Our take
What our shortlists say about each one.
- Palo Alto Networks Cortex Cloud Runtime Security
Best for: Mid-market and enterprise teams prioritizing runtime workload defense
The platform is sized for mid-market and enterprise. The lightweight agent requirement means you need a deployment process, which adds overhead compared to agentless alternatives. If your primary concern is compliance reporting or posture visibility, this is more solution than you need. But if you are running sensitive workloads in Kubernetes or serverless environments and you need runtime blocking, not just detection, Cortex Cloud Runtime Security is one of the strongest options in this list.
From Best Cloud Security Solutions for Business, Fall 2026
- Upwind Cloud Security Platform
Best for: Mid-market cloud-native teams building security into the full SDLC
The trade-off is maturity. Upwind is a newer entrant compared to Wiz, CrowdStrike, or Palo Alto Networks, and the integration ecosystem is thinner. The platform is sized for mid-market and enterprise, and it fits best in cloud-native organizations where the development and security teams are working closely together. If you need deep integrations with a broad set of third-party solutions on day one, validate the integration roadmap before signing a contract.
From Best Cloud Security Solutions for Business, Fall 2026
Reviewed by Nika (Nikoloz) Kokhreidze.
