Cortex Cloud vs CrowdStrike: cloud security facts side by side
How do their category maps compare?
Palo Alto Networks Cortex Cloud
CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security
- 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 | Cortex Cloud | CrowdStrike |
|---|---|---|
| Positioning | Palo Alto Networks' cloud security platform, formed by merging Prisma Cloud with Cortex CDR (announced 13 February 2025). | CrowdStrike's cloud security module, which pairs agentless posture with the same Falcon sensor used on endpoints. |
| Agent approach | 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 . | Agentless parts, agent for depth Agentless CSPM; workload protection is split between agentless scanning and the Falcon sensor. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security, read . |
| Runtime sensor | A performance-optimized agent that stops attacks as they execute, plus CDR from the Cortex CDR merger. Source: Cortex Cloud overview, read . | The CrowdStrike Falcon sensor, the same agent used for endpoints. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security, read . |
| Clouds namedDiffers | 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 . | AWS, Azure, GCP, OCI The Falcon Cloud Security page links to AWS, Azure, Google Cloud and OCI pages; Alibaba Cloud is not named. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security (re-read), read . |
| CNAPP | 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 . | Described Combines CSPM, workload protection, CIEM, ASPM and AI-SPM under Falcon Cloud Security. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security, read . |
| CSPM | Described Cloud posture security lists CSPM with attack path analysis. Source: Cortex Cloud posture security, read . | Described Agentless CSPM enriched with adversary intelligence. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security, read . |
| CWPP | Described Runtime security with a performance-optimized agent. Source: Cortex Cloud overview, read . | Described Cloud workload protection with agent and agentless options. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security, read . |
| CIEM | Described CIEM is listed under cloud posture security. Source: Cortex Cloud posture security, read . | Described CIEM is listed. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security, read . |
| DSPM | Described DSPM is listed under cloud posture security. Source: Cortex Cloud posture security, read . | Described DSPM is named: discover, classify and protect cloud data. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security (re-read), read . |
| Vulnerability management | Described Vulnerability management is listed under cloud posture security, with SmartScore ranking. Source: Cortex Cloud posture security, read . | Described AI-driven vulnerability management is named. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security (re-read), read . |
| Code securityDiffers | Application security is one of the platform's pillars, aimed at stopping risk before it reaches production. Source: Cortex Cloud overview, read . | ASPM maps business applications onto cloud infrastructure; source-code scanning is not the focus of the pages we read. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security, read . |
| AI security | 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 . | AI-SPM covers AI infrastructure. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security, read . |
| Kubernetes runtimeDiffers | Runtime agent and CDR are described; Kubernetes-specific controls are not detailed on the pages we read. Source: Cortex Cloud overview, read . | Workload protection for cloud workloads through the Falcon sensor and agentless scanning. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security, read . |
| Private cloud or on-premises | Not in our sources | Not in our sources |
| Disconnected environments | Not in our sources | Not in our sources |
| Compliance reportingDiffers | Maps posture against 18+ frameworks, such as PCI, HIPAA and GDPR. Source: Cortex Cloud posture management, read . | Not in our sources |
| Public-sector authorizationDiffers | Not in our sources | CrowdStrike lists Falcon Cloud Security, Falcon Cloud Security for Containers and for Managed Containers among its FedRAMP High authorized products. Source: Securing Critical Systems: CrowdStrike Achieves FedRAMP High Authorization, read . |
| PriceDiffers | 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 . | Not published AWS Marketplace pay-as-you-go listing that combines Falcon Cloud Security with Next-Gen SIEM: runtime host protection (EC2, WorkSpaces) $0.023 per hour per running host; container cluster and node protection $0.054 per hour per running worker node; Fargate container protection $0.01 per hour per Fargate instance; 30-day free trial with up to $500 in usage credits. CrowdStrike's own pricing page lists endpoint bundles only. Source: AWS Marketplace: CrowdStrike Falcon Next-Gen SIEM and Cloud Security (pay as you go), read . |
| Open source | None named | None named |
| Ownership | 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 . | CrowdStrike. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security, read . |
Where do they differ?
- Clouds named: Cortex Cloud names AWS, Azure, GCP, OCI and Alibaba; CrowdStrike names AWS, Azure, GCP and OCI.
- Code security: Cortex Cloud matches; CrowdStrike partly matches.
- Kubernetes runtime: Cortex Cloud partly matches; CrowdStrike matches.
- Compliance reporting: Cortex Cloud matches; CrowdStrike is not in our sources.
- Public-sector authorization: Cortex Cloud is not in our sources; CrowdStrike matches.
- Price: Cortex Cloud is not in our sources; CrowdStrike partly matches.
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.
Choose CrowdStrike if
- The Falcon sensor already runs on your endpoints and servers.
- You want cloud posture read against adversary intelligence.
Which limits should you check?
Cortex Cloud
- No public price; the Cortex Cloud page offers only a demo request.
CrowdStrike
- Its only public price is an AWS Marketplace pay-as-you-go listing that combines Falcon Cloud Security with Next-Gen SIEM; CrowdStrike's own pricing page lists endpoint bundles only.
- Compliance frameworks are not listed on the Falcon Cloud Security page we read, and source-code scanning is not the focus.
Frequently asked questions
How do Cortex Cloud and CrowdStrike differ?
Neither is scored on this site. Cortex Cloud describes 6 of six categories and CrowdStrike 6 on the pages we read, and they differ on 6 recorded facts. Which fits depends on your clouds, agent tolerance and existing tools; the finder checks those.
Which of the two needs an agent?
Cortex Cloud: Agentless parts, agent for depth. CrowdStrike: Agentless parts, agent for depth.
Do Cortex Cloud or CrowdStrike publish prices?
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. CrowdStrike: AWS Marketplace pay-as-you-go listing that combines Falcon Cloud Security with Next-Gen SIEM: runtime host protection (EC2, WorkSpaces) $0.023 per hour per running host; container cluster and node protection $0.054 per hour per running worker node; Fargate container protection $0.01 per hour per Fargate instance; 30-day free trial with up to $500 in usage credits. CrowdStrike's own pricing page lists endpoint bundles only.