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ACF2 vs Imperva SecureSphere Database Security comparison

Broadcom and Imperva are both solutions in the Database Security category. Broadcom is ranked #16, while Imperva is ranked #2 with an average rating of 7.5. Broadcom holds a 0.8% mindshare in DS, compared to Imperva’s 30.4% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Broadcom users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 92% of Imperva users who would recommend it.
ACF2
Read 6 ACF2 reviews
  • 81 Views
  • 33 Comparison Views
100% willing to recommend
Imperva SecureSphere Databa...
Read 56 Imperva SecureSphere Database Security reviews
  • 3,401 Views
  • 2,206 Comparison Views
92% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Apr 6, 2025

Imperva SecureSphere Database Security and ACF2 are competitors in the data protection domain. Based on features and security capabilities, ACF2 appears superior due to its comprehensive security framework, especially for mainframe-centric environments.

Features: Imperva SecureSphere offers real-time breach prevention, automated security updates, and detailed data activity monitoring. ACF2 provides strong access control, mainframe system integration, and robust compliance reporting, supporting environments focused on mainframe security needs.

Room for Improvement: Imperva SecureSphere could enhance its support for mainframe environments, scalability, and policy customization options for complex enterprise needs. ACF2 might benefit from simplified deployment processes, reduced upfront costs, and improved ease of integration outside of mainframes.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Imperva SecureSphere offers easy deployment with robust customer support focused on quick implementation. Conversely, ACF2, though offering specialized support, presents more complex deployment due to mainframe integration, which might delay implementation processes.

Pricing and ROI: Imperva SecureSphere is competitively priced with quick ROI through efficient operation, while ACF2 requires a higher initial investment. Its premium pricing is justified by its extensive security features and scalability, promising substantial ROI for organizations reliant on detailed mainframe protection.

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To learn more, read our detailed ACF2 vs. Imperva SecureSphere Database Security Report (Updated: June 2025).
Buyer's Guide
ACF2 vs. Imperva SecureSphere Database Security
June 2025
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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

ACF2
Ranking in Database Security
16th
Average Rating
9.0
Reviews Sentiment
7.8
Number of Reviews
6
Ranking in other categories
Mainframe Security (6th)
Imperva SecureSphere Databa...
Ranking in Database Security
2nd
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
56
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of June 2025, in the Database Security category, the mindshare of ACF2 is 0.8%, up from 0.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Imperva SecureSphere Database Security is 30.4%, down from 32.0% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Database Security
 

Featured Reviews

reviewer1077621 - PeerSpot reviewer
A reliable, scalable product for security and auditing of our mainframe environment
It is a good product. It has been used for years. As long as it is configured correctly, it is a very stable product. It depends on how an institution or a company configures it. It depends on an institution's risk appetite. You need to make sure it is configured as per the concept of least privilege, and the logging features, detection and control mechanism, and other things like that are enabled. If you configure it to give access to the public, then there could be compromises. You should also have someone who independently checks it to make sure that it is configured keeping security in mind. If it has been configured for a while, when there are enhancements to the product or when you enhance it, you need to make sure that security is also looked at, and it is configured according to an institution's security policies. I would rate it a nine out of 10.
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PrashantParab - PeerSpot reviewer
Provides cluster management and has the ability to receive alerts if anyone tries to tamper a database
It would be more efficient if we could manage the consoles of management servers from a single location. Currently, if the management server for our DR environment is separate from the production management server, we have to log in to each server individually. For example, to check the status of production servers integrated with Infowa, I need to log in to the production management server. Similarly, I have to log in to the DR management server to check the status of the DR servers. Connecting both servers and managing them through a single console would make it easier to handle all alerts in one place.
Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"I love their support. The support is great. They are number one."
"Logging and monitoring are most valuable. It is for the mainframe environment, and it is at the forefront for security and resilience."
"Excellent real-time reporting that saves time and resources."
"We use this tool to quickly assign privileges to different users as soon as they come in."
"The NOACCESS by default is another very good feature. Also, access rules are straightforward, and easy to understand."
"The initial setup is very simple."
"The functionality is very useable and easy to understand."
"The most valuable feature is the automatic reports on new databases, which gives us up-to-date inventory management."
"It has a user-friendly interface. It is a stable and scalable product."
"The performance of the solution is good."
"This solution has helped secure our Internet-based services, protecting us against DoS and other types of web-based attacks."
"The tool's pricing is flexible and affordable for small and medium enterprises."
"The solution is user-friendly."
More Imperva SecureSphere Database Security pros
 

Cons

"They can work on its ability to work in a distributed environment. It's a mainframe product. As many companies move to the cloud, depending on what cloud models they choose, such as a public, hybrid, or private cloud, it should be deployable. I am not sure if it can be deployed on those platforms. It has been there since the '50s or '60s, and it's still scalable. It has survived all these years, and it's scalable to many platforms, but I don't know about the cloud."
"I would like my team and me to be able to use simple browsers, like Chrome, to be able to access mainframe data and provision users using the browser.​"
"Reporting can sometimes include false positives."
"It needs longer rules. The max rule is 32K."
"The solution needs local support."
"Its reporting can be improved. The reporting feature is currently not good enough for our clients."
"Overall, it's a very good product but they could do with some modifications log-wise."
"The only challenge I see is that SecureSphere is deployed on servers or databases which are held on physical infrastructure. However, there are databases which are hosted on cloud platforms and Imperva has a separate tool altogether for that, not SecureSphere."
"Improvements can be made in data enrichment and enhancing the GUI (Graphical User Interface) for a better user experience."
"They can maybe look at its pricing model. Its pricing could be cheaper for the African countries or developing economies."
"SecureSphere activity log can be used with Imperva CounterBreach in an effort to protect enterprise data from theft and loss caused."
"The firewall features are not very strong and should be improved."
More Imperva SecureSphere Database Security cons
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available
"The price is very high but compared to the price of the overall solution, then I think it's a good deal because the solution itself is great."
"It is very expensive."
"The price of the solution is reasonable and it requires a license."
"The product’s price is reasonable compared to other products."
"The cost of support for this solution is very expensive."
"Its pricing could be cheaper for the African countries or developing economies. The British pound is valued way more than the currency of most African countries. A better or cheaper pricing model for Nigerian and African customers would be better. It has a per-year subscription model. You pay exactly for what you need. That's all. You don't have to buy what you don't need."
"We have all the licenses, which we pay for annually. The price is a little high, but the product is good."
"There is an annual licensing fee for upgrading the device."
More Imperva SecureSphere Database Security pricing and cost advice
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
29%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Retailer
9%
Insurance Company
9%
Financial Services Firm
27%
Computer Software Company
14%
Insurance Company
6%
Manufacturing Company
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What is a good length for a password in ACF2 so it's safe?
A set length of 12 characters can ensure the safety of a system. Longer passwords provide an added layer of security, especially when combined with other password complexity requirements. With a le...
See all answers
Is ACF2 suitable for beginners?
ACF2 can be suitable for beginners with the right guidance and support. While it may have a steep learning curve for many due to its complexity, it offers extensive documentation and resources that...
See all answers
What types of auditing and reporting capabilities does ACF2 offer?
ACF2's reporting capabilities are highly valuable. It offers various predefined reports that provide insights into our system's security posture. These reports include information on user access pr...
See all answers
Which is the best DDoS protection solution for a big ISP for monitoring and mitigating?
My recommendation is Imperva.
See all answers
How does IBM Guardium Data Protection compare with Imperva SecureSphere Database Security?
IBM Security Guardium Data Protection is a solution for database security from IBM that gives complete visibility, control, and analysis to secure sensitive data and comply with regulations. IBM S...
See all answers
What do you like most about Imperva SecureSphere Database Security?
The tool's pricing is flexible and affordable for small and medium enterprises.
See all answers
 

Comparisons

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IBM Security Guardium Data Protection vs ACF2
Compared 15% of the time
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IBM Security zSecure vs ACF2
Compared 12% of the time
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Compared 63% of the time
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Compared 19% of the time
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Compared 8% of the time
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Compared 5% of the time
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More Imperva SecureSphere Database Security Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Mainframe Security
May 2025
ACF2 reportDownload ACF2 product report
Buyer's Guide
Imperva SecureSphere Database Security
June 2025
Imperva SecureSphere Database Security reportDownload Imperva SecureSphere Database Security product report
 

Also Known As

CA ACF2
No data available
 

Overview

CA ACF2™ for z/OS provides innovative, comprehensive security for your business transaction environments—including Linux, UNIX and z/OS on System z—helping you realize the reliability, scalability and cost-effectiveness of the mainframe. CA ACF2 provides an Advanced Authentication Mainframe feature, system entry validation, resource control, auditability, accountability, and administrative control. In conjunction with distributed security solutions from CA Technologies, CA ACF2 provides mobile-to-mainframe enterprise class security and compliance management.

ACF2 Features

ACF2 offers some of the following features:

  • Authentication: ACF2 is used for authenticating users and granting them access to profiles and various resources on the mainframe.

  • Access Control: The solution provides resource control, allowing administrators to control who can access specific mainframe resources.

  • Logging and Monitoring: Organizations can easily track and monitor activities on the mainframe. This feature enables the creation of audit trails for follow-up and helps with security analysis.

  • Metrics and Reporting: ACF2 allows the configuration of tools to produce different types of metrics and reports. These can then be used by senior management for making informed security decisions.

  • Comprehensive Security: The solution provides comprehensive security for mainframe environments, ensuring the protection of valuable data assets. It offers advanced authentication, system entry validation, and administrative control.

  • Streamlined Administration: It simplifies the administration of mainframe security by providing streamlined management capabilities. ACF2 also enables administrators to monitor and adjust security policies and accommodate various organizational structures.

  • Scalability: ACF2 offers reliable and scalable security, allowing businesses to expand their mainframe environments while maintaining a high level of protection.

  • Compliance Management: Organizations can meet compliance requirements by providing auditability, accountability, and comprehensive security controls.

  • Integration: ACF2 can integrate with distributed security solutions from CA Technologies, providing enterprise-class security and compliance management for mobile-to-mainframe environments.

  • Flexibility: ACF2 allows flexibility in adapting security policies to accommodate different organizational structures and requirements.

ACF2 Benefits

Some of the benefits that ACF2 provides are:

  • Enhanced security and resilience

  • Streamlined administration

  • Reliable and scalable security

  • Comprehensive audit capabilities

  • Cost-effectiveness

  • Integration with other security solutions

  • Simplified identity and access management

  • Compliance management

  • Efficient monitoring and reporting

Reviews from Real Users

According to an IT Examiner at a financial services firm with 10,000+ employees, "ACF2 is extremely beneficial for the mainframe environment, and it is at the forefront for security and resilience."

Broadcom

Imperva SecureSphere Database Security:

  • Audits all access to sensitive data.
  • Alerts or blocks database attacks and unauthorized activities, in real time.
  • Detects and virtually patches database vulnerabilities.
  • Identifies excessive user rights and dormant users, and enables a complete rights review cycle.
  • Accelerates incident response and forensics investigations with advanced analytics.
Imperva
 

Sample Customers

Sky, Rogers Communications
BlueCross BlueShield, eHarmony, EMF Broadcasting, GE Healthcare, Metro Bank, The Motley Fool, Siemens
Buyer's Guide
ACF2 vs. Imperva SecureSphere Database Security
June 2025
Free Report: ACF2 vs. Imperva SecureSphere Database Security
Find out what your peers are saying about ACF2 vs. Imperva SecureSphere Database Security and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
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