Chainguard Containers vs Sysdig Secure comparison

Chainguard and Sysdig are both solutions in the Container Security category. Chainguard is ranked #30 with an average rating of 8.3, while Sysdig is ranked #21 with an average rating of 8.0. Chainguard holds a 1.0% mindshare in Container Security, compared to Sysdig’s 2.5% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Chainguard users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Sysdig users who would recommend it.

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Feb 8, 2026

Sysdig Secure and Chainguard Containers are key competitors in the container security market. Chainguard Containers seems to hold the upper hand by offering advanced functionalities that appeal to those prioritizing robust features over cost considerations.

Features: Sysdig Secure offers deep visibility, compliance support, and runtime threat detection to enhance security operations. Chainguard Containers emphasizes secure development lifecycle integration, signed images, and improved supply chain security. The primary focus of Sysdig is on real-time security management, whereas Chainguard prioritizes code and supply chain integrity.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Sysdig Secure provides a straightforward deployment process with comprehensive customer support, which aids rapid integration. Chainguard Containers offers a modular deployment model aimed at seamless integration with existing CI/CD pipelines and minimal disruption. Sysdig focuses on support-centric deployment, while Chainguard emphasizes integration.

Pricing and ROI: Sysdig Secure is noted for competitive pricing and delivering value relative to its cost, potentially offering a quicker ROI with its cost-effective solutions. Chainguard Containers may involve higher upfront costs, but the robust features justify the price, promising potential long-term operational savings. The main contrast is between Sysdig’s cost-efficiency and Chainguard’s feature-driven value.

To learn more, read our detailed Chainguard Containers vs. Sysdig Secure Report (Updated: June 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Chainguard Containers vs. Sysdig Secure

June 2026

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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

Qualys TotalCloud

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2026, in the Container Security category, the mindshare of Qualys TotalCloud is 1.7%, up from 1.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Chainguard Containers is 1.0%, up from 0.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Sysdig Secure is 2.5%, down from 2.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Container Security Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Qualys TotalCloud	1.7%
Sysdig Secure	2.5%
Chainguard Containers	1.0%
Other	94.8%

Container Security

Featured Reviews

Robert Orłowski

IT Security Expert at Alior Bank S.A.

Unified risk scoring has improved our cloud visibility and simplifies remediation priorities

Qualys TotalCloud provides unified vulnerability and threat assessment across both IAS and SaaS. This solution provides a single prioritized view of risk, which helps reduce the work I would have to do. We are no longer based on CVSS; we are based on Qualys risk scoring, which is based on CVSS plus internal findings made by Qualys, and then assigns its own score. The TruRisk insight feature has found a small number of assets with high vulnerability scores, though I am cautious since some information is classified. Qualys TotalCloud has positively impacted our bank's performance, and we have definitely seen benefits after implementing this solution.

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ParthasarathyT

Senior Infrastructure Engineer at Publicis Sapient

Secures container builds, has simplified compliance audits and reduced vulnerabilities dramatically

The benefit of Chainguard Containers is that it makes development simpler. It makes the development team confident there will not be any bugs or vulnerabilities in the image they are using. It is mainly needed for vulnerabilities, SLAs, security audits, and SOC 2, ISO, and PCI compliance. The image includes SBOM, signature, and provenance metadata, which makes audits much easier. The best features Chainguard Containers offers include a reduced image size. It removes the shell and the package manager, resulting in a significantly smaller image size compared with a normal image. We can deploy production workloads directly without worrying about security concerns. If we want a strong supply chain for security, we will be using it. Many users are already tired of scanning alerts, so this will be a great thing. Removing the shell and package manager has positively impacted my team's workflow and deployment speed by making it quite user-friendly, where the developer can touch it without any hesitation. Chainguard Containers are built and pushed from non-patched binaries, with the packages compiled directly from the source. No dependencies or pre-built distro packages like Debian or Alpine are required, so there are no hidden vulnerabilities. The developer gains full control over what goes inside, and the image size is smaller with fewer vulnerabilities, in fact, zero. It has built-in processes like SBOM, which is Software Bill of Material generated. The image is cryptographically signed, and provenance is tracked, leading to faster patching, minimal footprint, and best supply chain control. Chainguard Containers has positively impacted my organization by reducing constant CVE fixing, resolving security versus DevOps conflicts, and minimizing compliance headaches. After implementing secured-by-default containers, there is less effort on fixing vulnerabilities, faster delivery, and better compliance. The impact on security teams includes a lower risk of attack, less panic during audits, and significantly fewer security noises. A specific outcome we have noted since implementing Chainguard Containers is that for a client who uses more than 200 containers, they previously received vulnerability warnings for every deployment. Once we implemented Chainguard Containers, the vulnerability ratio drastically decreased, from 100 to 30. Nearly 70% of the vulnerability checks have passed. Chainguard Containers are CVE-resistant, which is significant as CVEs represent Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures.

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Mumu Muhaemin

DevSecOps Engineer at a outsourcing company with 1,001-5,000 employees

Runtime threat detection has improved and security teams prioritize real Kubernetes risks

The best feature Sysdig Secure offers is threat detection. The threat detection feature on Sysdig Secure stands out compared to other solutions I have seen or used because Sysdig sees the actual behavior inside the container or kernel and correlates it with Kubernetes infrastructure, which makes detection both earlier and more precise in a cloud-native environment. Sysdig Secure has positively impacted our organization by improving visibility into our Kubernetes environment and focusing on real risk, which has reduced alert noise, improved threat detection at runtime, and made vulnerability management more efficient by prioritizing issues that actually affect running workloads.

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The most valuable feature is the consolidated information that it provides from various platforms."

"The most valuable feature is extensibility."

"Qualys TotalCloud's most valuable feature is its ability to link clusters of assets, providing a clear model of deployments, vulnerabilities, and statuses."

"Its dashboards are brilliant. It provides in-depth insights."

"Its excellent graphical interface makes the scanning process simple."

"The agent and agentless scanning in TotalCloud, particularly the FlexScan method, is incredibly valuable. With traditional scanning approaches, we had to give IP ranges and whitelist IPs. All that is now simplified. FlexScan requires minimal intervention, and after configuration, it automatically collects data and performs necessary scans."

"The best feature would be the ability to create policies. It is easy to control and update policies as required."

"The best features in Qualys TotalCloud include the total asset management of the cloud environment. It is very easy to export the report and see the vulnerabilities related to the cloud specifically."

More Qualys TotalCloud pros

"Chainguard Containers has positively impacted my organization by reducing constant CVE fixing, resolving security versus DevOps conflicts, and minimizing compliance headaches."

"Chainguard Containers has positively impacted my organization even during the proof of concept phase by improving our security posture."

"Specific outcomes and metrics show that before this, every month there would be 15 to 20 vulnerabilities, but after switching to Chainguard Containers, there are now only one or maybe two vulnerabilities."

"The best feature of Chainguard Containers is being distroless, and the main thing I liked about it is that they follow the SBOM process and the continuous rebuilds they were doing, and they were helping me to rapidly remediate the failures which were happening."

"We appreciate this feature, especially when combined with CD monitoring. The implementation of requested features has been remarkable, such as scanning for compliance in CRM processes for the US government. We heavily rely on this feature to assess compliance with federal requirements."

"The log monitor is the most valuable feature."

"I see Sysdig as the most comprehensive solution in comparison to its competitors."

"From a container-based standpoint, it offers excellent scalability to its users...I would tell those planning to use the solution that, from a container standpoint, it's excellent."

"Sysdig Secure has many strong foundational features like compliance and benchmark, security, network access management, and vulnerability management."

"The tool has the capability to conduct scans initially. It can perform scans on your virtual machines, physical machines, containers, and container images. A standout feature is its ability to scan offline container images stored in your container registry. Additionally, it can scan runtime images in your cluster or on your host machine. This allows for the detection of vulnerabilities in running containers, including loaded libraries. Notably, the tool can identify which library vulnerabilities are already present in your system. An added advantage is its capacity to take action beyond threat detection. It has the ability to block access and respond to encountered threats."

"In terms of measurable outcomes, I have seen a reduction in vulnerabilities, as Sysdig Secure can tell us how many vulnerabilities are present on a day-to-day report basis, which has improved our efficiency by more than 50% and helps us stay compliant with necessary regulations."

"Sysdig Secure has positively impacted our organization by improving visibility into our Kubernetes environment and focusing on real risk, which has reduced alert noise, improved threat detection at runtime, and made vulnerability management more efficient by prioritizing issues that actually affect running workloads."

More Sysdig Secure pros

Cons

"Qualys TotalCloud's increasing complexity, due to the development and deployment of multiple solutions, is making the GUI difficult to navigate."

"The vulnerability part is good, but the policy compliance module needs improvement because it involves a lot of manual work. Specifically, the remediation part of the controls requires enhancements."

"Although TotalCloud is a helpful tool, some of its advanced features are still under development."

"Their customer support needs improvement."

"Qualys's ticketing system can be confusing when assigning tasks to individuals, and support could be improved by offering instant call solutions with engineers in addition to ticket replies."

"The areas in the solution that have room for improvement include the UI/UX design, which should be improved, and they should integrate more artificial intelligence into the product."

"To be honest, I would move out from this tool because it does not give a full view of vulnerability."

"The support process is inefficient due to the excessive number of replies required when submitting tickets."

More Qualys TotalCloud cons

"The only limitation or challenge that stood out during my evaluation of Chainguard Containers was the fact that it is primarily based on Alpine, which can be tricky to use in native Kubernetes environments, as we use Tecton primarily, which is a CI/CD pipeline that runs on native Kubernetes."

"Sometimes there are backend errors which we come across again and again, and there is a resolution, but there are pending tickets for it. That sucks sometimes."

"The accuracy and reliability of the output from Chainguard Containers are below average, but I still give it an average rating of 6.5 to 7 because of its capabilities and its functionality for a developer-friendly approach."

"The biggest challenge in Chainguard Containers is that they provide minimal images, which can make troubleshooting difficult because common debugging tools are also not included."

"Sysdig's biggest weakness is dashboarding and reporting. You have access to the data and can get everything you need, but we need the ability to summarize the information quickly in a format that senior leaders can understand. We report to the executive level and global board. I need to roll all that in-depth information into a quick summary, and their maturity level isn't there. I'm seeing that on the future road map, but it isn't there now."

"Sysdig Secure works well for us, but there are a few areas for improvement, such as the alerting and notification system being more flexible for complex workflows, and some dashboard and reporting features could be more customizable to match specific team needs."

"I give it an eight because of the bugs, specifically the fix version bug where sometimes there is no fix version shown, and I wish Sysdig Secure would create a customizable UI that orders features by importance to enhance user experience."

"There was a security concern related to a specific feature. While the feature itself was promising, it posed a challenge. The situation revolved around code scanning. If your source code is hosted within your own premises, say on Bitbucket, you naturally wouldn't want your code to be accessible to external parties beyond your company. Keeping your code base private is a standard practice. However, in the case of code scanning using Sysdig Secure, they copy your code to their SaaS platform. This posed an issue for us. When we inquired about this, their response acknowledged the concern. In an upcoming release, they plan to enable code scanning within your on-premises environment through the assistance of an agent. This change is already in progress. While this tool stands out compared to existing solutions in the market, it's important to note that there are still some limitations to consider. Another drawback we encountered relates to our expertise with Kubernetes. The tool can monitor Kubernetes audit logs, triggering alerts and notifications. However, it falls short in terms of taking direct action based on these alerts. There are different methods of event capture, including through system labels and system calls, as well as via Kubernetes audit events. Notably, at the system level, Sysdig Secure can both detect and respond to events, allowing actions like blocking and warning. This proactive approach is effective at the system call level. However, when it comes to monitoring Kubernetes audit events, Sysdig Secure can only notify without being able to execute any further actions. It can't block access or containers. The vendor likened their role to that of a monitoring camera, observing events and sending notifications without the capacity to intervene. This limitation applies to Kubernetes audit events. Given that everything operates within our system, there is a workaround available: configuring system-level policies to block containers as necessary."

"Sysdig Secure needs to scale more for complete cloud-native coverage."

"Perhaps, it could support more custom implementations, as our company utilizes custom implementations rather than standard ones. Configuring it requires a deep understanding and adjustment to our specific needs, which took some time. Other than that, I'm unsure about potential improvements. We were considering the possibility of compartmentalizing their tools. Currently, in Sysdig Secure, they bundle multiple features, and we are unable to use them individually. For instance, if we only need compliance scanning, we have to deploy the entire secure package. This is because of the way their agent functions, but I can't delve into more details."

"Banks and financial institutions cannot use Sysdig Secure because it doesn't sell SaaS-hosted versions for under two hundred working nodes."

"The solution needs to improve overall from a CSPM standpoint since they can't compete with Wiz or Orca."

More Sysdig Secure cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Its price seems higher compared to other tools, but it is worth it. If they could adjust the pricing and make it comparable with other tools, that would be great."

"While Qualys TotalCloud's pricing is currently acceptable, it is becoming increasingly expensive and may soon be considered overpriced."

"Qualys TotalCloud is cost-efficient and was selected for its value compared to other products."

"Qualys TotalCloud offers cost-effective licensing flexibility."

"Qualys TotalCloud is expensive."

"Qualys TotalCloud offers good pricing that is affordable and competitive with the market. Our partnership also provides us with additional benefits."

"As a middle management member, I do not have direct pricing knowledge, but based on the knowledge from our meetings, its pricing is competitive."

"Qualys TotalCloud is expensive, but it offers a premier solution with no headaches."

More Qualys TotalCloud pricing and cost advice

Information not available

"Sysdig is competitive. The quality matches the pricing. Obviously, everyone wants things to be cheaper, but if you're realistic, you acknowledge that quality service comes with a price. Sysdig is the gold standard for Kubernetes, and I wouldn't choose anything else. We live in Kubernetes. Everything is containerized, so that means a lot to us, and we're willing to make an investment."

"In comparison to other cloud solutions, it's reasonably priced. However, when compared to in-house built open-source projects, it might be considered somewhat costly. The cost depends on whether someone sees the support provided by Sysdig as an advantage or if it's deemed unnecessary. Personally, I find the support to be excellent and consider it a good value."

"The solution's pricing depends on the agents...In short, the price depends on the environment of its user."

"It is quite costly compared to other tools."

"I am always going to say that it could be a little bit cheaper. I do feel that it is a little bit on the expensive side."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Manufacturing Company

13%

Outsourcing Company

12%

Comms Service Provider

10%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Manufacturing Company

16%

Outsourcing Company

Healthcare Company

University

Financial Services Firm

16%

Computer Software Company

11%

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	11
Midsize Enterprise	5
Large Enterprise	30

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	6
Midsize Enterprise	2
Large Enterprise	5

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Qualys TotalCloud?

The price is very expensive, actually.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Qualys TotalCloud?

To be totally honest, I do not have any best features because I have had a bad experience using this tool, especially...

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What is your primary use case for Qualys TotalCloud?

My main use case for Qualys TotalCloud is vulnerability management and exposure management. I use this tool to evalua...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Chainguard Containers?

My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing is that while I work on implementation and do not manage billin...

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What needs improvement with Chainguard Containers?

The only limitation or challenge that stood out during my evaluation of Chainguard Containers was the fact that it is...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Chainguard Containers?

Chainguard Containers was a tool brought into my enterprise as a proof of concept that we evaluated, but we have not ...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Sysdig Secure?

Sysdig Secure works well for us, but there are a few areas for improvement, such as the alerting and notification sys...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Sysdig Secure?

Our primary use case for Sysdig Secure is runtime threat detection and vulnerability management.

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering Sysdig Secure?

My advice for others looking into using Sysdig Secure is to clearly define your primary use case before getting start...

See all answers

Comparisons

Wiz vs Qualys TotalCloud

Compared 10% of the time

Microsoft Defender for Cloud vs Qualys TotalCloud

Compared 8% of the time

JupiterOne vs Qualys TotalCloud

Compared 7% of the time

Prisma Cloud by Palo Alto Networks vs Qualys TotalCloud

Compared 6% of the time

AWS Security Hub vs Qualys TotalCloud

Compared 5% of the time

More Qualys TotalCloud Competitors

Minimus vs Chainguard Containers

Compared 13% of the time

Wiz vs Chainguard Containers

Compared 11% of the time

Root.io vs Chainguard Containers

Compared 9% of the time

Snyk vs Chainguard Containers

Compared 9% of the time

Runecast vs Chainguard Containers

Compared 7% of the time

More Chainguard Containers Competitors

Aqua Cloud Security Platform vs Sysdig Secure

Compared 12% of the time

Prisma Cloud by Palo Alto Networks vs Sysdig Secure

Compared 7% of the time

Wiz vs Sysdig Secure

Compared 6% of the time

SentinelOne Singularity Cloud Security vs Sysdig Secure

Compared 5% of the time

Upwind vs Sysdig Secure

Compared 4% of the time

More Sysdig Secure Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Qualys TotalCloud

July 2026

Download Qualys TotalCloud product report

Buyer's Guide

Chainguard Containers

August 2026

Download Chainguard Containers product report

Buyer's Guide

Sysdig Secure

July 2026

Download Sysdig Secure product report

Also Known As

Qualys TotalCloud with FlexScan

No data available

Overview

Qualys TotalCloud enhances security posture across cloud environments with continuous monitoring, vulnerability management, and risk visualization, ensuring efficient threat assessment and automated remediation for improved cyber risk reduction.

Qualys TotalCloud offers a robust suite of security tools essential for organizations managing multi-cloud infrastructures. By integrating cloud accounts and automating workflows, it supports AWS, Azure, and GCP, offering comprehensive vulnerability management and zero-day detection. The platform's user-friendly design, combined with its extensive risk management and unified threat assessment capabilities, enables organizations to prioritize and remediate vulnerabilities effectively. TruRisk Insights provides clear insights on cyber risks, while the automation options streamline patch management and scanning processes. API integration across IaaS and SaaS environments further enhances resource allocation efficiency and saves time, addressing misconfigurations across cloud environments.

What are the most important features of Qualys TotalCloud?

Accurate Vulnerability Reports: Delivers precise and actionable insights for risk mitigation.
Zero-Day Detection: Identifies and addresses zero-day vulnerabilities proactively.
Unified Threat Assessment: Offers comprehensive evaluation of threats across the environment.
Extensive Risk Management: Manages risks effectively with advanced insights and prioritization.
Continuous Monitoring: Provides non-stop surveillance for vulnerabilities and threats.
Cloud-Native Automation: Streamlines processes and reduces manual efforts using automation.
FlexScan for Internet-Facing VMs: Scans external VMs efficiently to detect vulnerabilities.
Dashboard Risk Visualization: Clear visualization helps prioritize vulnerabilities.

What benefits and ROI should users look for?

Improved Security Posture: Enhances threat detection and response across clouds.
Time Savings: Automation reduces time spent on manual vulnerability management.
Resource Efficiency: Better allocation of resources through streamlined workflows.
Enhanced Risk Prioritization: Focus on critical vulnerabilities for effective mitigation.
Integrated Cloud Accounts: Facilitates seamless cloud management and security.

Qualys TotalCloud is deployed in sectors needing rigorous vulnerability management, such as finance and healthcare. Companies utilize it to secure multi-cloud environments like AWS, Azure, and GCP, focus on compliance, and integrate security into CI/CD pipelines to detect and remedy threats pre-deployment.

Qualys

Chainguard Containers provide security-focused container solutions designed to address modern application challenges. Its use enhances system integrity and ensures robust protection against vulnerabilities.

Chainguard Containers stand out by offering an innovative approach to container security. Expertly crafted to ensure only verified code runs, it emphasizes reducing attack surfaces and enhancing overall workload security. Its utility is crucial for maintaining a secure software pipeline, minimizing risks in application deployments.

What are the standout features of Chainguard Containers?

Secure by Default: Incorporates security best practices automatically to protect system deployments.
Minimal Base Images: Ensures a smaller attack surface by using minimalistic container bases.
Supply Chain Security: Enhanced visibility and control over the software supply chain to mitigate threats.
Automatic Updates: Regularly updates containers to address new vulnerabilities promptly.
Compliance Tools: Facilitates meeting regulatory requirements with built-in compliance features.

What benefits should users consider in reviews?

Increased Security: Enhances overall security posture with reinforced protection measures.
Faster Deployment: Streamlines deployment processes, boosting operational efficiency.
Cost Efficiency: Reduces the overhead of manual security checks, saving time and money.
Regulatory Compliance: Assists in adhering to industry regulations, reducing legal risks.
Operational Stability: Improves system stability through a more secure infrastructure.

Chainguard Containers find significant application in industries like finance and healthcare, where data security is paramount. By integrating seamlessly into existing IT frameworks, they bolster security without disrupting operational workflows, a critical advantage in sectors with stringent compliance demands.

Chainguard

Sysdig Secure offers comprehensive threat detection and vulnerability scanning, integrating seamlessly with platforms like Kubernetes and cloud providers. It enhances compliance monitoring while prioritizing risks to improve security posture.

Sysdig Secure is designed for runtime security across containerized environments and cloud platforms. It integrates with tools like Falco for effective threat detection and extensive compliance monitoring. Users benefit from its friendly interface and visibility improvements, aiding in reducing alerts and managing vulnerabilities. Integrations with Kubernetes and Terraform enhance its flexibility, providing wide-ranging applicability and cloud support. There's a need to improve dashboard simplicity and enrich reporting capabilities. The tool should better handle Kubernetes audit events and increase API accessibility across more platforms. Users also seek advancements in its scalability, speed, and customer support in specific regions.

What are Sysdig Secure's key features?

Runtime Security: Monitors and protects containerized and cloud environments in real time.
Falco Integration: Enhances threat detection with Falco's powerful rules engine.
Threat Detection: Identifies and alerts on suspicious activities and security threats.
Vulnerability Scanning: Assesses applications and infrastructure for potential vulnerabilities.

What benefits should users expect from Sysdig Secure?

Enhanced Security Posture: Comprehensive threat visibility and rapid response capabilities.
Improved Efficiency: Reduced alert fatigue by prioritizing critical vulnerabilities.
Compliance Support: Streamlined processes for meeting security standards and regulations.
Cloud Integration: Seamless compatibility with cloud providers like AWS and GCP.

Industries benefit by employing Sysdig Secure for managing runtime workloads and ensuring compliance within cloud environments. Its effectiveness in monitoring clusters on AWS, GCP, and securing CI/CD pipelines makes it essential for companies optimizing their cloud and container security strategies.

Sysdig

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

SAP Concur, Goldman Sachs, Worldpay, Experian, BigCommerce, Arkose Labs, Calendly, Noteable, Bloomreach. More here: https://sysdig.com/customers/

Buyer's Guide

Chainguard Containers vs. Sysdig Secure

June 2026

Free Report: Chainguard Containers vs. Sysdig Secure

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