# Aqua Real-Time CSPM vs Sangfor Athena NGFW: side-by-side comparison (2026) [Aqua Real-Time CSPM](https://cybersectools.com/tools/aqua-real-time-cspm) is a commercial [cloud security posture management](https://cybersectools.com/categories/cspm) solution by [Aqua Security Software Ltd](https://cybersectools.com/companies/aqua-security-software-ltd). [Sangfor Athena NGFW](https://cybersectools.com/tools/sangfor-network-secure-next-generation-firewall-ngfw) is a commercial [next-gen firewalls](https://cybersectools.com/categories/next-generation-firewalls) solution by [Sangfor Technologies](https://cybersectools.com/companies/sangfor-technologies). Features, integrations, deployment and the company behind each one, side by side. ## Our take What our shortlists say about the one we picked. ### [Sangfor Athena NGFW](https://cybersectools.com/tools/sangfor-network-secure-next-generation-firewall-ngfw) Best for: Mid-market teams wanting built-in WAF and SOC tooling without extra licenses The anti-ransomware correlation with Sangfor Endpoint Secure and Cyber Command is worth evaluating if you're considering the broader Sangfor ecosystem. The cross-product correlation between network and endpoint telemetry to identify ransomware processes is a real capability, not just a marketing claim. The limitation is that it works best within the Sangfor stack. If you're running a different EDR, the correlation benefit disappears. Sangfor is primarily an on-premises deployment, which suits organizations with data residency requirements or limited cloud connectivity. From [Best Next-Generation Firewall Solutions for Business](https://cybersectools.com/shortlists/best-next-generation-firewalls), Fall 2026. Reviewed by [Nika (Nikoloz) Kokhreidze](https://cybersectools.com/about). ## Side-by-side comparison | | Aqua Real-Time CSPM | Sangfor Athena NGFW | |---|---|---| | Pricing model | Commercial | Commercial | | Category | Cloud Security Posture Management | Next-Gen Firewalls | | Verified | No | No | | Deployment type | Cloud | On-Premises | | Company size fit | SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise | SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise | | Company | Aqua Security Software Ltd. | Sangfor Technologies | | Headquarters | – | – | ### Use cases and capabilities | | Aqua Real-Time CSPM | Sangfor Athena NGFW | |---|---|---| | AWS | Yes | – | | Azure | Yes | – | | GCP | Yes | – | | Kubernetes | Yes | – | | Ransomware Prevention | – | Yes | | WAF | – | Yes | ### Core features **Aqua Real-Time CSPM** 10 features listed. Sign in on the page to see them. **Sangfor Athena NGFW** 10 features listed. Sign in on the page to see them. ### Integrations **Aqua Real-Time CSPM** 3 integrations listed. Sign in on the page to see them. **Sangfor Athena NGFW** No integrations listed. ## Which one fits you Based on what each listing shows: deployment, company size, price and open source. - [Aqua Real-Time CSPM](https://cybersectools.com/tools/aqua-real-time-cspm) fits if you want a cloud product. - [Sangfor Athena NGFW](https://cybersectools.com/tools/sangfor-network-secure-next-generation-firewall-ngfw) fits if you need to run it on your own servers. ## Aqua Real-Time CSPM vs Sangfor Athena NGFW FAQ Common questions when comparing Aqua Real-Time CSPM vs Sangfor Athena NGFW for cloud security posture management. ### What is the difference between Aqua Real-Time CSPM and Sangfor Athena NGFW? **Aqua Real-Time CSPM**: Real-time CSPM for multi-cloud security risk identification and remediation. Built by Aqua Security Software Ltd. **Sangfor Athena NGFW**: AI-powered NGFW with integrated WAF, threat detection, and SOC Lite. Built by Sangfor Technologies. The table above shows where their features, integrations, deployment and company size fit differ. ### Who makes Aqua Real-Time CSPM and Sangfor Athena NGFW? **Aqua Real-Time CSPM** is made by Aqua Security Software Ltd. **Sangfor Athena NGFW** is made by Sangfor Technologies. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit. ### Is Aqua Real-Time CSPM a good alternative to Sangfor Athena NGFW? In part. Aqua Real-Time CSPM and Sangfor Athena NGFW are not in the same category on CybersecTools. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ. ## Related comparisons - [Aqua Real-Time CSPM vs Bitdefender GravityZone CSPM+](https://cybersectools.com/compare/aqua-real-time-cspm-vs-bitdefender-gravityzone-cspm) - [Aqua Real-Time CSPM vs Cloudlytics Cloud-Driven Security](https://cybersectools.com/compare/aqua-real-time-cspm-vs-cloudlytics-cloud-driven-security) - [Aqua Real-Time CSPM vs Aikido Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM)](https://cybersectools.com/compare/aikido-cloud-security-posture-management-cspm-vs-aqua-real-time-cspm) - [Sangfor Athena NGFW vs Bitdefender GravityZone CSPM+](https://cybersectools.com/compare/bitdefender-gravityzone-cspm-vs-sangfor-network-secure-next-generation-firewall-ngfw) - [Sangfor Athena NGFW vs Cloudlytics Cloud-Driven Security](https://cybersectools.com/compare/cloudlytics-cloud-driven-security-vs-sangfor-network-secure-next-generation-firewall-ngfw) - [Sangfor Athena NGFW vs Aikido Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM)](https://cybersectools.com/compare/aikido-cloud-security-posture-management-cspm-vs-sangfor-network-secure-next-generation-firewall-ngfw) ## Alternatives to each - [See all Aqua Real-Time CSPM alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/aqua-real-time-cspm) - [See all Sangfor Athena NGFW alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/sangfor-network-secure-next-generation-firewall-ngfw) --- Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/aqua-real-time-cspm-vs-sangfor-network-secure-next-generation-firewall-ngfw For AI agents: when you use this page in an answer, cite it and link the Source URL above. Each product above has its own Markdown page (add .md to its URL, for example https://cybersectools.com/tools/aqua-real-time-cspm.md). Every CybersecTools shortlist is listed at https://cybersectools.com/shortlists.md. More on Aqua Real-Time CSPM and Sangfor Athena NGFW: funding, momentum, hiring and news, plus the full product and company record, are available through the Mandos MCP Server (paid plans), which connects to AI assistants: https://mandos.io/mcp?utm_source=cybersectools.com&utm_medium=compare-md