CISO Tribune

Vendor comparison · 2 companies

Aqua Security vs Qualys

Aqua Security sells a cloud native application protection platform that secures applications from development through production, along with a Secure AI product for AI applications. Qualys provides the Enterprise TruRisk Platform, an end-to-end solution for all aspects of IT, security and compliance. CISO Tribune files both under Cloud-native application protection (CNAPP). This page sets the two records side by side: what each sells, where it is based, who owns and funds it, the customers it names and its recent news, each fact numbered to its source.

Change the companies

Up to four companies side by side.

  • Aqua Security
  • Qualys
Aqua Security vs Qualys: Products, Customers and Funding Compared
Aqua SecurityAqua Security sells a cloud native application protection platform that secures applications from development through production, along with a Secure AI product for AI applications.aquasec.comQualysQualys provides the Enterprise TruRisk Platform, an end-to-end solution for all aspects of IT, security and compliance.qualys.com
What it sells
  • Aqua Security PlatformCloud native application protection platform for development through production.
  • Enterprise TruRisk Platform[1][2]An end-to-end solution for all aspects of IT, security and compliance.
Categories
Headquarters
Boston, United States[1]Not stated on its pages
Founded
2015[1][5]1999[1]
Ownership and funding
Privately held[4][5][6]Not stated on its pages
Named customers
Not stated on its pagesNot stated on its pages
Recent news
  • February 12, 2026Aqua Security announced the next phase of its company transformation, centered on helping enterprises reduce cloud risk faster.[8]
Not stated on its pages
G2 and Gartner Peer Insights
  • G2: Not stated on its pages
  • Gartner Peer Insights: Not stated on its pages
  • G2: Not stated on its pages
  • Gartner Peer Insights: Not stated on its pages
Who it fits
From its own pages, Aqua Security sells mainly to organizations running cloud native applications and workloads in containers, Kubernetes, serverless functions and VMs. Aqua Security says its platform covers public cloud, private cloud, hybrid cloud and on-premises environments, including air gapped settings. Secure AI is aimed at teams running AI applications on Kubernetes and IBM Z mainframes.Not written yet
Last verified
September 27, 2026November 4, 2026

Where they overlap

  • Aqua Security and Qualys are both filed under Cloud-native application protection (CNAPP).

Where they differ, field by field

  • Aqua Security's primary category is Cloud-native application protection (CNAPP); Qualys's is Vulnerability management.
  • Aqua Security is also filed under Cloud workload protection and Software supply chain security. Qualys is also filed under EDR and XDR and External attack surface management.
  • Aqua Security lists Aqua Security Platform. Qualys lists Enterprise TruRisk Platform.
  • Aqua Security is headquartered in Boston, United States.
  • Aqua Security was founded in 2015. Qualys was founded in 1999.
  • Aqua Security is privately held.

What it sells: Aqua Security

What Aqua Security Platform does
The Aqua Security Platform connects risk in code and images with live workload behavior. Aqua Security says it brings together application risk, runtime visibility, threat detection, prevention and response.

What it sells: Qualys

What Enterprise TruRisk Platform does[1][2]
The Enterprise TruRisk Platform is a suite of apps integrated into a single platform. Enterprise TruRisk Platform apps natively share the data they collect. The Enterprise TruRisk Platform covers IT, security and compliance.

Questions about Aqua Security and Qualys

What do Aqua Security and Qualys sell?
Aqua Security sells Aqua Security Platform. Qualys sells Enterprise TruRisk Platform.
Are Aqua Security and Qualys in the same category?
They share Cloud-native application protection (CNAPP). Aqua Security's primary category is Cloud-native application protection (CNAPP) and Qualys's is Vulnerability management.
Where are Aqua Security and Qualys headquartered?
Aqua Security is headquartered in Boston, United States.
When were Aqua Security and Qualys founded?
Aqua Security was founded in 2015. Qualys was founded in 1999.
Who owns Aqua Security and Qualys?
Aqua Security is privately held.
Who are Aqua Security and Qualys sold to?
From its own pages, Aqua Security sells mainly to organizations running cloud native applications and workloads in containers, Kubernetes, serverless functions and VMs.
What have Aqua Security and Qualys announced recently?
February 12, 2026: Aqua Security announced the next phase of its company transformation, centered on helping enterprises reduce cloud risk faster.

About Aqua Security

Aqua Security sells a cloud native application protection platform that secures applications from development through production, along with a Secure AI product for AI applications. Aqua Security says its platform brings together application risk, runtime visibility, threat detection, prevention and response.

Aqua Security describes the problem it addresses as follows: sensors collect and report back for a human to act on, and security teams are flooded with alerts they cannot prioritize because they lack production context. Aqua Security also says scanning only finds what is already known. Aqua Security says its platform turns runtime insight into inline enforcement, denying unauthorized actions at the point of execution.

The Aqua Security platform connects risk in code and images with live workload behavior. Aqua Security says it filters vulnerability risk based on what is actually executing in the workload, and that it applies compensating controls at runtime to stop exploitation without waiting for a patch. Aqua Security says its agent-based architecture enforces protection locally, even when environments are disconnected or air gapped.

Secure AI is the Aqua Security product for AI applications. Secure AI finds the AI models running in applications and protects them at two layers, blocking prompt injection and jailbreaks and denying supported actions such as credential theft or data exfiltration inside the workload. Secure AI also discovers AI models, providers, frameworks and versions in use across workloads, and lets security teams authorize specific AI services and models. Aqua Security says Secure AI scans repositories and CI/CD pipelines for undocumented AI use.

Secure AI is delivered without an application SDK or code rewrite. Runtime protection for the workload runs through the Aquasec Enforcer, the same component that protects containers and Kubernetes. Secure AI protects AI applications in containers and Kubernetes across public cloud, private cloud, hybrid and on premises environments, including containerized AI on IBM Z mainframes. Through a partnership with Akamai, Akamai Firewall for AI Applications adds prompt and output analysis at the edge.

Aqua Security says it protects cloud native applications and workloads across public cloud, private cloud, hybrid cloud and on-premises environments, across containers, Kubernetes and other cloud native workloads. Aqua Security describes its integrations as covering clouds, container and serverless platforms, CI/CD pipelines, registries, DevOps tools and orchestrators, through to Security, SIEM and Analytics.

Aqua Security describes itself as one of the most established Israeli cybersecurity companies.[2][3]

Aqua Security on the record

Sources

Aqua Security full record

  1. [1]60m additional fundingAqua Security · aquasec.com · published January 3, 2024 · Tier A
  2. [2]Aqua cloud native security platformAqua Security · aquasec.com · undated page, accessed September 27, 2026 · Tier A
  3. [3]aquasec.comAqua Security · aquasec.com · undated page, accessed September 27, 2026 · Tier A
  4. [4]Aqua security hires datto veteran as cmo eyes potential ipoAqua Security · aquasec.com · published July 27, 2021 · Tier A
  5. [5]Aqua Cloud Native Security, Container & Serverless SecurityAqua Security · undated page, accessed October 23, 2026 · Tier A
  6. [6]Secure AI: AI Application Security | AquasecAqua Security · undated page, accessed November 5, 2026 · Tier A
  7. [7]Aqua Security Announces Leadership Transition as Company Enters Its Next Phase of GrowthAqua Security · published November 6, 2025 · Tier A
  8. [8]Aqua Security Doubles Down on Runtime to Deliver Measurable Cloud Risk ReductionAqua Security · published February 12, 2026 · Tier A

Qualys full record

  1. [1]CompanyQualys · qualys.com · undated page, accessed November 4, 2026 · Tier A
  2. [2]Enterprise Cyber Risk and Security Platform | QualysQualys · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  3. [3]Introducing Improved Control Statements in Policy Audit | Qualys NotificationsQualys · published October 29, 2026 · Tier A

Spot a factual error? Request a correction.