Orca vs Sysdig: 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 | Orca | Sysdig |
|---|---|---|
| Positioning | A cloud security platform built on agentless SideScanning, with an optional runtime sensor, covering posture, workloads, identity, data, vulnerabilities, code and AI. | A cloud security platform with runtime detection built on Falco, the open-source project Sysdig created, plus agentless posture. |
| Agent approachDiffers | 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 . | 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 | 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 . | The Sysdig agent with Falco-based detection, showing which packages are in use. Source: Sysdig Secure, read . |
| Clouds namedDiffers | AWS, Azure, GCP, OCI, Alibaba, Tencent AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle Cloud, Alibaba Cloud and Tencent Cloud. Source: Orca Security platform overview, 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 CNAPP is listed as a module on the platform page, built on one Unified Data Model. Source: Orca Security platform overview, read . | Described Sysdig describes Sysdig Secure as a CNAPP. Source: Sysdig press release: Sysdig Secure AI, read . |
| CSPM | Described CSPM and multi-cloud compliance are listed as modules. Source: Orca Security platform overview, read . | Described CSPM is listed. Source: Sysdig Secure, read . |
| CWPP | Described Workloads are covered by SideScanning (VMs, containers, serverless) and, for runtime, the optional Orca Sensor. Source: Orca agentless SideScanning, read . | Described Runtime threat detection for containers and Kubernetes through the agent. Source: Sysdig Secure, read . |
| CIEM | Described CIEM is listed as a module. Source: Orca Security platform overview, read . | Described Basic CIEM and Advanced CIEM are named. Source: Sysdig docs: connect cloud accounts, read . |
| DSPM | Described DSPM is listed as a module. Source: Orca Security platform overview, read . | Described DSPM is listed. Source: Sysdig Secure, read . |
| Vulnerability management | Described Vulnerability management is listed as a module, with risk prioritization and attack path analysis. Source: Orca Security platform overview, read . | Described Agentless vulnerability host scanning and agent-based scanning, with in-use prioritization. Source: Sysdig pricing (re-read), read . |
| Code securityDiffers | 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 . | 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 inventory of models, pipelines, training datasets and AI packages, shadow AI discovery, MCP server monitoring and AI AppGen Security. Source: Orca AI security, 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 runtime | Container and Kubernetes security is listed as a module; the Orca Sensor runs on Kubernetes. Source: Orca runtime sensor, read . | Runtime detection for containers and Kubernetes built on Falco. Source: Sysdig Secure, read . |
| Private cloud or on-premisesDiffers | The Orca Sensor runs in private cloud and on-premises environments. Source: Orca runtime sensor, read . | Not in our sources |
| Disconnected environments | Not in our sources | Not in our sources |
| Compliance reporting | Multi-cloud compliance is listed as a module. Source: Orca Security platform overview, 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 authorizationDiffers | Orca states it is FedRAMP Authorized at the Moderate Impact Level for its cloud security platform. Source: Orca glossary: FedRAMP, read . | Not in our sources |
| Price | 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 . | 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 | Standalone vendor. Source: Orca Security platform overview, 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?
- Agent approach: Orca has an agentless core; Sysdig has agentless parts and an agent for depth.
- Clouds named: Orca names AWS, Azure, GCP, OCI, Alibaba and Tencent; Sysdig names AWS, Azure, GCP and OCI.
- Code security: Orca matches; Sysdig partly matches.
- Private cloud or on-premises: Orca matches; Sysdig is not in our sources.
- Public-sector authorization: Orca matches; Sysdig is not in our sources.
Choose Orca if
- You want broad coverage without installing agents.
- Your estate includes Tencent Cloud, Alibaba Cloud or Oracle Cloud.
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?
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.
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 Orca and Sysdig differ?
Neither is scored on this site. Orca describes 6 of six categories and Sysdig 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?
Orca: Agentless core. Sysdig: Agentless parts, agent for depth.
Do Orca or Sysdig publish prices?
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. 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%.