# Formal Protocol Security vs hcsql BETA: side-by-side comparison (2026)

[Formal Protocol Security](https://cybersectools.com/tools/formal-protocol-security) is a commercial [data access governance](https://cybersectools.com/categories/data-access-governance) solution by [Formal](https://cybersectools.com/companies/formal). [hcsql BETA](https://cybersectools.com/tools/hcsql-beta) is a commercial [database security](https://cybersectools.com/categories/database-security) solution by [Honeycake](https://cybersectools.com/companies/honeycake). Features, integrations, deployment and the company behind each one, side by side.

## Side-by-side comparison

| | Formal Protocol Security | hcsql BETA |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Commercial | Commercial |
| Category | Data Access Governance | Database Security |
| Verified | No | No |
| Deployment type | On-Premises | On-Premises |
| Company size fit | SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise | SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise |
| Company | Formal | Honeycake |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | Formal Protocol Security | hcsql BETA |
|---|---|---|
| Database Security | Yes | Yes |
| PII | Yes | Yes |
| RBAC | Yes | – |
| Encryption | – | Yes |
| SQL | – | Yes |
| Sensitive Data | – | Yes |
| Key Management | – | Yes |

### Core features

**Formal Protocol Security**

10 features listed. Sign in on the page to see them.

**hcsql BETA**

5 features listed. Sign in on the page to see them.

### Integrations

**Formal Protocol Security**

5 integrations listed. Sign in on the page to see them.

**hcsql BETA**

1 integration listed. Sign in on the page to see them.

## Formal Protocol Security vs hcsql BETA FAQ

Common questions when comparing Formal Protocol Security vs hcsql BETA for data access governance.

### What is the difference between Formal Protocol Security and hcsql BETA?

**Formal Protocol Security**: Protocol-aware reverse proxy for datastores & APIs enforcing access policies. Built by Formal.

**hcsql BETA**: Psql wrapper adding column-level encryption at rest for PostgreSQL databases. Built by Honeycake.

The table above shows where their features, integrations, deployment and company size fit differ.

### Who makes Formal Protocol Security and hcsql BETA?

**Formal Protocol Security** is made by Formal. **hcsql BETA** is made by Honeycake. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit.

### Is Formal Protocol Security a good alternative to hcsql BETA?

In part. Formal Protocol Security and hcsql BETA are not in the same category on CybersecTools. Both cover Database Security, PII. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ.

## Related comparisons

- [Formal Protocol Security vs Dymium](https://cybersectools.com/compare/dymium-vs-formal-protocol-security)
- [Formal Protocol Security vs PVML](https://cybersectools.com/compare/formal-protocol-security-vs-pvml)
- [Formal Protocol Security vs FileOrbis Platform](https://cybersectools.com/compare/fileorbis-platform-vs-formal-protocol-security)
- [hcsql BETA vs Dymium](https://cybersectools.com/compare/dymium-vs-hcsql-beta)
- [hcsql BETA vs PVML](https://cybersectools.com/compare/hcsql-beta-vs-pvml)
- [hcsql BETA vs FileOrbis Platform](https://cybersectools.com/compare/fileorbis-platform-vs-hcsql-beta)

## Alternatives to each

- [See all Formal Protocol Security alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/formal-protocol-security)
- [See all hcsql BETA alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/hcsql-beta)

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Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/formal-protocol-security-vs-hcsql-beta

For AI agents: each product above has its own Markdown page (add .md to its URL, for example https://cybersectools.com/tools/formal-protocol-security.md). Every CybersecTools shortlist is listed at https://cybersectools.com/shortlists.md.

More on Formal Protocol Security and hcsql BETA: 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