CISO Tribune

Vendor comparison · 2 companies

Blackwall vs Imperva

Blackwall sells a web traffic management platform for the hosting market. Imperva sells an Application Security Platform that protects against application and API attacks without impacting legitimate users. CISO Tribune files both under Bot and abuse management, DDoS protection and WAF and WAAP. 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.

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  • Blackwall
  • Imperva
Blackwall vs Imperva: Products, Customers and Funding Compared
BlackwallBlackwall sells a web traffic management platform for the hosting market.blackwall.comImpervaImperva sells an Application Security Platform that protects against application and API attacks without impacting legitimate users.imperva.com
What it sells
  • GateKeeper[4][6]Blackwall's flagship product, deployed across 2.3M+ websites and applications.
  • Web Application Firewall (WAF)[9][12]Imperva WAF protects applications in any environment, cloud or on-premises.
  • Advanced Bot Protection[4][5][9][11][17]Imperva Advanced Bot Protection protects websites, mobile apps and APIs from sophisticated automated attacks.
  • API Security[4][5][9][17]Imperva API Security provides continuous protection of all APIs.
  • DDoS Protection[5][9][12]Imperva’s advanced DDoS protection defends against volumetric, protocol-based and Layer 7 attacks.
  • Client-Side Protection[9][13]Imperva Client-Side Protection safeguards against client-side attacks like formjacking, digital skimming and Magecart.
  • AI Application Security[5][14]Imperva AI Application Security is engineered for the unique architecture of LLMs.
  • Data Security Fabric[15]Imperva Data Security Fabric is purpose-built for hybrid multicloud environments.
  • Content Delivery Network[9]Imperva's Secure Content Delivery Network (CDN) accelerates the delivery of content and applications.
Categories
Headquarters
Not stated on its pagesRedwood Shores, United States[3]
Founded
Not stated on its pagesNot stated on its pages
Ownership and funding
Privately heldOwned by Thales[1][5][7][8][10]
Named customers
Not stated on its pagesNot stated on its pages
Recent news
  • October 20, 2026Blackwall announced it raised $100 million at a $2.2 billion valuation in a C round led by AVP, with existing investors Dawn Capital, MMC Ventures and Tera Ventures.[9]
  • August 24, 2026Thales Imperva introduced the SSL Integration Center, a framework connecting Imperva Cloud WAF with certificate lifecycle management platforms, launching with a DigiCert integration.[19]
  • August 3, 2026Thales launched Imperva for AWS, which provides web application, API and bot protection for AWS environments.[6]
G2 and Gartner Peer Insights
  • G2: Not stated on its pages
  • Gartner Peer Insights: Not stated on its pages
  • G2: listed, seen November 6, 2026[7]
  • Gartner Peer Insights: listed, seen November 6, 2026[8]
Who it fits
From its own pages, Blackwall sells mainly to hosting providers and service providers, who offer its security to their own customers. Blackwall describes itself as channel-first, protecting websites through hosting providers around the world. Blackwall solutions are aimed at hosting providers, cloud platforms and enterprise networks. GateKeeper is described as protecting SMB customers worldwide. Service providers can white-label the product and keep control over how security features are delivered to their customers.From its own pages, Imperva sells mainly to organizations that need to protect applications and APIs in public or private cloud, hybrid and on-premises environments. Imperva addresses retail organizations that need to protect customers' data and secure applications, APIs, and cloud networks. Imperva addresses businesses aiming to comply with PCI DSS 4.0 standards while defending against client-side attacks. Imperva describes support for compliance in highly regulated industries across hybrid and multicloud environments. Imperva describes a purpose-built solution to secure AI applications for homegrown GenAI.
Last verified
October 21, 2026September 27, 2026

Where they overlap

  • Blackwall and Imperva are both filed under Bot and abuse management, DDoS protection and WAF and WAAP.

Where they differ, field by field

  • Blackwall's primary category is Bot and abuse management; Imperva's is WAF and WAAP.
  • Blackwall is also filed under Network visibility and traffic brokering. Imperva is also filed under API security.
  • Blackwall lists GateKeeper. Imperva lists Web Application Firewall (WAF), Advanced Bot Protection, API Security, DDoS Protection, Client-Side Protection and 3 more.
  • Imperva is headquartered in Redwood Shores, United States.
  • Blackwall is privately held. Imperva is owned by Thales.

What it sells: Blackwall

What GateKeeper does[4][6]
GateKeeper is described as the flagship product of Blackwall and is deployed across 2.3M+ websites and applications. GateKeeper is described as protecting SMB customers worldwide against emerging threats. The latest version of Blackwall's GateKeeper is v1.6.x.

What it sells: Imperva

What Web Application Firewall (WAF) does[9][12]
Imperva says managed rules written and tested by the Imperva Threat Research team before deployment allow more than 94% of Imperva customers to deploy the Imperva WAF in blocking mode. Imperva’s Attack Analytics automatically correlates thousands of security alerts into narratives. Imperva’s Terraform provider automates Cloud WAF deployments.
What Advanced Bot Protection does[4][5][9][11][17]
Advanced Bot Protection safeguards websites, mobile apps and APIs from bot attacks, including all OWASP 21 Automated Threats. Imperva says its multi-layered approach detects malicious bots by combining direct client interrogation, behavior analysis, machine learning, connection characteristics and threat intelligence feeds.
What DDoS Protection does[5][9][12]
Imperva offers a guaranteed 3-second mitigation SLA for Layers 3 and 4 DDoS attacks. Imperva DDoS Protection for Networks shields entire infrastructures with 13 Tbps of multi-terabit scrubbing capacity. Imperva DDoS Protection for Websites works alongside a cloud web application firewall (WAF) to block attacks and malicious bots.
What Client-Side Protection does[9][13]
Imperva Client-Side Protection enables security teams to manage client-side resources and JavaScript while streamlining compliance with PCI DSS 4.0 requirements 6.4.3 and 11.6.1. Client-Side Protection automatically blocks known malicious domains based on data from the Imperva Threat Research Team.
What Data Security Fabric does[15]
Imperva Data Security Fabric protects all your data assets. Imperva data security reveals critical insight including sensitive data location, users, access, and risk. Imperva offers out-of-the-box support for over 100 data repositories, on-prem or in cloud.

Questions about Blackwall and Imperva

What do Blackwall and Imperva sell?
Blackwall sells GateKeeper. Imperva sells Web Application Firewall (WAF), Advanced Bot Protection, API Security, DDoS Protection, Client-Side Protection and 3 more.
Are Blackwall and Imperva in the same category?
They share Bot and abuse management, DDoS protection and WAF and WAAP. Blackwall's primary category is Bot and abuse management and Imperva's is WAF and WAAP.
Where are Blackwall and Imperva headquartered?
Imperva is headquartered in Redwood Shores, United States.
Who owns Blackwall and Imperva?
Blackwall is privately held. Imperva is owned by Thales.
Who are Blackwall and Imperva sold to?
From its own pages, Blackwall sells mainly to hosting providers and service providers, who offer its security to their own customers. From its own pages, Imperva sells mainly to organizations that need to protect applications and APIs in public or private cloud, hybrid and on-premises environments.
What have Blackwall and Imperva announced recently?
October 20, 2026: Blackwall announced it raised $100 million at a $2.2 billion valuation in a C round led by AVP, with existing investors Dawn Capital, MMC Ventures and Tera Ventures. August 24, 2026: Thales Imperva introduced the SSL Integration Center, a framework connecting Imperva Cloud WAF with certificate lifecycle management platforms, launching with a DigiCert integration.

About Blackwall

Blackwall sells a web traffic management platform for the hosting market. Blackwall is a security infrastructure company focused on protecting web ecosystems from automated threats. Blackwall raises $100M at a $2.2B valuation to scale its global web traffic management platform. Blackwall describes itself as an AI-enabled security and web infrastructure company dedicated to safeguarding web ecosystems from automated threats.[2][3][4]

Blackwall is a channel-first web security company protecting millions of websites through hosting providers around the world. Every website connected to Blackwall initially operates in monitoring mode. The Blackwall platform analyses traffic in real time, detects malicious activity and generates security alerts that are delivered to website owners through Blackwall hosting partners.[5]

Blackwall integrates into a service provider's existing environment and tools, so the provider can package, price and deliver security its own way. Service providers can create new security tiers and add-ons on the infrastructure they already operate. Blackwall lets service providers make protection available across their entire customer base, from a simple upsell to security included by default. Blackwall offers modular security and traffic components that providers mix and match into tailored packages for every client tier.[1][2]

Blackwall technology can be white-labelled, and providers maintain control over how security features are delivered to their customers. Service providers can automate provisioning and management within their existing environment. Blackwall describes a model in which providers deploy across their client base and retain control of the customer relationship.[2]

Blackwall offers a component that visualises traffic patterns, visitor behaviour and anomalies for clients. Blackwall offers a component that stops malicious automated traffic and scraping. Blackwall offers a component that protects workloads against application-layer attacks. Blackwall offers a component that shields applications from common vulnerabilities, injection attacks and emerging threats. Blackwall offers a component that tailors security policies and traffic handling to individual client requirements. Blackwall offers a component that caches assets at the edge to accelerate content delivery and reduce origin server load.[1][2]

GateKeeper is described as the flagship product of Blackwall and is deployed across 2.3M+ websites and applications. GateKeeper is described as protecting SMB customers worldwide against emerging threats. The latest version of Blackwall's GateKeeper is v1.6.x. Blackwall provides several methods to integrate web servers with the Blackwall service.[4][6][7]

Blackwall is a brand and trademark of Botguard OÜ. BotGuard is legally registered in Estonia. Blackwall is backed by European investors. The Blackwall team is distributed across Europe, APAC and the Americas. Blackwall solutions are aimed at hosting providers, cloud platforms and enterprise networks.[1][3][4][8]

Blackwall on the record

Sources

Blackwall full record

  1. [1]blackwall.comBlackwall · blackwall.com · undated page, accessed October 21, 2026 · Tier A
  2. [2]Blackwall – Cybersecurity, Bot Protection & Web SecurityBlackwall · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  3. [3]About Us – BlackwallBlackwall · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  4. [4]Pre-Sales Solutions Architect - LATAM - BlackwallBlackwall · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  5. [5]Senior Product Manager - Conversion Optimisation - BlackwallBlackwall · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  6. [6]Blackwall DocsBlackwall · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  7. [7]Web Server Overview - Blackwall DocsBlackwall · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  8. [8]Blackwall Legal Information – BlackwallBlackwall · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  9. [9]Blackwall Raises $100M at $2.2B Valuation to Scale Its Global Web Traffic Management Platform for the Hosting MarketBusiness Wire · published October 20, 2026 · Tier A

Imperva full record

  1. [1]Thales completes acquisition imperva creating global leaderThales Group · thalesgroup.com · published December 4, 2023 · Tier A
  2. [2]AboutImperva · imperva.com · undated page, accessed September 27, 2026 · Tier A
  3. [3]Greg clark joins imperva board of directorsImperva · imperva.com · published June 4, 2014 · Tier A
  4. [4]Application securityImperva · imperva.com · published August 23, 2026 · Tier A
  5. [5]Cyber Security Leader | Imperva, Inc.Imperva · undated page, accessed October 25, 2026 · Tier A
  6. [6]Thales Launches Imperva for AWS to Help Organizations Protect Applications and APIsBusiness Wire · published August 3, 2026 · Tier A
  7. [7]Imperva Data Security Fabric Reviews & Product Details - G2G2 · undated page, accessed October 25, 2026 · Tier C
  8. [8]Thales Group (Imperva) Reviews - Gartner Peer InsightsGartner Peer Insights · undated page, accessed October 25, 2026 · Tier C
  9. [9]Best Application Security | Imperva WAAP ProtectionImperva · undated page, accessed November 6, 2026 · Tier A
  10. [10]Web Application Firewall (WAF) | Cloud & On-Prem | ImpervaImperva · undated page, accessed November 6, 2026 · Tier A
  11. [11]Advanced Bot Protection | Stop Advanced Bots | ImpervaImperva · undated page, accessed November 6, 2026 · Tier A
  12. [12]Advanced DDoS Protection & Mitigation Services | ImpervaImperva · undated page, accessed November 6, 2026 · Tier A
  13. [13]Client-Side Protection | PCI 4.0 Compliance | ImpervaImperva · undated page, accessed November 6, 2026 · Tier A
  14. [14]Enterprise AI & LLM Security | Stop Prompt Injection | ImpervaImperva · undated page, accessed November 6, 2026 · Tier A
  15. [15]Data Security Solutions | Protecting Data Everywhere | ImpervaImperva · undated page, accessed November 6, 2026 · Tier A
  16. [16]Plans and Services | Imperva Cyber SecurityImperva · undated page, accessed November 6, 2026 · Tier A
  17. [17]Retail & eCommerce Cyber Security | Secure Online Transactions | ImpervaImperva · undated page, accessed November 6, 2026 · Tier A
  18. [18]Data Security Fabric | Protect All Data Types | ImpervaImperva · undated page, accessed November 6, 2026 · Tier A
  19. [19]Bring Your Own CA: Introducing the Thales Imperva SSL Integration Center, Featuring DigiCert Trust Lifecycle ManagerImperva · published August 24, 2026 · Tier A

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