CrowdStrike vs Orca: cloud security facts side by side
How do their category maps compare?
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 | CrowdStrike | Orca |
|---|---|---|
| Positioning | CrowdStrike's cloud security module, which pairs agentless posture with the same Falcon sensor used on endpoints. | 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 Agentless CSPM; workload protection is split between agentless scanning and the Falcon sensor. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security, 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 | The CrowdStrike Falcon sensor, the same agent used for endpoints. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security, 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 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 . | 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 Combines CSPM, workload protection, CIEM, ASPM and AI-SPM under Falcon Cloud Security. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security, 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 Agentless CSPM enriched with adversary intelligence. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security, read . | Described CSPM and multi-cloud compliance are listed as modules. Source: Orca Security platform overview, read . |
| CWPP | Described Cloud workload protection with agent and agentless options. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security, read . | Described Workloads are covered by SideScanning (VMs, containers, serverless) and, for runtime, the optional Orca Sensor. Source: Orca agentless SideScanning, read . |
| CIEM | Described CIEM is listed. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security, read . | Described CIEM is listed as a module. Source: Orca Security platform overview, read . |
| DSPM | Described DSPM is named: discover, classify and protect cloud data. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security (re-read), read . | Described DSPM is listed as a module. Source: Orca Security platform overview, read . |
| Vulnerability management | Described AI-driven vulnerability management is named. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security (re-read), read . | Described Vulnerability management is listed as a module, with risk prioritization and attack path analysis. Source: Orca Security platform overview, read . |
| Code securityDiffers | 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 . | 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 | AI-SPM covers AI infrastructure. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security, 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 | Workload protection for cloud workloads through the Falcon sensor and agentless scanning. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security, 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-premisesDiffers | Not in our sources | The Orca Sensor runs in private cloud and on-premises environments. Source: Orca runtime sensor, read . |
| Disconnected environments | Not in our sources | Not in our sources |
| Compliance reportingDiffers | Not in our sources | Multi-cloud compliance is listed as a module. Source: Orca Security platform overview, read . |
| Public-sector authorization | 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 . | Orca states it is FedRAMP Authorized at the Moderate Impact Level for its cloud security platform. Source: Orca glossary: FedRAMP, read . |
| Price | 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 . | 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 | None named | None named |
| Ownership | CrowdStrike. Source: CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security, read . | Standalone vendor. Source: Orca Security platform overview, read . |
Where do they differ?
- Agent approach: CrowdStrike has agentless parts and an agent for depth; Orca has an agentless core.
- Clouds named: CrowdStrike names AWS, Azure, GCP and OCI; Orca names AWS, Azure, GCP, OCI, Alibaba and Tencent.
- Code security: CrowdStrike partly matches; Orca matches.
- Private cloud or on-premises: CrowdStrike is not in our sources; Orca matches.
- Compliance reporting: CrowdStrike is not in our sources; Orca matches.
Choose CrowdStrike if
- The Falcon sensor already runs on your endpoints and servers.
- You want cloud posture read against adversary intelligence.
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?
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.
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 CrowdStrike and Orca differ?
Neither is scored on this site. CrowdStrike describes 6 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?
CrowdStrike: Agentless parts, agent for depth. Orca: Agentless core.
Do CrowdStrike or Orca publish prices?
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. 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.