Containers and Kubernetes now power most modern applications, but they also bring new security risks along for the ride. Teams ship code faster than ever, yet infrastructure keeps getting more complex-vulnerabilities hide in images, misconfigurations creep in, and runtime attacks become a real threat. One well-known platform stands out for its strong runtime protection and container scanning capabilities. Still, as projects scale, many teams start looking for alternatives: some want simpler onboarding, others need better multi-cloud support, and quite a few just want less overhead dragging down velocity. In 2026 the market offers several capable platforms that address the same core challenges: catching vulnerabilities early, securing live workloads, maintaining compliance, and providing clear visibility across hybrid and multi-cloud environments. These tools cut down on manual security work so developers can stay focused on building features instead of wrestling with configurations. Each platform tackles common DevOps and SecOps pain points in its own way. Below is a straightforward look at the most relevant options companies are actually using today.
1. AppFirst
AppFirst provides a way to deploy applications by defining what the app needs – like compute, databases, networking, and images – then automatically handles the secure infrastructure provisioning behind it. It skips manual Terraform, YAML, or VPC fiddling, enforces best practices for security and tagging, and adds observability plus cost tracking per app and environment. Support covers AWS, Azure, and GCP with options for SaaS or self-hosted setups.
Developers get to own the full app without infra bottlenecks, which clicks for teams tired of PR reviews or custom frameworks. It’s more about provisioning than ongoing threat detection, so it fits early in the deployment flow rather than pure security monitoring.
Key Highlights:
- Automatic infrastructure from simple app definitions
- Built-in security standards and auditing
- Multi-cloud provisioning (AWS, Azure, GCP)
- Cost visibility and observability included
Pros:
- Removes infra coding and DevOps delays
- Consistent best practices without internal tools
- Easy switch between cloud providers
Cons:
- Narrower focus on provisioning over runtime defense
- Less emphasis on vulnerability scanning or threat response
Contact Information:
- Website: www.appfirst.dev
2. Wiz
Wiz runs a cloud security platform built around agentless scanning that pulls together risks from across multi-cloud setups. It maps out vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, exposed secrets, and identity problems, then ties them into a graph that shows how threats could actually play out. Security folks get one view to prioritize fixes instead of jumping between tools, and the whole thing sets up pretty quick without dropping agents on workloads.
That approach makes sense for environments where things change fast and sprawl is a headache. Some find the risk context helpful for cutting through noise, though it leans more toward visibility and posture than deep runtime blocking in every scenario.
Key Highlights:
- Agentless scanning across AWS, Azure, GCP and more
- Security graph for attack path visualization
- Vulnerability, misconfiguration, secrets, and CIEM coverage
- Focus on risk prioritization with business context
Pros:
- Fast onboarding with no agents to manage
- Strong multi-cloud unification
- Clear attack path insights reduce guesswork
Cons:
- Runtime protection feels lighter compared to some specialized tools
- Can surface a lot of findings that need sorting
Contact Information:
- Website: www.wiz.io
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/wizsecurity
- Twitter: x.com/wiz_io
3. Sysdig Secure
Sysdig Secure centers on runtime visibility to catch what’s really happening inside containers, Kubernetes clusters, and cloud workloads. It pulls deep insights from actual behavior, spots anomalies fast, scans for vulnerabilities, and handles posture checks plus detection/response. The recent addition of Sysdig Sage brings in agentic AI that tries to reason through alerts like a security person would, aiming to cut down on manual triage.
Teams that live in containers often appreciate how it grounds decisions in live data rather than just static scans. The open source roots with Falco give it some flexibility for customization, even if the full platform adds the enterprise layers.
Key Highlights:
- Runtime-based threat detection and response
- Vulnerability management with noise reduction
- Posture management and workload protection
- Agent-based core with some agentless integrations
Pros:
- Excellent depth in runtime observability
- AI assistance for faster alert handling
- Open source foundation allows tweaking
Cons:
- Setup involves agents which some setups avoid
- Can feel overwhelming if runtime isn’t the main pain point
Contact Information:
- Website: sysdig.com
- Phone: 1-415-872-9473
- Email: sales@sysdig.com
- Address: 135 Main Street, 21st Floor, San Francisco, CA 94105
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/sysdig
- Twitter: x.com/sysdig
4. Prisma Cloud (Palo Alto Networks)
Prisma Cloud delivers full-lifecycle cloud security that covers code to runtime across containers, serverless, VMs, and multi-cloud environments. It handles posture management, workload protection, vulnerability scanning, compliance enforcement, and real-time threat prevention. The platform pulls everything into a unified view so teams track risks and remediate without constant tool-switching.
Given Palo Alto’s broader ecosystem, it integrates well if other parts of their stack are already in play. Coverage feels enterprise-heavy, which suits regulated setups but sometimes adds layers that lighter teams skip.
Key Highlights:
- Comprehensive CNAPP with CSPM, CWPP, CIEM
- Runtime security for containers and cloud attacks
- Multi-cloud support including AWS, Azure, GCP
- Automated remediation and compliance tools
Pros:
- Broad coverage from build to runtime
- Strong in regulated industries with compliance focus
- Unified dashboard simplifies oversight
Cons:
- Can feel bundled and complex for smaller teams
- Integration depth favors existing Palo Alto users
Contact Information:
- Website: www.paloaltonetworks.com
- Phone: 1 866 486 4842
- Email: learn@paloaltonetworks.com
- Address: Palo Alto Networks, 3000 Tannery Way, Santa Clara, CA 95054
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/palo-alto-networks
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/PaloAltoNetworks
- Twitter: x.com/PaloAltoNtwks
5. Orca Security
Orca Security runs an agentless cloud security platform that scans environments deeply without deploying anything on the workloads themselves. It uses something called SideScanning to pull in vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and other risks, then ties them together with context to show what actually matters most. The setup stays lightweight, which helps when environments span multiple clouds or grow quickly without adding extra overhead.
Some folks note how the unified view cuts down on jumping between tools, though it might require a bit of tuning to avoid surfacing too much at once. The focus stays on visibility and prioritization rather than heavy runtime blocking, so it fits well in setups where quick insights beat constant intervention.
Key Highlights:
- Agentless SideScanning for comprehensive coverage
- Contextual insights across vulnerabilities and misconfigurations
- Multi-cloud support with low operational impact
- Unified risk view for prioritization
Pros:
- No agents make deployment straightforward
- Deep scans without performance hits
- Good at connecting risks contextually
Cons:
- Less emphasis on real-time blocking compared to runtime-focused tools
- Initial findings can pile up before tuning
Contact Information:
- Website: orca.security
- Address: 1455 NW Irving St., Suite 390 Portland, OR 97209
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/orca-security
- Twitter: x.com/OrcaSec
6. Snyk
Snyk offers a developer-centric security platform that scans code, dependencies, containers, and cloud infrastructure for issues. It integrates directly into development workflows, using AI to spot problems and suggest fixes so security checks happen early without slowing things down. The approach appeals to teams who want security embedded in the build process rather than bolted on later.
Developers often like how it feels natural in CI/CD pipelines, but it can sometimes flag a ton of low-priority alerts that need sifting through. The container and cloud parts cover common attack surfaces, though runtime depth isn’t the main strength here.
Key Highlights:
- Scans across code, open-source dependencies, containers, and cloud
- AI-assisted detection and remediation guidance
- Developer-first integrations for pipelines
- Support for multiple languages and cloud environments
Pros:
- Fits smoothly into dev workflows
- Quick feedback on vulnerabilities
- AI helps prioritize and fix issues
Cons:
- Alert volume can overwhelm without filters
- Runtime protection feels secondary to static scanning
Contact Information:
- Website: snyk.io
- Address: 100 Summer St, Floor 7 Boston, MA 02110 USA
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/snyk
- Twitter: x.com/snyksec
7. Qualys
Qualys provides cloud-based security and compliance solutions focused on vulnerability management, posture checks, and protection for IT systems and web apps. It delivers on-demand scanning and automation for auditing across cloud and on-prem environments. The platform pulls together insights to simplify operations and compliance tracking.
Long-time users appreciate the broad coverage and how it integrates with major cloud providers, but the interface can feel dated in spots compared to newer entrants. It handles a wide range of assets, which suits larger setups but might add unnecessary complexity for smaller ones.
Key Highlights:
- Vulnerability detection and management
- Compliance auditing and reporting
- Cloud and on-prem support
- Automated scanning and remediation
Pros:
- Solid for broad asset coverage
- Strong compliance features
- Integrates with major cloud platforms
Cons:
- Can feel heavier for quick scans
- Interface takes some getting used to
Contact Information:
- Website: www.qualys.com
- Phone: +1 650 801 6100
- Email: info@qualys.com
- Address: 919 E Hillsdale Blvd, 4th Floor, Foster City, CA 94404 USA
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/qualys
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/qualys
- Twitter: x.com/qualys
8. Red Hat
Red Hat builds open-source technologies for hybrid cloud environments, including platforms for operating systems, virtualization, edge computing, and app development. It emphasizes open ecosystems that let organizations run workloads anywhere without lock-in. Security comes through community-driven features and integrations across the stack.
The open-source foundation gives flexibility for customization, which some find empowering but others see as a learning curve. It shines in environments where control and portability matter, though it requires more hands-on setup than fully managed security tools.
Key Highlights:
- Open-source hybrid cloud platforms
- Support for containers, virtualization, and edge
- Community and partner ecosystem
- Focus on freedom from vendor lock-in
Pros:
- High customizability through open source
- Strong in hybrid and multi-cloud setups
- Community backing for long-term support
Cons:
- More setup involved than agentless options
- Security features lean on broader stack rather than standalone CNAPP
Contact Information:
- Website: www.redhat.com
- Phone: +1 919 754 3700
- Email: apac@redhat.com
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/red-hat
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/RedHat
- Twitter: x.com/RedHat
9. AccuKnox
AccuKnox delivers an AI-powered security platform centered on zero trust principles for cloud-native setups. It covers everything from code through runtime protection, using technologies like eBPF and LSM for deep workload monitoring and threat response. The platform includes posture management for clouds and Kubernetes, application-level security checks, and even dedicated handling for AI and LLM risks, all while supporting a range of public and private cloud environments plus various container runtimes.
Runtime defense stands out here since it actively enforces policies at the kernel level rather than just scanning statically. Some find the AI assistance handy for sorting through findings and suggesting fixes, though the breadth of coverage can make initial configuration feel a touch involved if the stack isn’t fully cloud-native.
Key Highlights:
- Zero trust runtime protection with eBPF and LSM
- CNAPP combining CSPM, CWPP, KSPM, and ASPM
- AI-powered detection, remediation, and assistance
- Support for multiple public/private clouds and Kubernetes engines
- Compliance across various frameworks
Pros:
- Strong runtime blocking and enforcement
- Covers AI/LLM security specifically
- Automated remediation options reduce manual work
Cons:
- Setup might need tuning for non-Kubernetes environments
- Scope can introduce complexity in simpler setups
Contact Information:
- Website: accuknox.com
- Email: info@accuknox.com
- Address: 333 Ravenswood Ave, Menlo Park, CA 94025, USA
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/accuknox
- Twitter: x.com/Accuknox
10. Aikido
Aikido combines multiple security scanners into one platform that handles code vulnerabilities, cloud misconfigurations, secrets, containers, and even runtime threats. It scans dependencies for open-source issues, checks infrastructure code like Terraform, runs static analysis on source, and includes dynamic testing for web apps plus an in-app firewall called Zen for blocking attacks live. AI autofix generates pull requests or suggests hardened images to speed up resolution, and it deduplicates alerts while letting users set custom rules.
The all-in-one approach keeps things in a single dashboard, which some appreciate for avoiding tool sprawl. Runtime protection via Zen adds a layer of active defense, but the sheer number of scanner types means occasional overlap or need to fine-tune what gets surfaced.
Key Highlights:
- Scans code, dependencies, IaC, containers, cloud posture, VMs, and Kubernetes runtime
- AI autofix for many issue types
- Secrets, license, malware, and outdated software detection
- In-app firewall (Zen) for runtime blocking
- Developer integrations with GitHub, GitLab, Jira, etc.
Pros:
- Consolidates many scan types without switching tools
- Autofix and bulk fixes save time
- Free tier available for basic use
Cons:
- Broad coverage might generate noise until configured
- Runtime part feels more supplementary than core strength
Contact Information:
- Website: www.aikido.dev
- Email: sales@aikido.dev
- Address: 95 Third St, 2nd Fl, San Francisco, CA 94103, US
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/aikido-security
- Twitter: x.com/AikidoSecurity
11. JFrog
JFrog Xray functions as a software composition analysis tool focused on open-source and third-party components. It scans repositories, build artifacts, and container images continuously to identify vulnerabilities, license compliance problems, and operational risks. Features include prioritization based on exploitability, automated remediation suggestions, SBOM generation, policy enforcement to block risky packages, and detection of malicious components using an extended database.
Integration happens smoothly in developer tools like IDEs and CLIs, keeping security close to the workflow. The emphasis on early detection in the SDLC makes sense for teams heavy on open-source dependencies, though it stays more SCA-centric than full CNAPP coverage.
Key Highlights:
- Continuous scanning of repos, builds, and containers
- Vulnerability prioritization and remediation guidance
- License compliance and SBOM generation
- Malicious package detection
- Policy-based blocking and operational risk assessment
Pros:
- Tight integration into dev pipelines
- Good visibility into dependency risks
- Helps with compliance reporting
Cons:
- Limited to software supply chain focus
- Less runtime or cloud posture depth
Contact Information:
- Website: jfrog.com
- Phone: +1-408-329-1540
- Address: 270 E Caribbean Dr., Sunnyvale, CA 94089, United States
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/jfrog-ltd
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/artifrog
- Twitter: x.com/jfrog
12. Trivy
Trivy serves as an open-source vulnerability scanner designed for speed and ease in scanning container images, OS packages, dependencies, and configuration files. It detects vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, secrets, and license issues while generating SBOMs when needed. The tool runs without agents, making it straightforward to drop into CI/CD pipelines or local workflows for quick checks on artifacts.
Community maintenance keeps it evolving with broad adoption in various projects. It’s particularly straightforward for container-heavy environments, though users sometimes pair it with other tools for deeper runtime or cloud-specific needs since it focuses mainly on scanning rather than ongoing protection.
Key Highlights:
- Scans containers, OS packages, dependencies, configs, and secrets
- Vulnerability, misconfiguration, and license detection
- SBOM generation
- Agentless and fast execution
- Open-source with permissive license
Pros:
- Simple to use and integrate anywhere
- Comprehensive for artifact scanning
- No overhead from agents
Cons:
- Lacks built-in runtime enforcement
- Relies on community for updates and support
Contact Information:
- Website: trivy.dev
- Twitter: x.com/AquaTrivy
13. Falco
Falco focuses on runtime security for cloud-native environments by watching Linux kernel events and other sources in real time. It uses custom rules to spot abnormal behavior, suspicious activity, or compliance issues across hosts, containers, Kubernetes clusters, and even some cloud services. Alerts come through enriched with context, and the whole thing runs open source with eBPF for low-overhead detection of things like unexpected process launches or file access.
What stands out is how it catches stuff as it happens rather than waiting for periodic scans. Some users mention the rule tuning takes a bit of effort upfront, but once set it runs quietly in the background without much fuss.
Key Highlights:
- Real-time detection using kernel events and eBPF
- Customizable rules for threat and compliance monitoring
- Works across hosts, containers, Kubernetes, and cloud
- Alert forwarding to SIEM and other systems
- Open source with community plugins
Pros:
- Catches live threats without agents in many cases
- Highly tunable for specific environments
- Free and open source core
Cons:
- Rule writing and tuning can feel hands-on
- Less built-in for vulnerability scanning
Contact Information:
- Website: falco.org
14. Anchore
Anchore provides open source tools geared toward container image security, mainly through Syft for generating SBOMs and Grype for vulnerability scanning. Syft pulls together detailed software inventories from images or filesystems, including dependencies at various levels, while Grype takes those or direct scans to flag known vulnerabilities from multiple sources. Both tools integrate easily into pipelines for automated checks.
The combo works well for teams wanting visibility into what’s actually running in containers. Grype’s results tend to be straightforward, though some note it benefits from pairing with other tools for broader context since it sticks close to image contents.
Key Highlights:
- Syft generates SBOMs in multiple formats
- Grype scans for vulnerabilities in OS and language packages
- CLI-based for easy pipeline integration
- Focus on container images and filesystems
- Open source with community involvement
Pros:
- Simple to drop into existing workflows
- Detailed SBOM output for compliance needs
- Fast scans when combined
Cons:
- Narrower scope than full platform security
- No runtime protection included
Contact Information:
- Website: anchore.com
- Address: 800 Presidio Avenue, Suite B, Santa Barbara, California, 93101
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/anchore
- Twitter: x.com/anchore
15. Tigera
Tigera offers Calico as a unified platform handling Kubernetes networking, security, and observability. It provides high-performance networking with options like eBPF, plus features for ingress, egress, network policies, cluster mesh, and Istio ambient mode support. The setup aims to consolidate controls across any Kubernetes distribution, whether on-prem, cloud, or edge, with centralized policy management.
Networking performance gets a lot of attention here, which helps in large or distributed clusters. Some find the all-in-one aspect reduces tool juggling, but it requires solid Kubernetes knowledge to get the most out of the advanced bits.
Key Highlights:
- High-performance networking with eBPF and other data planes
- Kubernetes network policies and security
- Ingress, egress, and cluster mesh capabilities
- Observability and compliance features
- Support for multiple Kubernetes distributions
Pros:
- Strong in networking and policy enforcement
- Reduces fragmentation in Kubernetes security
- Good for multi-cluster setups
Cons:
- Heavier focus on networking than broad CNAPP
- Learning curve for full feature set
Contact Information:
- Website: www.tigera.io
- Phone: +1 415-612-9546
- Email: contact@tigera.io
- Address: 2890 Zanker Rd Suite 205 San Jose, CA 95134
- LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/tigera
- Twitter: x.com/tigeraio
Conclusion
Picking the right alternative to Aqua Security comes down to what actually hurts your setup the most right now. Some platforms excel at catching weird behavior the moment it starts in running containers or Kubernetes clusters. Others skip agents entirely and give you a fast, broad scan of misconfigurations and vulnerabilities across clouds without slowing anything down. A few stay laser-focused on code and dependencies so issues get fixed before they ever deploy. No option nails everything perfectly – runtime depth usually trades off against easy onboarding, and broad visibility sometimes means more noise to sort through. The sweet spot is usually the one that cuts security friction instead of adding endless meetings about alerts. If sneaky attacks keep you awake, prioritize real-time runtime tools. If sprawl and config drift are the daily headache, agentless platforms often feel like a relief.
Most teams figure it out by running a quick proof-of-concept anyway – throw your real workloads at a couple and see what actually helps. In the end it’s simple: find whatever lets developers ship fast while still keeping things reasonably locked down, and the switch usually pays off quicker than expected.
