Cortex Cloud vs Sysdig: 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 | Cortex Cloud | Sysdig |
|---|---|---|
| Positioning | Palo Alto Networks' cloud security platform, formed by merging Prisma Cloud with Cortex CDR (announced 13 February 2025). | A cloud security platform with runtime detection built on Falco, the open-source project Sysdig created, plus agentless posture. |
| 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 posture covers vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, permissions and threats; process-level analysis needs the agent. Source: Sysdig Secure, 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 Sysdig agent with Falco-based detection, showing which packages are in use. Source: Sysdig Secure, 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 AWS, GCP and Azure support all of Sysdig's agentless cloud features; Oracle Cloud supports agentless CSPM only. Source: Sysdig docs: connect cloud accounts, 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 Sysdig describes Sysdig Secure as a CNAPP. Source: Sysdig press release: Sysdig Secure AI, read . |
| CSPM | Described Cloud posture security lists CSPM with attack path analysis. Source: Cortex Cloud posture security, read . | Described CSPM is listed. Source: Sysdig Secure, read . |
| CWPP | Described Runtime security with a performance-optimized agent. Source: Cortex Cloud overview, read . | Described Runtime threat detection for containers and Kubernetes through the agent. Source: Sysdig Secure, read . |
| CIEM | Described CIEM is listed under cloud posture security. Source: Cortex Cloud posture security, read . | Described Basic CIEM and Advanced CIEM are named. Source: Sysdig docs: connect cloud accounts, read . |
| DSPM | Described DSPM is listed under cloud posture security. Source: Cortex Cloud posture security, read . | Described DSPM is listed. Source: Sysdig Secure, read . |
| Vulnerability management | Described Vulnerability management is listed under cloud posture security, with SmartScore ranking. Source: Cortex Cloud posture security, read . | Described Agentless vulnerability host scanning and agent-based scanning, with in-use prioritization. Source: Sysdig pricing (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 . | Vulnerability management covers images and workloads; source-code scanning is not a stated focus on the pages we read. Source: Sysdig Secure, 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 workload security, integrated into Sysdig's CNAPP, covers AI engines such as Amazon Bedrock, OpenAI and Vertex AI, and AI coding agents. Source: AI Workload Security | Sysdig, 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 . | Runtime detection for containers and Kubernetes built on Falco. Source: Sysdig Secure, 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 reporting | Maps posture against 18+ frameworks, such as PCI, HIPAA and GDPR. Source: Cortex Cloud posture management, read . | Out-of-the-box compliance policies include NIST CSF v2.0, NIST SP 800-53 Rev 5, CIS benchmarks, PCI DSS v4.0, HIPAA, ISO/IEC 27001:2022, SOC 2, GDPR, DORA and NIS2. Source: Sysdig docs: compliance, read . |
| Public-sector authorization | Not in our sources | Not in our sources |
| 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 No list prices on its own site; CNAPP licensing is based on the number of hosts. AWS Marketplace (Sysdig Cloud Security and Observability), 1-month contract: CNAPP Enterprise $72.00 per unit per month; the unit is not described in our notes. 12-month contracts are listed as saving up to 17%. Source: AWS Marketplace: Sysdig Cloud Security and Observability, read . |
| Open source | None named | Falco (created by Sysdig, CNCF graduated project) |
| 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 . | Sysdig. Hatem Naguib became CEO in June 2026; founder Loris Degioanni remains CTO. Source: Sysdig press release: Hatem Naguib named CEO, read . |
Where do they differ?
- Clouds named: Cortex Cloud names AWS, Azure, GCP, OCI and Alibaba; Sysdig names AWS, Azure, GCP and OCI.
- Code security: Cortex Cloud matches; Sysdig partly matches.
- Kubernetes runtime: Cortex Cloud partly matches; Sysdig matches.
- Price: Cortex Cloud is not in our sources; Sysdig 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 Sysdig if
- You run Kubernetes at scale and already know Falco.
- You want vulnerability lists filtered by what actually runs.
Which limits should you check?
Cortex Cloud
- No public price; the Cortex Cloud page offers only a demo request.
Sysdig
- Process-level depth needs the agent, and on Oracle Cloud only agentless CSPM is supported.
- List prices are by quote.
Frequently asked questions
How do Cortex Cloud and Sysdig differ?
Neither is scored on this site. Cortex Cloud describes 6 of six categories and Sysdig 6 on the pages we read, and they differ on 4 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. Sysdig: Agentless parts, agent for depth.
Do Cortex Cloud or Sysdig 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. Sysdig: No list prices on its own site; CNAPP licensing is based on the number of hosts. AWS Marketplace (Sysdig Cloud Security and Observability), 1-month contract: CNAPP Enterprise $72.00 per unit per month; the unit is not described in our notes. 12-month contracts are listed as saving up to 17%.