Aqua Security vs Ermetic

Aqua Security and Ermetic are both cnapp platform solutions. Aqua Security cloud-native security platform specializing in container, Kubernetes, and serverless protection, while Ermetic cloud identity security platform specializing in CIEM and entitlement management, now part of Tenable. The best choice depends on your organization's size, technical requirements, and budget.

Updated Feb 2026
How we compare:This comparison is based on official documentation, public pricing, community discussions, and aggregated user feedback, not hands-on testing by our team. We organize what real users and practitioners are saying across the web.

The Bottom Line

Choose Aqua Security if industry-leading container and Kubernetes security depth is your priority and organizations running container-heavy and Kubernetes-native environments that need the deepest container security and runtime protection. Choose Ermetic if deepest CIEM capabilities with granular identity risk analysis matters most and organizations where cloud identity and access management risk is the primary security concern, especially those already using Tenable products.

Choose Aqua Security if:

  • You value industry-leading container and Kubernetes security depth
  • You value open-source Trivy scanner is the most widely adopted cloud-native scanner
  • You value strong runtime protection with drift prevention and behavioral monitoring
  • You want to avoid narrower platform scope focused primarily on identity and posture
  • You want to avoid being absorbed into Tenable Cloud Security may cause product direction uncertainty

Choose Ermetic if:

  • You value deepest CIEM capabilities with granular identity risk analysis
  • You value automated least-privilege recommendations reduce manual IAM remediation
  • You value strong cross-cloud identity correlation across AWS, Azure, and GCP
  • You want to avoid cSPM capabilities less mature than dedicated CSPM platforms like Wiz
  • You want to avoid agent-based runtime protection adds deployment and management complexity

Feature Comparison

FeatureAqua SecurityErmetic
PricingFree (Trivy OSS) / Enterprise custom pricingCustom enterprise pricing (via Tenable)
Pricing ModelWorkload-based (per protected workload)Resource-based (per cloud identity)
Open SourceNoNo
DeploymentCloud, Self-HostedCloud
Best ForOrganizations running container-heavy and Kubernetes-native environments that need the deepest container security and runtime protectionOrganizations where cloud identity and access management risk is the primary security concern, especially those already using Tenable products
Container image scanning and vulnerab...SupportedNot available
Kubernetes admission control and poli...SupportedNot available
Runtime protection with drift preventionSupportedNot available

Sources

Related

Aqua Security AlternativesErmetic AlternativesAqua Security OverviewErmetic Overview