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IBM Security Guardium Data Protection vs Imperva SecureSphere Database Security comparison

IBM and Imperva are both solutions in the Database Security category. IBM is ranked #1 with an average rating of 8.7, while Imperva is ranked #2 with an average rating of 7.5. IBM holds a 31.6% mindshare in DS, compared to Imperva’s 30.1% mindshare. Additionally, 85% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 92% of Imperva users who would recommend it.
IBM Security Guardium Data ...
Read 78 IBM Security Guardium Data Protection reviews
  • 4,310 Views
  • 2,128 Comparison Views
85% willing to recommend
Imperva SecureSphere Databa...
Read 56 Imperva SecureSphere Database Security reviews
  • 3,331 Views
  • 2,118 Comparison Views
92% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Apr 20, 2025

Imperva SecureSphere and IBM Security Guardium Data Protection compete in the database security market. Imperva holds an edge due to its comprehensive security alerts and real-time monitoring capabilities.

Features: Imperva SecureSphere provides advanced threat alerts, a robust Database Activity Monitoring (DAM) module, and seamless data classification. It also includes a web application firewall and offers integration with third-party systems. IBM Guardium excels in vulnerability assessments, supports a wide range of databases, and integrates well with IBM's own security suite. It is renowned for its accurate vulnerability assessments and comprehensive database protection.

Room for Improvement: Imperva SecureSphere could improve integration with mainframe environments, reporting capabilities, and support for cloud-hosted databases. Users report challenges with its user interface and scalability. IBM Guardium should enhance its file activity monitoring, refine its user interface, and improve deployment flexibility for complex environments. Both solutions need more intuitive licensing models and better support experiences.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Imperva SecureSphere is mainly deployed on-premises, though it offers some cloud integrations, necessitating advanced administrative knowledge for setup. Customer support experiences vary, from prompt assistance to inconsistent service. IBM Guardium supports on-premises, private, and hybrid cloud deployments, generally receiving positive feedback for its customer service, though technical assistance could improve in responsiveness.

Pricing and ROI: Imperva SecureSphere is seen as expensive but offers flexible licensing that can suit different enterprise needs, ensuring a high ROI through reduced losses and compliance risk. IBM Guardium traditionally has complex pricing due to PVU-based licensing, although new server-based models aim to simplify this. Organizations appreciate its ROI for robust security insights and compliance, though need to evaluate budget constraints for cost-effectiveness.

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Buyer's Guide
IBM Security Guardium Data Protection 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:
 

ROI

Sentiment score
6.6
IBM Security Guardium Data Protection is valued for saving time, money, and enhancing compliance, despite challenging ROI quantification.
Sentiment score
6.9
Imperva SecureSphere offers high ROI and cost-effectiveness through automation, threat mitigation, compliance fulfillment, and varying benefits by company size.
The investment return was good because IBM Security Guardium Data Protection provided significant security and compliance benefits.
For more quotes and insights, download the IBM Security Guardium Data Protection report
My thoughts on the pricing, setup cost, and licensing of the Imperva SecureSphere Database Security are that it could be more competitive.
For more quotes and insights, download the Imperva SecureSphere Database Security report
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
6.5
IBM Security Guardium's support is responsive but inconsistent, with U.S. support praised and issues highlighted in India and South Asia.
Sentiment score
6.3
Imperva SecureSphere's support is professional but inconsistent, with response time affected by service agreements and regional availability.
I did not receive support from IBM.
For more quotes and insights, download the IBM Security Guardium Data Protection report
Regarding customer support, I would like to see improvements in response time.
For more quotes and insights, download the Imperva SecureSphere Database Security report
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.6
IBM Security Guardium Data Protection excels in scalability, supporting diverse databases, despite some complexity and resource demands in large environments.
Sentiment score
6.8
Imperva SecureSphere offers scalability and flexibility but faces challenges in integration, licensing, and cost, especially for smaller enterprises.
No quotes available
For more quotes and insights, download the IBM Security Guardium Data Protection report
The scalability of the Imperva SecureSphere Database Security in accommodating the organization's growth and database security needs is excellent.
For more quotes and insights, download the Imperva SecureSphere Database Security report
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
7.3
IBM Security Guardium is stable with occasional setup and performance issues, effectively managed by support and updates.
Sentiment score
7.0
Imperva SecureSphere Database Security is reliable with proper setup and resources, though stability varies by infrastructure and configuration.
 

Room For Improvement

IBM Security Guardium needs better file monitoring, interface, reporting, speed, integration, and performance with enhanced cloud support and analytics.
Imperva SecureSphere needs improvements in user interface, support, integration, reporting, modernization, pricing, cloud support, and update deployment.
 

Setup Cost

IBM Security Guardium Data Protection offers comprehensive but expensive solutions, now priced by servers, benefiting large enterprises despite costs.
Imperva SecureSphere's high-quality database security features justify its pricing, offering annual, perpetual, and subscription options with possible discounts.
Guardium is an expensive tool because it is targeted towards corporate enterprises.
For more quotes and insights, download the IBM Security Guardium Data Protection report
No quotes available
For more quotes and insights, download the Imperva SecureSphere Database Security report
 

Valuable Features

IBM Guardium offers real-time monitoring, customizable reporting, and robust integration, enhancing data protection and compliance across platforms.
Imperva SecureSphere ensures robust database security with real-time monitoring, intuitive interfaces, third-party integration, and automated reporting for compliance.
The most valuable features, in my opinion, included the alerts and protections for specific tables and fields.
For more quotes and insights, download the IBM Security Guardium Data Protection report
The Imperva SecureSphere Database Security has significantly aided my organization in forensic investigations and compliance audits.
For more quotes and insights, download the Imperva SecureSphere Database Security report
 

Categories and Ranking

IBM Security Guardium Data ...
Ranking in Database Security
1st
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.6
Number of Reviews
78
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
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 July 2025, in the Database Security category, the mindshare of IBM Security Guardium Data Protection is 31.6%, up from 31.5% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Imperva SecureSphere Database Security is 30.1%, down from 32.4% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Database Security
 

Featured Reviews

Ahmer Faisel Khan - PeerSpot reviewer
Offers mature agents, compliance reporting and reliable database security
The solution should allow the data to shift to a centralized repository with elastic servers and big data infrastructure. If a customer searches for old logs for retention purposes, there are limitations on appliances once they are set with specific hardware, so they can only be changed by uninstalling or reinstalling the hardware. The solution's aggregator feature allows data aggregation, but for instance, if a customer wants a project ready in two years, having an Elasticsearch in DB or the capacity to store huge amounts of data would be beneficial in data investigation or evaluation at an affordable cost. Some AI features should be added to IBM Security Guardium Data Protection. For example, the AI features implemented in the solution can be anomaly detection or suspicious activity identification.
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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.
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
30%
Computer Software Company
10%
Insurance Company
6%
Manufacturing Company
6%
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

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...
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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IBM Guardium Data Protection?
I don't remember the exact prices, but Guardium is an expensive tool because it is targeted towards corporate enterprises.
See all answers
What do you like most about IBM Security Guardium Data Protection?
The features I like are the robust policies, which allow us to create customized monitoring based on specific activities.
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
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
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Imperva SecureSphere Database Security?
It is not cheaper, but based on the feature, it is okay.
See all answers
 

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
IBM Security Guardium Data Protection
June 2025
IBM Security Guardium Data Protection reportDownload IBM Security Guardium Data Protection 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

InfoSphere Guardium, Guardium, IBM Guardium
No data available
 

Overview

IBM Security Guardium Data Protection automatically discovers and classifies sensitive data from across the enterprise, providing real-time data activity monitoring and advanced user behavior analytics to help discover unusual activity around sensitive data.

Deploy the solution to help discover regulated data in your data stores and use pre-built templates for regulations such as PCI, SOX, HIPAA, CCPA and many more, to streamline and automate compliance workflows.

IBM

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

Information Not Available
BlueCross BlueShield, eHarmony, EMF Broadcasting, GE Healthcare, Metro Bank, The Motley Fool, Siemens
Buyer's Guide
IBM Security Guardium Data Protection vs. Imperva SecureSphere Database Security
June 2025
Free Report: IBM Security Guardium Data Protection vs. Imperva SecureSphere Database Security
Find out what your peers are saying about IBM Security Guardium Data Protection vs. Imperva SecureSphere Database Security and other solutions. Updated: June 2025.
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