Lacework (now FortiCNAPP) vs Alation
Detailed side-by-side comparison to help you choose the right tool
Lacework (now FortiCNAPP)
Data Analysis
AI-powered cloud-native application protection platform providing behavioral threat detection, compliance monitoring, and vulnerability management across multi-cloud environments
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Starting Price
$50,000/yearAlation
Data Analysis
Agentic data intelligence platform that helps teams find, govern, and trust data for reliable AI and analytics.
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Starting Price
CustomFeature Comparison
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Lacework (now FortiCNAPP) - Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓Polygraph behavioral engine automatically baselines normal activity and surfaces anomalies without requiring teams to write and maintain detection rules, dramatically reducing tuning overhead
- ✓Unified CNAPP consolidates CSPM, CWPP, CIEM, Kubernetes security, and vulnerability management into a single platform, replacing multiple point tools and their separate licenses
- ✓Agentless cloud scanning provides rapid time-to-value across AWS, Azure, and GCP accounts, with deeper eBPF agent-based runtime protection available for critical workloads
- ✓Strong attack path analysis correlates vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and identity risks to prioritize the handful of exposures that actually create exploitable chains
- ✓Post-acquisition integration with the Fortinet Security Fabric enables unified visibility between cloud workload telemetry and network/endpoint security data
- ✓Continuous compliance automation with prebuilt policy packs for PCI DSS, HIPAA, SOC 2, NIST, and CIS saves significant audit preparation effort
Cons
- ✗Enterprise-only pricing with no published tiers or self-serve options makes it inaccessible for smaller teams and creates friction for evaluation
- ✗Brand transition from Lacework to FortiCNAPP has created documentation inconsistencies, confusion about product roadmap, and uncertainty for existing customers during integration
- ✗Initial deployment and onboarding across multi-cloud environments can be complex, particularly when tuning Polygraph baselines for noisy or highly dynamic workloads
- ✗Alert quality improves substantially after several weeks of behavioral learning, meaning early-stage detection can produce false positives before baselines stabilize
- ✗UI and query experience, while improved, still lags behind more recent CNAPP entrants like Wiz in terms of intuitive navigation and graph exploration
Alation - Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓Named a 5x Leader in the 2025 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Metadata Management Solutions, validating enterprise credibility
- ✓120+ pre-built connectors to data warehouses, BI tools, and cloud platforms reduce integration effort
- ✓Agentic workflows automate documentation, stewardship, and policy enforcement — reducing manual data governance overhead
- ✓Forrester praised intuitive UX and superior collaboration features that drive adoption across both business and technical teams
- ✓New query feature reported to deliver a 30% accuracy boost, turning data catalogs into active problem solvers
- ✓Strong industry-specific solutions for regulated sectors including financial services, healthcare, insurance, and public sector
Cons
- ✗Enterprise-only pricing with no public tiers, free trial, or self-serve option — not viable for small teams or individual users
- ✗Steep learning curve and significant implementation effort typical of enterprise data catalog platforms
- ✗Requires dedicated data stewards and governance program to realize full value
- ✗Customization and connector configuration may require professional services or partner involvement
- ✗Heavyweight platform may be overkill for teams with simpler metadata or single-warehouse needs
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