Side-by-side coverage of 17 vendors — CrowdStrike, SentinelOne, Microsoft Defender, Sophos, ESET, Bitdefender, Wazuh, Vanta, Drata, Wiz, Snyk, Acronis, Shielda and more — across NIS2, SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI DSS, DORA, CMMC, GDPR and CIS Controls. Public prices or custom quotes in USD, evidence quality, remediation workflow and the gaps no sales deck shows.
Security Stack Compare is a buyer guide for non-technical decision makers — founders, CFOs, COOs, office managers — who need to pick cybersecurity software but don't speak in acronyms.
We cover every major framework — NIS2, SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI DSS, DORA, CMMC, GDPR, NIST CSF, CIS Controls, FedRAMP — and tell you in one sentence what each one actually requires, who it applies to, and which tools cover it.
Start with evidence automation, access reviews and a clean remediation queue.
Keep Defender/M365 for baseline controls and add cross-tool evidence where audits need proof.
Map incident handling, supplier risk, continuity and reporting into one operational view.
Use a pragmatic baseline: Microsoft or OSS endpoint coverage, backup proof and a short list of fixes.
Start with an endpoint baseline, evidence automation, vulnerability management, backup proof and supplier risk. The quiet win is a workflow that turns existing tool signals into proof and owned fixes.
Look for supplier risk, incident handling, continuity, vulnerability and reporting evidence. The NIS2 matrix maps these requirements row by row.
Those tools are strong endpoint platforms. For compliance, compare how their findings become audit evidence, access reviews and remediation records.
Vanta and Drata are mature GRC tools. SMBs that need lighter evidence plus operational remediation may prefer a leaner layer before buying enterprise GRC.
We rebuild the requirements table for whichever standard you click. Tools are scored row by row, honestly.
NIS2 is about risk management, incident handling, business continuity, supply-chain security, vulnerability management, access control, logging, evidence and management accountability. Buying endpoint protection alone is not enough.
Each requirement of the chosen framework, scored against each tool. Coverage is editorial — based on public documentation, vendor demos and user reports.
| Requirement | 🇨🇭 Workload quote | 🇺🇸 from $59.99 / device / year | 🇺🇸 from $3 / user / month | 🇵🇱 $200 / month | 🇬🇧 Quote | 🇺🇸 Personalized quote | Editor's note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Risk management framework A documented, ongoing risk register tied to assets and owners. | Not included | Partial | Partial | Implemented | Partial | Strong | ›Built-in risk register mapped to NIS2 articles, refreshed from live signals. |
Incident handling & 24h notification Detect, classify, escalate and report within NIS2 windows. | Not included | Strong | Partial | Implemented | Strong | Partial | ›Pre-built CSIRT-ready incident workflow with timer and evidence trail. |
Supply-chain / supplier security Vendor register, due diligence and contract clauses. | Not included | Not included | Not included | Implemented | Not included | Strong | ›Supplier register + contract gap analysis included — Vanta charges separately. |
Vulnerability handling & patching Discover, prioritize and prove patches landed. | Partial | Strong | Implemented | Implemented | Implemented | Partial | ›Cross-tool prioritization; closes the find-vs-fix loop with SLA tracking. |
Business continuity & backups Tested restores, RTO/RPO evidence. | Strong | Not included | Not included | Via integration | Partial | Partial | ›Pulls Acronis/native backup proofs into a single audit pack. |
Access control & MFA MFA enforced, quarterly reviews, joiner/leaver trail. | Partial | Implemented | Strong | Via integration | Partial | Strong | ›Continuously verifies MFA across Entra, Okta, Google in one report. |
Logging, monitoring & detection Centralized telemetry with retention and review evidence. | Partial | Strong | Strong | Via integration | Implemented | Partial | ›Aggregates EDR/SIEM telemetry into NIS2-mapped dashboards. |
Management accountability & reporting Board-ready reports proving the program runs. | Partial | Implemented | Partial | Implemented | Partial | Implemented | ›One-click executive report mapped to NIS2 management duties. |
Methodology: public docs, vendor demos, practitioner interviews. Verify with each vendor before purchase.
All capabilities, side by side. Sticky first column. Honest gaps.
| Tool / Suite | HQ | Price (USD) | Verified | Endpoint | MDR | Vuln Mgmt | Cloud / SaaS | Code / AppSec | Backup | Identity | Supplier Risk | Contract Gaps | Evidence Pack | Remediation | Exec Reports | BYOK | Editor's verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Teams that fear downtime and ransomware recovery as much as the initial attack best fit | 🇨🇭Switzerland | Quote or workload-based pricing Acronis licensing can be per-workload or per-GB through service-provider and partner models; compare protected workloads and storage. | 2026-05-19 | Implemented | Add-on | Partial | Partial | Not included | Strong | Partial | Not included | Not included | Partial | Partial | Partial | Partial | A strong recovery and resilience foundation. Add governance and evidence workflows so restore capability becomes audit-ready proof. gap › Great resilience component, but not a full security/compliance operating layer |
Cost-conscious SMBs that want strong malware prevention quickly without a complex security platform rollout best fit | 🇷🇴Romania / EU | Online cart by device count Cart pricing depends on selected package, device count, term, discounts and region; over 100 devices can move to sales. | 2026-05-19 | Strong | Add-on | Partial | Partial | Not included | Not included | Partial | Not included | Not included | Partial | Partial | Partial | Partial | Good value for endpoint protection. Pair it with a workflow layer when the buyer needs proof, not just prevention. gap › Strong protection value, but compliance evidence and remediation ownership remain scattered |
Teams where endpoint breach risk is a board-level worry and budget exists for premium EDR/MDR | 🇺🇸USA | from $59.99 / device / year Public entry price is Falcon Go; larger device counts, Pro/Enterprise tiers and MDR change the bill. | 2026-05-19 | Strong | Strong | Implemented | Implemented | Not included | Not included | Implemented | Not included | Not included | Partial | Partial | Implemented | Partial | Best for endpoint-heavy risk and mature budgets. Pair it with evidence and ownership workflows when audits or board reporting matter. gap › Premium endpoint depth, but not a full compliance, supplier-risk or SMB operating layer |
Teams that want polished continuous compliance and a cleaner audit room across multiple frameworks | 🇺🇸USA | Personalized quote Drata packages are quote-led; confirm FTE limits, frameworks, Trust Center, add-ons and renewal assumptions. | 2026-05-19 | Not included | Not included | Partial | Partial | Partial | Partial | Implemented | Implemented | Partial | Strong | Partial | Implemented | Partial | Strong for mature compliance operations. Pair with technical remediation workflows when the work needs to move beyond audit evidence. gap › Compliance workflow is strong, but technical remediation still depends on connected tools and owners |
EU-based SMBs that want dependable endpoint protection with a familiar, low-drama buying motion best fit | 🇸🇰Slovakia / EU | Online cart by device count Online cart changes with device count, term and region; first-term discounts may not equal renewal cost. | 2026-05-19 | Strong | Add-on | Partial | Partial | Not included | Not included | Partial | Not included | Not included | Partial | Partial | Partial | Partial | A trusted endpoint choice, especially for EU buyers. Best as a baseline, not the whole operating system for compliance. gap › Endpoint protection is the center; broad compliance operations and proof still need another layer |
Companies that want to squeeze more security from the productivity suite they already run every day | 🇺🇸USA | Included in paid suites Controls are bundled into Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 plans, so the useful price is the suite you actually own. | Partial | Not included | Partial | Partial | Not included | Partial | Implemented | Not included | Not included | Partial | Partial | Partial | Partial | Use it first because you already own it. Then add structure so settings become controls, evidence and accountable work. gap › Useful baseline controls, but not a complete security program or evidence workflow | |
Microsoft-first SMBs that want a credible endpoint, identity and email baseline from tools they may already own | 🇺🇸USA | from $3 / user / month, paid yearly Published SMB price is paid yearly and limited to the business plan scope; check user caps, device coverage and taxes. | 2026-05-19 | Strong | Add-on | Implemented | Partial | Not included | Not included | Strong | Not included | Not included | Partial | Partial | Partial | Partial | Best when you already live in Microsoft and need a low-friction baseline. Less ideal when the buying problem is independent compliance evidence across many tools. gap › Great inside Microsoft, weaker for cross-tool evidence, supplier risk and audit workflow |
Large organizations that need privacy, GRC and governance workflows across many teams and regions | 🇺🇸USA / UK | Custom quote (usage-based) OneTrust uses value-based usage meters; compare admin users, inventory size, visitors, profiles and data volume before comparing totals. | 2026-05-19 | Not included | Not included | Not included | Not included | Not included | Not included | Partial | Implemented | Implemented | Implemented | Partial | Implemented | Partial | Best for enterprise GRC and privacy operations. Usually too heavy when the buyer simply needs security working quickly. gap › Enterprise governance depth, but heavy for SMB security setup and not a technical protection stack |
Engineering teams that want customizable code scanning and are willing to tune rules around how they build | 🇺🇸USA | Free; Teams from $30 / contributor / month Teams pricing is per contributor and product line; Code, Supply Chain and Secrets have different price points and limits. | 2026-05-19 | Not included | Not included | Partial | Not included | Strong | Not included | Not included | Not included | Not included | Partial | Partial | Partial | Partial | Excellent for focused SAST and developer workflows. Not a substitute for wider security operations or compliance evidence. gap › Narrow code-security scope; value depends on rule quality and engineering ownership |
Security teams that want strong endpoint response and automation without hand-tuning every incident | 🇺🇸USA | from $69.99 / endpoint / year Published entry price is Singularity Core; higher tiers, MDR and enterprise packaging can move to custom pricing. | 2026-05-19 | Strong | Add-on | Implemented | Implemented | Not included | Not included | Implemented | Not included | Not included | Partial | Partial | Implemented | Partial | A strong pick for autonomous endpoint response. Add a compliance workflow if the business also needs proof, owners and audit-ready records. gap › Strong autonomous endpoint response, weaker as a broad compliance and evidence operating layer |
SMBs that want security switched on quickly: all-in-one tools, evidence, tasks and engineer-like guidance without hiring a security team first best fit | 🇵🇱Poland / EU | $200 / month — flat offer, verify terms Flat commercial offer, but not independently verifiable on a public pricing page; confirm current terms directly. | 2026-05-19 | Partial | Partner | Implemented | Implemented | Implemented | Via integration | Via integration | Implemented | Implemented | Implemented | Implemented | Implemented | Implemented | Best fit for SMBs that want a security stack and engineer-like workflow switched on quickly; enterprises with deep budgets may prefer specialist best-of-breed tools. gap › Specialist endpoint, cloud, AppSec or backup tools can go deeper; large teams with budget and security engineers may prefer best-of-breed |
Developer-led teams that want security to show up inside code, dependencies and CI before release | 🇺🇸USA / UK | Free; Team from $25 / contributing dev / month Team price is per contributing developer, with minimum contributors and products purchased separately. | 2026-05-19 | Not included | Not included | Implemented | Partial | Strong | Not included | Not included | Not included | Not included | Partial | Partial | Partial | Partial | Great for developer adoption. Needs a broader workflow when AppSec findings must become business-level evidence and remediation. gap › Excellent AppSec signal, but little help for endpoint, suppliers, backup or broad compliance operations |
SMBs that want endpoint, firewall and MDR help from one practical vendor rather than stitching everything alone | 🇬🇧UK | Custom quote Sophos routes Endpoint and MDR through a quote flow; ask for users, servers, MDR scope, onboarding and renewal terms. | 2026-05-19 | Strong | Strong | Implemented | Partial | Not included | Not included | Partial | Not included | Not included | Partial | Partial | Implemented | Partial | A good pragmatic security bundle for SMBs. Add evidence and governance workflows when the buyer problem moves from protection to proof. gap › Good protection bundle, but evidence depth, supplier risk and governance still need a broader workflow |
Small companies that want a human partner to run day-to-day IT and basic security without hiring internally | 🌍Local | Varies by provider MSP pricing is only meaningful with a tool list, runbook, response SLA, reporting sample and evidence sample. | 2026-05-19 | Implemented | Partial | Partial | Partial | Not included | Partial | Partial | Not included | Not included | Partial | Partial | Partial | Partial | Good when the provider is disciplined and transparent. Ask for evidence, ownership and reporting, not just reassurance. gap › Quality varies by provider; evidence, documentation and accountability can be inconsistent |
Startups and growing companies that need SOC 2 or ISO evidence to look organized quickly | 🇺🇸USA | Personalized quote Vanta now uses personalized pricing; confirm frameworks, employee count, integrations, add-ons and renewal terms. | 2026-05-19 | Not included | Not included | Partial | Partial | Partial | Partial | Implemented | Implemented | Partial | Strong | Partial | Implemented | Partial | Great when the deadline is an audit and the buyer wants order fast. Less ideal when the main need is day-to-day security engineering. gap › Strong audit workflow, weaker for hands-on technical remediation and security operations |
Technical teams that want open-source visibility and are willing to own the engineering work | 🌐USA / OSS | Free self-hosted; Cloud from $571 / month License can be free when self-hosted, but hosting, tuning, triage, reporting and ownership are real operational costs. | 2026-05-19 | Implemented | Not included | Implemented | Partial | Not included | Not included | Partial | Not included | Not included | Partial | Not included | Partial | Implemented | Great for technical teams that value control. Risky for SMBs that need easy setup and clear outcomes more than raw telemetry. gap › Free software, but not free operations; workflow, reporting and remediation are buyer-owned |
Cloud-heavy companies that need deep cloud risk visibility and have budget for a serious CNAPP | 🇺🇸USA / Israel | Custom quote Wiz pricing is modular and quote-led; workloads, developers, log ingestion, sensors and SMB bundles can all change scope. | 2026-05-19 | Not included | Not included | Implemented | Strong | Partial | Not included | Implemented | Not included | Not included | Partial | Partial | Implemented | Partial | Best-in-class for cloud risk. Overkill if the buyer mostly needs simple setup, endpoint basics and compliance evidence. gap › Excellent cloud depth, but expensive and not an all-in-one SMB security workflow |
Shielda is for the team that wants security working this week: one-button setup, fixed price, connected evidence, tasks, suppliers, reports and an engineer-like workflow in one place. It is not just a scanner. It helps decide what matters, who owns it, and what proof you can show. The honest trade-off: a dedicated EDR, CNAPP, SAST or backup tool may go deeper in its own lane. That is fine. Shielda is strongest when an SMB needs broad security coverage, quick activation and a cheaper path before hiring a full security team.
For large companies with security engineers and bigger budgets, a best-of-breed stack may be the smarter choice. For an SMB without that team, the practical question is different: can we turn on a full security operating layer, understand the next fixes, and show evidence without weeks of setup? That is the job Shielda is built around.
| Requirement | Why it matters | Evidence | Tools that help | Common miss | Evidence layer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asset inventory | You can't protect what you don't know. | Live asset list with owner. | Wazuh, Defender, MDM | Cloud + SaaS + endpoint reconciled. | Implemented |
| Vulnerability management | Unpatched vulns are the top breach vector. | Scan reports + remediation tickets. | CrowdStrike, Wiz, Snyk | Cross-tool prioritization. | Implemented |
| Patch and remediation tracking | Find ≠ fix. | Closed tickets with owner + date. | Jira, ITSM | Owners and SLA enforcement. | Implemented |
| Endpoint protection | Endpoints remain a top entry point. | EDR coverage and detections. | CrowdStrike, SentinelOne, Defender, ESET, Bitdefender | Coverage gaps on contractors. | Partial |
| Identity and access review | Stale access is a common audit finding. | Quarterly access review records. | Entra, Okta | Reviews for SaaS sprawl. | Via integration |
| MFA evidence | MFA is universally expected. | MFA enrollment + enforcement reports. | Entra, Okta, Google | Coverage for admin and break-glass. | Via integration |
| Email/domain security | Phishing remains #1. | SPF/DKIM/DMARC + filtering reports. | Defender, Google | DMARC enforcement. | Via integration |
| Cloud / SaaS posture | Misconfigs cause most cloud breaches. | CSPM reports + remediation. | Wiz, native CSPM | SaaS coverage beyond cloud. | Implemented |
| Code and dependency security | Vulnerable libs ship to prod. | SCA/SAST reports tied to fixes. | Snyk, Semgrep | Triage discipline. | Implemented |
| Backup and recovery testing | Backups that never restore are not backups. | Restore test reports. | Acronis, native cloud backup | Documented restore proofs. | Via integration |
| Incident response workflow | Speed and clarity reduce damage. | Playbooks + drill reports. | MDR providers | Tabletop exercises evidence. | Implemented |
| Logging and monitoring | Detection requires telemetry. | Log retention + review records. | Wazuh, SIEMs | Review documentation. | Via integration |
| Supplier / vendor risk | Your vendors are your attack surface. | Vendor register + due diligence. | OneTrust, Vanta, Drata | Continuous re-review. | Implemented |
| Contract / SLA evidence | Required by NIS2 / DORA. | Contract clauses mapped to controls. | Legal + GRC | Gap analysis at scale. | Implemented |
| Security awareness evidence | People are the perimeter. | Training completion + phishing tests. | KnowBe4, Hoxhunt | Evidence centralization. | Via integration |
| Executive / board reporting | Mandated by NIS2 / DORA / NYDFS. | Board minutes + dashboards. | GRC platforms | Translating tech to business risk. | Implemented |
| Audit-ready evidence pack | Audits live or die on evidence. | Standard-mapped evidence repository. | Vanta, Drata | Mapping to multiple standards. | Implemented |
Scores are directional, not a trophy table. The useful question is which weakness would create the most expensive surprise for your team.