CISO Tribune

Vendor comparison · 2 companies

C1.ai vs Salt Security

C1.ai gives agents policy-controlled access to models, tools, and credentials at runtime. Salt Security provides security for the APIs, MCP servers and data infrastructure where agents execute. CISO Tribune files both under AI model and agent security. 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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  • C1.ai
  • Salt Security
C1.ai vs Salt Security: Products, Customers and Funding Compared
C1.aiC1.ai gives agents policy-controlled access to models, tools, and credentials at runtime.c1.aiSalt SecuritySalt Security provides security for the APIs, MCP servers and data infrastructure where agents execute.salt.security
What it sells
  • AI-Native Identity Governance[1][2]Automates lifecycle, access requests, reviews, and compliance for human and non-human identities.
  • NHI & Identity Security[1][2]Discovers and alerts on identity and non-human identity risks across the workforce and agents.
  • Agent SSO & Runtime Governance[1][2]Enforces runtime guardrails and access controls for AI agents, with human-in-the-loop approval.
  • Apps & MCP Self Service[1][2]Provides on-demand self-service access to approved apps, MCPs, and AI tools.
  • Deploy Custom Agents[1][2]Lets organizations run autonomous agents across connected systems with guardrails.
  • Shadow AI Discovery[1][2]Finds unsanctioned AI tools, agents, MCP servers, and credentials in use.
  • Agentic Security Graph[4][8]Maps and correlates the full environment out-of-band.
  • Salt Surface[5][9]Provides agentless, outside-in discovery of MCP servers and APIs.
  • Salt Connect[5][9]Provides cloud and code inventory.
Categories
Headquarters
Not stated on its pagesPalo Alto, United States[1][3]
Founded
Not stated on its pages2016[1][11]
Ownership and funding
Not stated on its pagesNot stated on its pages
Named customers
Not stated on its pagesNot stated on its pages
Recent news
  • October 13, 2026Workday announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire C1.ai, with the transaction expected to close in the fourth quarter of Workday's fiscal year 2027, ending January 31, 2027.[9]
  • June 1, 2026Salt Security launched Salt Code, a component that enforces security policies on AI-generated code across the development lifecycle.[17]
G2 and Gartner Peer Insights
  • G2: Not stated on its pages
  • Gartner Peer Insights: Not stated on its pages
  • G2: listed, seen November 10, 2026[7]
  • Gartner Peer Insights: Not stated on its pages
Who it fits
From its own pages, C1.ai sells to organisations that manage access for people, non-human identities, and agents, and to technical teams that extend the platform through APIs and Terraform. The pages describe governed access for infrastructure teams through the tools they already use. The pages cover on-premises technology such as Active Directory and back-office apps. A named energy-sector customer sought an identity governance solution after an external auditor recommended one to streamline user access reviews.From its own pages, the company shows an industry solution for Finance, described as stop fraud and abuse. It lists one for Healthcare, described as HIPPAA-grade protection. Transportation is also listed, with secure logistics APIs. Retail is listed, with protect PII at scale. Software is listed, with API-first app security. Its whitepaper page also says security teams face a challenge in which the action layer goes unmonitored.
Last verified
November 2, 2026September 27, 2026

Where they overlap

  • C1.ai and Salt Security are both filed under AI model and agent security.

Where they differ, field by field

  • C1.ai's primary category is Identity governance and administration; Salt Security's is API security.
  • C1.ai is also filed under Non-human identity security and Privileged access management.
  • C1.ai lists AI-Native Identity Governance, NHI & Identity Security, Agent SSO & Runtime Governance, Apps & MCP Self Service, Deploy Custom Agents and 1 more. Salt Security lists Agentic Security Graph, Salt Surface and Salt Connect.
  • Salt Security is headquartered in Palo Alto, United States.
  • Salt Security was founded in 2016.

What it sells: Salt Security

What Agentic Security Graph does[4][8]
Salt's Agentic Security Graph maps and correlates the full environment out-of-band. Salt describes its agentic security platform as one graph of agents, the MCP servers they use and the APIs they call, with the context behind each one.
What Salt Surface does[5][9]
Salt Surface provides agentless, outside-in discovery of MCP servers and APIs. Salt Surface discovers these from the outside, without an agent.
What Salt Connect does[5][9]
Salt Connect provides cloud and code inventory. Salt names Salt Connect together with collectors that are used where runtime analysis is needed.

Questions about C1.ai and Salt Security

What do C1.ai and Salt Security sell?
C1.ai sells AI-Native Identity Governance, NHI & Identity Security, Agent SSO & Runtime Governance, Apps & MCP Self Service, Deploy Custom Agents and 1 more. Salt Security sells Agentic Security Graph, Salt Surface and Salt Connect.
Are C1.ai and Salt Security in the same category?
They share AI model and agent security. C1.ai's primary category is Identity governance and administration and Salt Security's is API security.
Where are C1.ai and Salt Security headquartered?
Salt Security is headquartered in Palo Alto, United States.
When were C1.ai and Salt Security founded?
Salt Security was founded in 2016.
Who are C1.ai and Salt Security sold to?
From its own pages, C1.ai sells to organisations that manage access for people, non-human identities, and agents, and to technical teams that extend the platform through APIs and Terraform. From its own pages, the company shows an industry solution for Finance, described as stop fraud and abuse.
What have C1.ai and Salt Security announced recently?
October 13, 2026: Workday announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire C1.ai, with the transaction expected to close in the fourth quarter of Workday's fiscal year 2027, ending January 31, 2027. June 1, 2026: Salt Security launched Salt Code, a component that enforces security policies on AI-generated code across the development lifecycle.

About C1.ai

C1.ai gives agents policy-controlled access to models, tools, and credentials at runtime. C1 Agents complete multi-step jobs across connected systems, with human approval for sensitive changes. C1.ai connects to SaaS, cloud infra providers, on-prem systems, and MCP servers.[2]

On the governance side, C1.ai turns HR and directory events into day-one account and access changes across supported systems. C1.ai provisions users the access they need based on conditions and policy. C1.ai applies policy-based provisioning and routing to any connected system. C1.ai covers user access reviews and separation-of-duties (SoD) conflict detection. C1.ai gives people and agents self-service access to approved applications and AI tools, with policy applied before fulfillment.[1][2][3]

For self-service, C1.ai makes approved apps, MCP servers, AI tools, roles, and permissions discoverable from one catalog. People and agents can request access from the web, Slack, Microsoft Teams, MCP, API, or CLI. C1.ai auto-approves routine access and routes sensitive requests using identity, role, resource, and risk context. C1.ai expires just-in-time access automatically so temporary permissions do not become standing access.[4]

For cloud infrastructure, C1.ai provides engineers and agents with precisely scoped cloud access. C1.ai reads cloud providers' resource trees, preserving the parent-child relationships each platform uses natively. C1.ai resolves inherited permissions in real time. C1.ai provisions, adjusts, and revokes access automatically as roles change, teams shift, or agents are redeployed.

Every action in the console is available via API, and C1.ai operates as an MCP server. C1.ai governs human, service, workload, and AI agent identities from one control plane. C1.ai logs every action with full context: subject, actor, delegation chain, purpose, resource, policy, and outcome. C1.ai supports policies as Terraform, AI-written CEL and functions, and validation via API. Technical teams extend C1.ai with APIs, custom functions, CLI, webhooks, and an AI integration builder, and manage it with Terraform.[2][6]

C1.ai includes 300+ connectors, built on Baton, which is open source under Apache 2.0, that integrate IdPs, directories, SaaS apps, cloud infrastructure, and on-prem systems into one identity graph. The connectors can be hosted or self-hosted. The identity graph ingests identity, permission, and resource data from all of your systems. C1.ai visualizes access paths for users, non-human identities, applications, and resources. C1.ai addresses access risks such as orphaned accounts, inactive users, and high-risk users. C1.ai offers built-in remediation options such as downgrading access, offboarding accounts, and securing service accounts. C1.ai connects to non-cloud infrastructure, including LDAP, Postgres, and Microsoft SQL. C1.ai covers on-premises technology such as Active Directory and homegrown and back-office apps.[1][6][7]

IGS Energy started looking for a partner after an external auditor recommended an identity governance solution to streamline user access reviews.[1][2][8]

C1.ai on the record

Sources

C1.ai full record

  1. [1]conductorone.comConductorOne (C1.ai) · conductorone.com · undated page, accessed November 2, 2026 · Tier A
  2. [2]C1.ai | Put AI to WorkC1.ai · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  3. [3]AI-Native Identity Governance Solutions | C1.aiC1.ai · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  4. [4]Self-Service Access for Apps, MCPs, and AI Tools | C1.aiC1.ai · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  5. [5]Infrastructure Access - C1.aiC1.ai · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  6. [6]Headless Identity Infrastructure | C1.aiC1.ai · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  7. [7]Identity Graph - C1.aiC1.ai · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  8. [8]Automating access management and reducing risk for IGS Energy’s hybrid environment | C1.aiC1.ai · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  9. [9]Workday to Acquire C1.ai, a Leading Agentic Identity Platform for People and AgentsC1.ai · published October 13, 2026 · Tier A

Salt Security full record

  1. [1]Salt security raises 140 million series d round led by capitalg at 1 4 billion valuationSalt Security · salt.security · undated page, accessed September 27, 2026 · Tier A
  2. [2]Salt security extends its agentic security platform with native ai detection and responseSalt Security · salt.security · published September 22, 2026 · Tier A
  3. [3]Contact usSalt Security · salt.security · undated page, accessed September 27, 2026 · Tier A
  4. [4]The Agentic Security Graph: A New Framework for the AI EraSalt Security · undated page, accessed October 28, 2026 · Tier A
  5. [5]Salt Security: Agentic AI Security, MCP Discovery, and API SecuritySalt Security · undated page, accessed October 28, 2026 · Tier A
  6. [6]EU AI Act Compliance 2026: What High-risk AI Systems Must Do Now | Salt SecuritySalt Security · undated page, accessed October 28, 2026 · Tier A
  7. [7]Salt Security Reviews & Product Details - G2G2 · undated page, accessed October 28, 2026 · Tier C
  8. [8]Onyx Security vs Salt Security | Secure the Agentic Action LayerSalt Security · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  9. [9]Securing APIs - API Attack Surface Management SolutionSalt Security · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  10. [10]Salt Security Master Services AgreementSalt Security · published May 20, 2026 · Tier A
  11. [11]API Security Company - About Us Salt Security API SecuritySalt Security · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  12. [12]Agentic Security Platform - Complete AI & API Protection PlatformSalt Security · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  13. [13]API Security Software - API Security Management SoftwareSalt Security · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  14. [14]Proactive API Security - “Shift Left" API DevelopmentSalt Security · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  15. [15]API Security Customers - Salt Security CustomersSalt Security · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  16. [16]API Security Trends - API Attacks, Breaches & Threats ReportSalt Security · undated page, accessed November 10, 2026 · Tier A
  17. [17]Salt Security launches Salt CodeSalt Security · published June 1, 2026 · Tier A

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