Agentless vs agent-based cloud security: which approach do you need?
Cloud Security Compare editors · Matchups reviewed September 2026 · Editorial assessment
The short version
Most teams need both. Agentless scanning gives the fastest, widest coverage with nothing installed on workloads; agents, now usually eBPF sensors, are what detect and block attacks inside running workloads. Every platform in our matrix offers both, so the practical question is which one a vendor's design centers on.
What is the difference between agentless and agent-based?
| Aspect | Agentless | Agent-based (sensor) |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Reads cloud APIs and workload storage snapshots from outside the workload | Runs on the host or node and observes processes, files and network in real time |
| Time to coverage | One connection per account; new assets are picked up as they appear | Rollout per host, cluster or image |
| What it sees | Vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, secrets, identities, data at rest | Running processes, in-memory threats, live network flows |
| Can it block an attack? | No | Yes, where the sensor supports prevention |
| Cost to the workload | None | Small, varies by sensor |
| Blind spots | Activity between scans; in-memory attacks | Hosts without the agent; managed services that cannot run one |
Where does each vendor's design center?
| Vendor | Design centers on (our reading) | Agentless score | Runtime score | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wiz | Agentless, with an added sensor | 4.8 | 4.2 | Wiz alternatives |
| Orca Security | Agentless, with an added sensor | 4.9 | 3.8 | Orca alternatives |
| Palo Alto Networks Cortex Cloud (formerly Prisma Cloud) | Runtime agent and posture (Prisma Cloud merged with Cortex CDR) | 3.8 | 4.6 | Prisma Cloud alternatives |
| Microsoft Defender for Cloud | Posture plus Defender for Endpoint | 3.7 | 4.0 | Microsoft Defender alternatives |
| Upwind | Runtime sensor, with agentless scanning | 4.0 | 4.7 | Upwind alternatives |
| CrowdStrike Falcon Cloud Security | Falcon sensor, with agentless CSPM | 3.6 | 4.8 | CrowdStrike alternatives |
| SentinelOne Singularity Cloud | Agentless CNAPP plus workload agent | 3.9 | 4.5 | SentinelOne alternatives |
| Sysdig Secure | Runtime agent built on Falco | 3.5 | 4.8 | Sysdig alternatives |
| Aqua Security | Container pipeline and runtime enforcement | 3.4 | 4.5 | Aqua alternatives |
The trade shows in the scores. The two agentless-first platforms, Orca (4.9) and Wiz (4.8), lead agentless coverage and score 3.8 and 4.2 on runtime. The sensor-first platforms, CrowdStrike and Sysdig (4.8 each) and Upwind (4.7), lead runtime and score 3.5 to 4.0 on agentless coverage.
When is agentless enough?
- Posture, vulnerability and compliance programs where the output is a prioritized fix list.
- Large, fast-changing estates where installing and maintaining agents is the bottleneck.
- Serverless functions and managed services that cannot run an agent.
When do you need an agent?
- You need to stop an attack in progress, not only find the weakness that allowed it.
- Your threat model includes in-memory malware or container escape.
- Your SOC needs process-level forensics for cloud incidents.
How should you test both in a proof of concept?
- Connect agentless scanning to every account on day one and record the time to a full inventory.
- Deploy the sensor to one representative cluster and one VM group; record install effort and resource use.
- Run a benign attack simulation on the sensor-covered workloads and check whether it is detected, blocked and explained.
- Compare how each platform uses runtime data to down-rank vulnerabilities in packages that never load.
Frequently asked questions
Is agentless cloud security less secure?
No, it covers a different part of the problem. Agentless scanning finds weaknesses across the whole estate quickly; a sensor detects and stops attacks inside the workloads it runs on.
Which CNAPP has the best agentless coverage?
Orca Security scores highest in our matrix (4.9), just ahead of Wiz (4.8).
Which CNAPP has the best runtime protection?
CrowdStrike and Sysdig tie at 4.8, with Upwind at 4.7.