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IBM Security Guardium Data Protection vs Vormetric Application Crypto Suite comparison

The compared IBM and Thales Cloud Security solutions aren't in the same category. IBM is ranked #1 in DS , with an average rating of 8.7, and holds a 31.8% mindshare in the category. Thales Cloud Security is ranked #10 in DM , with an average rating of 8.0, and holds a 2.8% mindshare. Additionally, 85% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Thales Cloud Security users who would recommend it.
IBM Security Guardium Data ...
Read 78 IBM Security Guardium Data Protection reviews
  • 5,321 Views
  • 4,310 Comparison Views
85% willing to recommend
Vormetric Application Crypt...
Read 2 Vormetric Application Crypto Suite reviews
  • 216 Views
  • 123 Comparison Views
100% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive Summary
We performed a comparison between IBM Security Guardium Data Protection and Vormetric Application Crypto Suite based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about IBM, Imperva, Oracle and others in Database Security.

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To learn more, read our detailed Database Security Report (Updated: July 2025).
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Database Security
July 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

IBM Security Guardium Data ...
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.6
Number of Reviews
78
Ranking in other categories
Database Security (1st)
Vormetric Application Crypt...
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
2
Ranking in other categories
Data Masking (10th)
 

Mindshare comparison

While both are Database Development and Management Tools solutions, they serve different purposes. IBM Security Guardium Data Protection is designed for Database Security and holds a mindshare of 31.8%, up 31.4% compared to last year.
Vormetric Application Crypto Suite, on the other hand, focuses on Data Masking, holds 2.8% mindshare, down 3.5% since last year.
Database Security
Data Masking
 

Q&A Highlights

CR
Jul 07, 2020
IBM Guardium Data Protection vs. Vormetric Application Crypto Suite for a tech services company
I have been working with Guardium for 5 years, but I had not heard of Vormetric. So, I will not be able to help. Something I can report is from the IBM website: " IBM Security Guardium Data Encryption runs on a variety of Microsoft Windows, UNIX, and Linux platforms. It requires prerequisite software available from Vormetric, Inc. Visit the Vormetric website for information. For additional information, refer to the Software requirements section. Vormetric is not affiliated or associated with IBM. Vormetric software products and licenses are subject to change in accordance with the policies and procedures of Vormetric. " Source: https://www-01.ibm.com/common/ssi/ShowDoc.wss?docURL=/common/ssi/rep_ca/2/897/ENUS216-412/index.html&request_locale=en
See all answers
 

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.
Read full review
reviewer2537625 - PeerSpot reviewer
Useful to encrypt sensitive data or crown jewel data stored in various places within organizations
One of the most valuable features is the solution's integration with many leading industry solutions, both on-premises and cloud-based. It has API integration with a large number of technologies. The key management capability supports security protocols by providing an additional layer of security by separating duties. It's more secure to store encryption keys in a separate system like Thales rather than locally. If a database is compromised, the keys in Thales remain protected, making it harder for attackers to access the information.
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

"Database logging and audit functions are the most valuable features."
"IBM Guardium Data Protection has better integration options than most of the leading competitors on the market, and the price is always better."
"The most valuable feature is the GUI, the interface. It also interfaces well with REST API, if you want to automate some of the commands."
"Has a great Big Data Intelligence feature."
"I think it scales pretty well. It can run on most of the database platforms currently out there. That is something we really like as a feature, because we try to hit everything in our environment to make sure we're meeting those regulations."
"he solution offers trouble-free access."
"Being an IBM product it really offers security integration capabilities and robust features. Over the years, it has satisfactory met the requirements of our customers which makes it a very reliable and versatile solution."
"We appreciate its ease of implementation and the local support available for the product."
More IBM Security Guardium Data Protection pros
"One of the most valuable features is the solution's integration with many leading industry solutions, both on-premises and cloud-based. It has API integration with a large number of technologies."
"Transfer encryption is a great feature of Crypto Suite."
 

Cons

"The analysis part of this product could be improved. It's a very comprehensive product, so the features it has complement customer requirements. But I would like to see more emphasis on analytics, and it would be great if they added machine learning. They already have analysis insights, but a comprehensive analytical feature that's already incorporated into the solution would be very helpful."
"​Overall testing and quality need improvement. It is fairly buggy at times, so it feels like it could use additional staff on the product, testing and trying it out."
"It needs an integration with Optum."
"I would like them to support cloud services."
"If IBM Guardium Data Protection could find a way to not have a lot of coding and development required to get the solution up and running it would be an advantage. The information of the agent could improve, which is necessary for us to monitor the databases would be a great benefit."
"Guardium Data Protection is far better in terms of external integration. But in terms of firewall features, like when you're blocking activities, it's as if Oracle AVDF simply has superior features. This is just from third-party observations, but the users of Oracle AVDF are saying that when it comes to the firewall and protection functionality, they're much more inclined to AVDF."
"The solution should allow the data to shift to a centralized repository with elastic servers and big data infrastructure"
"We have had some issues with patches breaking things unexpectedly in our environments."
More IBM Security Guardium Data Protection cons
"Could be more agent-led with options for simplifying implementation."
"Some feature sets could be improved, particularly alerting, reporting, and monitoring capabilities."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"I would suggest to review the type of data, need for security, and if the organizational structure needs the options IBM Guardium provides."
"We haven't talked much about pricing and licencing. But it is not cheap for sure"
"On a scale from one to ten, where one is low price, and ten is very high price, I rate the solution's pricing a nine out of ten."
"The price is good for the quality of the solution."
"The product's pricing is reasonable and affordable. It is in the moderate range."
"It is a very costly product."
"The cost depends on the number of databases. You can purchase advanced licenses, but the standard license is calculated based on the number of databases you have to onboard."
"​If you are researching this type of solution, work with IBM."
More IBM Security Guardium Data Protection pricing and cost advice
Information not available
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Answers from the Community

CR
Jul 7, 2020
Jul 7, 2020
IBM Guardium Data Protection vs. Vormetric Application Crypto Suite for a tech services company
I have been working with Guardium for 5 years, but I had not heard of Vormetric. So, I will not be able to help. Something I can report is from the IBM website: " IBM Security Guardium Data Encryption runs on a variety of Microsoft Windows, UNIX, and Linux platforms. It requires prerequisite software available from Vormetric, Inc. Visit the Vormetric website for information. For additional inf...
See 2 answers
ET
Jul 7, 2020
IBM is reselling Vormetric. IBM Guardium Data Protection includes Vormetric as part of the Data Protection Family.
Read full answer
SM
Jul 7, 2020
I have been working with Guardium for 5 years, but I had not heard of Vormetric. So, I will not be able to help. Something I can report is from the IBM website: " IBM Security Guardium Data Encryption runs on a variety of Microsoft Windows, UNIX, and Linux platforms. It requires prerequisite software available from Vormetric, Inc. Visit the Vormetric website for information. For additional information, refer to the Software requirements section. Vormetric is not affiliated or associated with IBM. Vormetric software products and licenses are subject to change in accordance with the policies and procedures of Vormetric. " Source: https://www-01.ibm.com/common/ssi/ShowDoc.wss?docURL=/common/ssi/rep_ca/2/897/ENUS216-412/index.html&request_locale=en
Read full answer
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
29%
Computer Software Company
9%
Insurance Company
6%
Manufacturing Company
6%
No data available
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
 

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...
See all answers
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
What needs improvement with Vormetric Application Crypto Suite?
Some feature sets could be improved, particularly alerting, reporting, and monitoring capabilities.
See all answers
What is your primary use case for Vormetric Application Crypto Suite?
I use the system to encrypt sensitive data or crown jewel data stored in various places within organizations. For example, we can encrypt databases with it. We store and manage the encryption keys ...
See all answers
What advice do you have for others considering Vormetric Application Crypto Suite?
I rate Vormetric Application Crypto Suite an eight out of ten.
See all answers
 

Comparisons

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Compared 5% of the time
IBM InfoSphere Optim Data Privacy vs IBM Security Guardium Data Protection Logo
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Compared 4% of the time
Informatica Secure@Source vs IBM Security Guardium Data Protection Logo
Informatica Secure@Source vs IBM Security Guardium Data Protection
Compared 1% of the time
More IBM Security Guardium Data Protection Competitors
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Compared 55% of the time
More Vormetric Application Crypto Suite Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
IBM Security Guardium Data Protection
July 2025
IBM Security Guardium Data Protection reportDownload IBM Security Guardium Data Protection product report
Buyer's Guide
Data Masking
July 2025
Vormetric Application Crypto Suite reportDownload Vormetric Application Crypto Suite 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

At the core of the Vormetric Application Crypto Suite from Thales is a set of products that streamline development efforts to add encryption, tokenization, masking and other cryptographic functions to applications. The job of the developer is made easy and fast by leveraging sample code and APIs that are best for their environment, while key management functions are kept separate and secure in a FIPS 140-2 hardware or virtual appliance that is operated by IT or SecOps. Securing data at the application, with separation of duties for key management, provides the highest levels of protection and compliance.

The Vormetric Application Crypto Suite also includes applications and utilities that leverage the core components to add security layers to databases and other structured data stores.

Thales Cloud Security
 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
BD, Delta Dental, CMI
Buyer's Guide
Database Security
July 2025
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