Cortex Cloud vs Upwind: 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 | Upwind |
|---|---|---|
| Positioning | Palo Alto Networks' cloud security platform, formed by merging Prisma Cloud with Cortex CDR (announced 13 February 2025). | A cloud security platform that combines agentless scanning with eBPF runtime sensors, from a company founded in October 2022. |
| 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 scanning plus eBPF runtime sensors; the design centers on the runtime sensor. Source: Upwind homepage, 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 . | eBPF sensors that baseline cloud activity, network and application flows, with forensic event timelines. Source: Upwind CDR, 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, Google Cloud, Azure and OCI are named as partnerships. Source: Upwind homepage, 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 Lists posture, identity, data, workload, code, API and detection modules on one platform. Source: Upwind homepage, read . |
| CSPM | Described Cloud posture security lists CSPM with attack path analysis. Source: Cortex Cloud posture security, read . | Described CSPM is listed. Source: Upwind homepage, read . |
| CWPP | Described Runtime security with a performance-optimized agent. Source: Cortex Cloud overview, read . | Described Container and Kubernetes, serverless, and CDR modules, with eBPF sensors. Source: Upwind homepage, read . |
| CIEM | Described CIEM is listed under cloud posture security. Source: Cortex Cloud posture security, read . | Described CIEM is listed. Source: Upwind homepage, read . |
| DSPM | Described DSPM is listed under cloud posture security. Source: Cortex Cloud posture security, read . | Described DSPM is listed. Source: Upwind homepage, read . |
| Vulnerability management | Described Vulnerability management is listed under cloud posture security, with SmartScore ranking. Source: Cortex Cloud posture security, read . | Described Vulnerability management and attack path analysis are listed. Source: Upwind homepage, read . |
| Code security | Application security is one of the platform's pillars, aimed at stopping risk before it reaches production. Source: Cortex Cloud overview, read . | IaC security, SCA and SBOM, DAST and a container admission controller; SAST is not among its listed modules. Source: Upwind homepage, 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 inventory, AI-BOM, AI-SPM, an AI sensor, AI detection and response, and offensive testing for models, agents and MCP servers. Source: Upwind AI security platform, 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 . | Container and Kubernetes security is listed, with eBPF sensors. Source: Upwind homepage, 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 . | Supports CIS benchmarks, HIPAA, ISO 27001, NIST, PCI and SOC 2 compliance with 13-month data lookback. Source: AWS Marketplace: Upwind Cloud Security Platform, read . |
| Public-sector authorizationDiffers | Not in our sources | Upwind says it is pursuing FedRAMP Moderate Equivalency; no authorization is stated. Source: Upwind pursues FedRAMP certification to power trusted federal cloud solutions, 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 No price on upwind.io. AWS Marketplace, 12-month contract: Upwind Cloud Security Platform $30,000.00 and Upwind Managed Detection and Response 24/7 Service $6,000.00; the unit basis is not described in our notes. 24-month and 36-month contracts are listed as saving up to 8% and 11%. Source: AWS Marketplace: Upwind Cloud Security Platform, 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 . | Standalone vendor, founded October 2022 in San Francisco; CEO Amiram Shachar. $250 million Series B announced 26 January 2026. Source: Upwind newsroom, read . |
Where do they differ?
- Clouds named: Cortex Cloud names AWS, Azure, GCP, OCI and Alibaba; Upwind names AWS, Azure, GCP and OCI.
- Kubernetes runtime: Cortex Cloud partly matches; Upwind matches.
- Public-sector authorization: Cortex Cloud is not in our sources; Upwind partly matches.
- Price: Cortex Cloud is not in our sources; Upwind 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 Upwind if
- Runtime detection is your first requirement and you will deploy a sensor.
- You want DAST, API security and AI detection in the same platform.
Which limits should you check?
Cortex Cloud
- No public price; the Cortex Cloud page offers only a demo request.
Upwind
- No price on upwind.io; the AWS Marketplace 12-month contract of $30,000 does not state its unit basis in our notes.
- A younger company (founded October 2022; 150+ customers per its newsroom), and Upwind says it is pursuing FedRAMP Moderate Equivalency; no authorization is stated.
- SAST is not among its listed code modules.
Frequently asked questions
How do Cortex Cloud and Upwind differ?
Neither is scored on this site. Cortex Cloud describes 6 of six categories and Upwind 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. Upwind: Agentless parts, agent for depth.
Do Cortex Cloud or Upwind 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. Upwind: No price on upwind.io. AWS Marketplace, 12-month contract: Upwind Cloud Security Platform $30,000.00 and Upwind Managed Detection and Response 24/7 Service $6,000.00; the unit basis is not described in our notes. 24-month and 36-month contracts are listed as saving up to 8% and 11%.