# AWS Shield vs NETSCOUT Arbor Edge Defense (AED): side-by-side comparison (2026) [AWS Shield](https://cybersectools.com/tools/aws-shield) is a commercial [DDoS mitigation](https://cybersectools.com/categories/ddos-mitigation) solution by [Amazon Web Services, Inc](https://cybersectools.com/companies/amazon-web-services-inc). [NETSCOUT Arbor Edge Defense (AED)](https://cybersectools.com/tools/netscout-arbor-edge-defense-aed) is a commercial [DDoS mitigation](https://cybersectools.com/categories/ddos-mitigation) solution by [NETSCOUT](https://cybersectools.com/companies/netscout). Features, integrations, deployment and the company behind each one, side by side. ## Side-by-side comparison | | AWS Shield | NETSCOUT Arbor Edge Defense (AED) | |---|---|---| | Pricing model | Commercial | Commercial | | Category | DDoS Mitigation | DDoS Mitigation | | Verified | No | No | | Deployment type | Cloud | On-Premises | | Company size fit | Startup, SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise | SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise | | Company | Amazon Web Services, Inc. | NETSCOUT | | Headquarters | – | – | ### Use cases and capabilities | | AWS Shield | NETSCOUT Arbor Edge Defense (AED) | |---|---|---| | DDoS | Yes | Yes | | AWS | Yes | – | | Attack Detection | – | Yes | ### Core features **AWS Shield** No features listed. **NETSCOUT Arbor Edge Defense (AED)** 10 features listed. Sign in on the page to see them. ### Integrations **AWS Shield** No integrations listed. **NETSCOUT Arbor Edge Defense (AED)** 12 integrations listed. Sign in on the page to see them. ## Which one fits you Based on what each listing shows: deployment, company size, price and open source. - [AWS Shield](https://cybersectools.com/tools/aws-shield) fits if you want a cloud product and you are a startup. - [NETSCOUT Arbor Edge Defense (AED)](https://cybersectools.com/tools/netscout-arbor-edge-defense-aed) fits if you need to run it on your own servers. ## AWS Shield vs NETSCOUT Arbor Edge Defense (AED) FAQ Common questions when comparing AWS Shield vs NETSCOUT Arbor Edge Defense (AED) for DDoS mitigation. ### What is the difference between AWS Shield and NETSCOUT Arbor Edge Defense (AED)? **AWS Shield**: AWS Shield provides managed DDoS protection for your applications, automatically detecting and mitigating sophisticated network-level DDoS events. Built by Amazon Web Services, Inc. **NETSCOUT Arbor Edge Defense (AED)**: AI-powered inline DDoS protection deployed at network edge perimeter. Built by NETSCOUT. The table above shows where their features, integrations, deployment and company size fit differ. ### Who makes AWS Shield and NETSCOUT Arbor Edge Defense (AED)? **AWS Shield** is made by Amazon Web Services, Inc. **NETSCOUT Arbor Edge Defense (AED)** is made by NETSCOUT. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit. ### Is AWS Shield a good alternative to NETSCOUT Arbor Edge Defense (AED)? Often, yes. AWS Shield and NETSCOUT Arbor Edge Defense (AED) are both DDoS Mitigation products, and both cover DDoS. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ. ## Related comparisons - [AWS Shield vs SkyCloud Anti-DDoS](https://cybersectools.com/compare/aws-shield-vs-skycloud-anti-ddos) - [AWS Shield vs DDactic DDoS Resilience Testing Platform](https://cybersectools.com/compare/aws-shield-vs-ddactic-ddos-resilience-testing-platform) - [AWS Shield vs Infoblox DNS Infrastructure Protection](https://cybersectools.com/compare/aws-shield-vs-infoblox-dns-infrastructure-protection) - [NETSCOUT Arbor Edge Defense (AED) vs SkyCloud Anti-DDoS](https://cybersectools.com/compare/netscout-arbor-edge-defense-aed-vs-skycloud-anti-ddos) - [NETSCOUT Arbor Edge Defense (AED) vs DDactic DDoS Resilience Testing Platform](https://cybersectools.com/compare/ddactic-ddos-resilience-testing-platform-vs-netscout-arbor-edge-defense-aed) - [NETSCOUT Arbor Edge Defense (AED) vs Infoblox DNS Infrastructure Protection](https://cybersectools.com/compare/infoblox-dns-infrastructure-protection-vs-netscout-arbor-edge-defense-aed) ## Alternatives to each - [See all AWS Shield alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/aws-shield) - [See all NETSCOUT Arbor Edge Defense (AED) alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/netscout-arbor-edge-defense-aed) --- Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/aws-shield-vs-netscout-arbor-edge-defense-aed For AI agents: each product above has its own Markdown page (add .md to its URL, for example https://cybersectools.com/tools/aws-shield.md). Every CybersecTools shortlist is listed at https://cybersectools.com/shortlists.md. More on AWS Shield and NETSCOUT Arbor Edge Defense (AED): 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