that opens pull requests. Source: Orca application security, 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 inventory of models, pipelines, training datasets and AI packages, shadow AI discovery, MCP server monitoring and AI AppGen Security. Source: Orca AI security, read . |
| Kubernetes runtime | Runtime enforcement for containers that blocks attacks without killing the container. Source: Aqua cloud native security platform, read . | Container and Kubernetes security is listed as a module; the Orca Sensor runs on Kubernetes. Source: Orca runtime sensor, read . |
| Private cloud or on-premises | Supports private cloud environments. Source: Aqua cloud native security platform, read . | The Orca Sensor runs in private cloud and on-premises environments. Source: Orca runtime sensor, read . |
| 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 . | Multi-cloud compliance is listed as a module. Source: Orca Security platform overview, read . |
| Public-sector authorization | States FedRAMP High Authorization. Source: Aqua cloud native security platform, read . | Orca states it is FedRAMP Authorized at the Moderate Impact Level for its cloud security platform. Source: Orca glossary: FedRAMP, read . |
| Price | 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 Orca's own site publishes no price (orca.security/pricing returned a 404 on 27 September 2026). An AWS Marketplace contract listing (Unique Expansion) shows Small, up to 100 concurrent workloads (EC2) per month, $7,000.00; Small-medium (300) $12,000.00; Medium (500) $17,000.00; Large (1,000) $30,000.00. These are monthly prices under the listing's 1-month contract, checked on 4 November 2026. The listing also offers a 12-month contract. Source: AWS Marketplace: Orca Security CNAPP Cloud Security Platform, Unique Expansion, 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 . | Standalone vendor. Source: Orca Security platform overview, read . |
Where do they differ?
- Agent approach: Aqua has agentless parts and an agent for depth; Orca has an agentless core.
- Clouds named: Aqua names AWS, Azure, GCP, OCI and Alibaba; Orca names AWS, Azure, GCP, OCI, Alibaba and Tencent.
- CIEM: Aqua is not in our sources; Orca describes it.
- DSPM: Aqua is not in our sources; Orca describes it.
- Disconnected environments: Aqua matches; Orca 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 Orca if
- You want broad coverage without installing agents.
- Your estate includes Tencent Cloud, Alibaba Cloud or Oracle Cloud.
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.
Orca
- Its own site publishes no price; the AWS Marketplace listing's 1-month contract starts at $7,000 per month for up to 100 concurrent workloads (EC2), checked on 4 November 2026.
- Detection inside running workloads and process termination need the optional Orca Sensor, an agent; with agentless scanning alone you get the read-only view.
- Its FedRAMP authorization is at the Moderate level; disconnected environments are not described on the pages we read.
Frequently asked questions
How do Aqua and Orca differ?
Neither is scored on this site. Aqua describes 4 of six categories and Orca 6 on the pages we read, and they differ on 5 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. Orca: Agentless core.
Do Aqua or Orca 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. Orca: Orca's own site publishes no price (orca.security/pricing returned a 404 on 27 September 2026). An AWS Marketplace contract listing (Unique Expansion) shows Small, up to 100 concurrent workloads (EC2) per month, $7,000.00; Small-medium (300) $12,000.00; Medium (500) $17,000.00; Large (1,000) $30,000.00. These are monthly prices under the listing's 1-month contract, checked on 4 November 2026. The listing also offers a 12-month contract.