As cloud computing becomes the backbone of modern business operations, the need for effective Cloud Security Tools has never been more critical. From proactive threat detection to robust identity management, these tools provide the protection, visibility and compliance.

Cloud Security Tools Shortlist

1. ESET PROTECT Complete—Proactive Threat Detection

2. Wiz—Medium to Large Enterprises

3. Aikido Security—Comprehensive Cloud Posture Management

4. Qualys—Vulnerability Management in Hybrid Environments

5. OPSWAT Security Score—Quick Security Checks

6. Rippling IT—Managing Cloud-Based Devices and Applications

7. Pentera—Automated Security Validation

8. CyberArk—End-to-End Identity Security

9. ManageEngine Endpoint Central—Insight-Driven Defense

10. Astra Pentest—Continuous Scanning with Expert Support

What is a cloud security tool?

A cloud security tool is software or a suite of applications designed to help protect data, applications, and infrastructure within cloud environments from security threats. These tools address various aspects of cloud security, such as protecting data, managing identities, monitoring for vulnerabilities, and ensuring compliance with security standards.

Cloud security tools often provide functionalities like:

1. Data Protection:

Encrypting data both in transit and at rest to protect it from unauthorized access.

2. Identity and Access Management (IAM):

Managing who can access what within the cloud environment by enforcing policies and permissions.

3. Threat Detection and Response:

Monitoring for unusual or malicious activities and responding to threats like malware, intrusions, or unauthorized access attempts.

4. Vulnerability Management:

Scanning cloud assets for security vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, or compliance issues.

5. Compliance Monitoring:

Ensuring that cloud environments meet industry standards and regulations, such as GDPR, HIPAA, or SOC 2.

How to Choose a Cloud Security Tool

When selecting and trialing cloud security tools, consider the following key points:

What Problems Are You Trying to Solve?

Begin by identifying the specific cloud security gaps you need to fill, which will help you define the features and functionalities required in a potential tool.

Who Will Use It?

Consider who in your organization will need access to the platform and how many licenses you'll require. Determine if only the IT team will use it, or if access will be extended organization-wide. With this in mind, decide if ease of use for everyone is a priority, or if you should focus on a tool optimized for technically advanced users.

How Will It Work Within Your Organization?

Evaluate how the solution will integrate with your workflows and delivery methods. Take note of areas that function well and those that need improvement. Remember, every organization is unique—don't assume a popular tool will necessarily be effective within your organization's specific setup.

What Outcomes Matter?

Consider the results that would make the tool successful for your needs. Think about the capabilities you aim to gain, the improvements you seek, and how you'll measure success. Comparing cloud security products endlessly can be overwhelming, so avoid wasting valuable time by keeping clear, outcome-based criteria in mind.

What Other Tools Does It Need to Work With?

Clarify which tools you plan to replace, which you want to keep, and what needs to be integrated. This might involve your existing cloud infrastructure, various data sources, and your overall tech stack. Also, decide if these tools need to work seamlessly together or if you could streamline with a single, unified cloud security solution to replace multiple tools.

Cloud Security Tools Reviews

1. ESET PROTECT Complete—Proactive Threat Detection

ESET PROTECT Complete offers a multi-layered defense across computers, laptops, and mobile devices, making it a comprehensive Cloud Security Solution. Known for proactive threat detection, ESET addresses cloud-specific vulnerabilities with tools that identify and respond to risks in real time. Its lightweight design ensures minimal impact on system performance, which makes it ideal for businesses looking to maintain speed without sacrificing security.

Through its centralized cloud-based console, administrators can monitor and control security across distributed environments, gaining a high level of visibility over potential threats. While the platform's pricing and advanced feature learning curve might challenge smaller teams, ESET's 30-day lets users explore its full functionality before committing.

2. Wiz—Medium to Large Enterprises

Wiz is a scalable Cloud Security Tool tailored for medium to large enterprises that need end-to-end visibility and actionable insights across extensive infrastructures. Wiz's features enable organizations to manage complex, multi-environment cloud assets and prioritize security across diverse workloads. With deep analytics and risk prioritization, security teams can effectively tackle high-priority risks.

Despite occasional delays in cloud resource modeling that may create gaps in attack path analysis, Wiz remains a valuable investment for large organizations. The platform provides a demo, with customized pricing available via consultation, making it a Cloud Security Solution for enterprises focused on security visibility.

3. Aikido Security—Comprehensive Cloud Posture Management

Aikido Security elevates Cloud Security Solutions with its all-in-one DevSecOps platform, providing full-spectrum protection from code to cloud. Integrated with various security scans like SAST, DAST, SCA, CSPM, IaC, and container scanning, Aikido detects vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and compliance issues across major cloud providers.

The Infrastructure as Code (IaC) scanning feature is particularly strong, analyzing configurations such as Terraform, CloudFormation, and Kubernetes to detect security risks. While it lacks endpoint and intrusion detection, Aikido's CSPM for up to 10 users make it a preferred choice for comprehensive Cloud Security Management.

4. Qualys—Vulnerability Management in Hybrid Environments

Qualys is a cloud-based Cloud Security Solution recognized for its robust vulnerability management. With continuous monitoring and high accuracy, it reduces false positives and allows security teams to focus on actual threats. Qualys's unified dashboard consolidates vulnerabilities across multiple cloud assets, making it simple to monitor and respond efficiently.

Offering flexible scanning methods and automated workflows, Qualys adapts to various needs, though its scanners lack some customization options. With a 30-days and customized plans, Qualys enables organizations to explore a highly adaptable Cloud Security Tool for hybrid environments.

5. OPSWAT Security Score—Quick Security Checks

OPSWAT Security Score is a Cloud Security Solution for rapid security assessments, offering scans for Windows systems, laptops, and tablets. It allows users to get a fast overview of potential vulnerabilities and make immediate security improvements without extensive manual analysis.

While OPSWAT may require technical expertise for optimal use, its flexible pricing based on requirements makes it ideal for businesses that need a quick assessment tool for their Cloud Security Posture.

6. Rippling IT—Managing Cloud-Based Devices and Applications

Rippling IT is a versatile Cloud Security Tool for managing IT infrastructure within cloud environments. Its identity and access management (IAM) and role-based access control features help manage application and data access, automatically updating permissions as employee roles change. Additionally, the remote wipe feature secures data on lost or stolen devices, ensuring data protection even when hardware is compromised.

Though its scope is focused on device and application security, Rippling's starting subscription makes it attractive for organizations looking to simplify Cloud-Based Device Management.

7. Pentera—Automated Security Validation

Pentera brings a unique approach to Cloud Security with automated security validation, simulating attacks from an attacker's perspective to uncover security gaps. Its platform prioritizes potential attack paths, offering security teams insights into how defenses could withstand real threats.

Though Pentera's technical depth requires expertise and its setup can be complex, it remains a valuable Cloud Security Solution for organizations focused on proactive security validation and testing.

8. CyberArk—End-to-End Identity Security

CyberArk specializes in identity security with intelligent privilege controls, safeguarding data across on-premises, cloud, and hybrid environments. As an identity-centered Cloud Security Tool, CyberArk minimizes network risks by enforcing secure access to cloud resources through privileged access management, which is particularly beneficial for remote environments.

Although CyberArk's complex interface may require training, it offers a 30-day plan with subscriptions, ideal for companies needing robust identity security in the cloud.

9. ManageEngine Endpoint Central—Insight-Driven Defense

ManageEngine Endpoint Central is a feature-rich Cloud Security Tool designed for endpoint management across cloud infrastructures. With extensive data collection and analysis capabilities, it provides insight-driven defenses that empower security teams to make informed decisions for threat prevention.

Some users may find the platform's configurability overwhelming, especially without technical knowledge, but its 30-days make it accessible for businesses aiming to strengthen their Cloud Security Posture.

10. Astra Pentest—Continuous Scanning with Expert Support

Astra Pentest sets itself apart with continuous vulnerability scanning and expert support, designed for web and mobile apps, APIs, SaaS tools, and cloud infrastructures. The platform includes detailed security reports and compliance checks, providing organizations with a high level of confidence in their Cloud Security Measures.

Although it may produce occasional false positives, Astra Pentest's expert-supported remediation and subscription make it a strong choice for organizations that want Continuous Cloud Security Monitoring.