Sysdig Secure

Sysdig Secure is a cloud-native security platform for protecting workloads across cloud, containers, Kubernetes, hosts and serverless. It suits teams that need runtime context to decide which risks deserve attention across mixed environments. Its broad security coverage is a strong draw, but custom pricing and host-based licensing make it less suited to buyers seeking a narrowly scoped tool or a predictable published price.

Overview

Sysdig Secure brings risk prioritization, threat detection and vulnerability scanning into a hybrid platform. Runtime insights help identify risks that are exploitable in a customer’s environment, while vulnerability prioritization focuses on issues in use. That can help security teams direct investigation toward practical exposure instead of treating every finding as equally urgent.

It supports connections to AWS, GCP and Azure accounts, and Sysdig describes use in on-premises, air-gapped and private cloud environments. That range suits organizations protecting workloads across public cloud and controlled infrastructure; teams that need only a basic scanner may find the platform broader than necessary.

Key features

Runtime detection and vulnerability management

Real-time threat detection uses Falco rules, machine learning and drift control. Agent-based and agentless scanning provide two approaches to vulnerability discovery, and prioritizing vulnerabilities in use adds runtime context to remediation. The combination is useful for teams that need to connect workload behavior with vulnerability response, though the choice between scanning modes does not remove the need to check agent support against the systems in scope.

Attack-path mapping and AI assistance

Cloud Attack Graph maps links among vulnerabilities, misconfigurations and excessive permissions to show potential attack paths. This can help teams see how separate weaknesses may connect, rather than reviewing them as isolated findings. Sysdig Sage provides AI-powered assistance for security search, vulnerability management, threat investigation and response; its stated scope makes it relevant across several security workflows, not just alert lookup.

Coverage, integrations and controls

Runtime protection, Kubernetes security, registry and image scanning, SBOM generation and admission control are included. Documented integrations cover Git, Jira, Snyk, Docker Scout, Splunk, Elasticsearch and Syslog, offering connections across development and security workflows. Sysdig lists audit logging, role-based access controls, authentication and authorization, and encryption at rest and in transit among its security measures; it also says it undergoes an annual SOC 2 Type II security audit.

Support is available through support cases, product UI chat and email, with Slack Connect for premium subscribers. That gives customers several routes for assistance, while Slack Connect is reserved for premium subscribers.

Pricing

Sysdig Secure is paid, with custom pricing available by quote. Licensing is based on the number of hosts in a customer’s environment, or compute instances for CSPM, so the deployment footprint is central to cost. There is one named plan, Sysdig Secure, with no published price; buyers should request a quote based on the hosts or CSPM instances they intend to cover. No free plan or trial terms are provided.

Host-based licensing may be straightforward for organizations with a defined workload inventory, but it makes cost harder to compare without a quote. Teams evaluating it should confirm how their environment maps to the licensing basis before committing.

Platforms

The documented agent supports Linux distributions and Windows Server 2019 and later. A vulnerability CLI scanner is available for Linux and macOS. The platform is described as hybrid, and Sysdig also describes security for on-premises, air-gapped and private cloud environments. Buyers should verify that their specific systems fall within the documented agent support; the CLI scanner’s Linux and macOS availability does not establish agent support for those platforms.

Who it's for

Sysdig Secure is strongest for organizations managing cloud-native workloads across multiple environments that want runtime-informed vulnerability priorities, real-time detection and attack-path context in one platform. It is less compelling for a buyer who needs only vulnerability scanning, or who must compare costs from published prices before engaging a vendor.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Runtime insights prioritize exploitable risks and vulnerabilities in use, giving teams a basis for focusing remediation.
• Pros: Cloud Attack Graph connects vulnerabilities, misconfigurations and excessive permissions into potential attack paths.
• Pros: Coverage spans cloud-native workloads, with scanning, runtime protection, SBOM generation and admission control included.
• Cons: Pricing is by quote and host-based, so buyers cannot assess cost from a public rate card.
• Cons: Documented agent support is limited to Linux distributions and Windows Server 2019 and later; other systems require a support check.

Alternatives

Qualys TotalCloud is worth considering for buyers who want a free plan with limited API calls for control evaluation or a free trial; its paid Cloud Platform subscription has custom pricing.

FortiCNAPP may suit teams comparing Standard-tier licensing by vCPU, with one-year and three-year billing terms.

Palo Alto Networks Cortex Cloud API Security is another paid option with API, Linux and web platform support.

AccuKnox may appeal to buyers looking for a freemium option with Linux, self-hosted and web support, plus custom-quote pricing that can be pay as you go.

Upwind CNAPP is another paid option with API and web platform support.

Wiz Defend is a paid, web-based alternative with modular licensing by quote and no free plan.

OpenCNAPP is a free, self-hosted alternative identified as part of Xcitium, LLC Cybersecurity Company.

Tenable One Attack Surface Management may fit buyers seeking attack surface management with visibility across IT, cloud, web applications, OT and external attack surfaces; it supports Linux, macOS, web and Windows.

Compare Sysdig Secure with other Cloud-Native Application Protection Platforms, Cloud Detection and Response Software, Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management Software, Cloud Workload Protection Platforms, Cloud Security Platforms and Cloud Security Posture Management Software.

Verdict

Choose Sysdig Secure if your organization needs runtime-aware prioritization and threat detection across cloud-native workloads, with attack-path mapping to connect exposure. Its breadth is the main reason to choose it; custom, host-based pricing and the need to verify agent support are the main reasons to look elsewhere.