Forcepoint CASB vs Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps comparison

Forcepoint and Microsoft are both solutions in the Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASB) category. Forcepoint is ranked #15 with an average rating of 6.7, while Microsoft is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.5. Forcepoint holds a 1.5% mindshare in CASB, compared to Microsoft’s 6.9% mindshare. Additionally, 66% of Forcepoint users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Microsoft users who would recommend it.

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Nov 7, 2024

Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps and Forcepoint CASB are security solutions in the cloud application security category. Microsoft Defender shows strength in integration within the Microsoft ecosystem, while Forcepoint offers superior visibility and control features.

Features: Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps excels in integration with Microsoft products, providing strong threat detection and identity posture management. It offers seamless control over cloud applications and integrates with third-party solutions. Forcepoint CASB is known for ease of management and strong data protection, offering detailed user activity visibility and integration with Forcepoint DLP solutions.

Room for Improvement: Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps could enhance integration with non-Microsoft ecosystems, improve the user interface, and quicken policy application. Users also express a need for faster technical support and streamlined reporting. Forcepoint CASB faces challenges in backend stability, integration of secure web gateways, and features for custom apps. Its support and product maturity also have room for growth.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps supports various cloud environments, making it versatile for deployments. However, customer service experiences vary, with some users reporting delays. Forcepoint CASB aligns with public cloud preferences but may struggle with on-premise system integration. Its customer service is generally good but has inconsistencies due to ownership changes.

Pricing and ROI: Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps often comes bundled with Microsoft 365 licenses, offering cost-effectiveness for existing users but considered costly standalone. It provides ROI through enhanced security posture and reduced downtime. Forcepoint CASB has competitive pricing with reasonable licensing costs, perceived as valuable for medium enterprises despite expense in large deployments. It delivers ROI with threat containment and efficiency improvements.

To learn more, read our detailed Forcepoint CASB vs. Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps Report (Updated: December 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Forcepoint CASB vs. Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps

December 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

iboss

Mindshare comparison

As of January 2026, in the Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASB) category, the mindshare of iboss is 2.5%, up from 1.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Forcepoint CASB is 1.5%, up from 1.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps is 6.9%, down from 10.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASB) Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps	6.9%
iboss	2.5%
Forcepoint CASB	1.5%
Other	89.1%

Cloud Access Security Brokers (CASB)

Featured Reviews

reviewer2701851

Managing Director

Enhances web security with a single pane of glass and flexible deployment

I don't see any need for improvement; one of the really good things about iboss as a company is that they listen to customer feedback. I have suggested enhancements, and they are responsive, making changes for the better, and they do a lot of testing. To improve iboss, although we haven't used it, we considered the VPN solution that comes with the highest tier licensing, which includes DLP and various other add-ons. We prefer using another product which automatically logs you back onto your network when turning on your PC. With iboss, the connection is manual, which doesn't meet our needs. Additionally, sizing can be tricky because, although the initial recommendations may seem adequate, actual usage may require more gateways than anticipated.

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AlexOgbalu

Director at LiveFromSpace Limited

Improving support responsiveness has remained critical while access monitoring and compliance needs have been fully addressed

We have the enterprise licenses for the scanning of the codes, both at runtime and in development, and we also have access to Veracode's e-learning platform as well as a bundle from Veracode.All that has been mentioned is the main benefits Forcepoint CASB provides to us, and it helps us to meet compliance requirements that are necessary in our industry. It's important for enterprises considering Forcepoint to work with very good system integrators and value-added resellers because a lot of things needed go beyond just getting the licenses. You need someone skilled to do all those configurations, write all the rules, and make sure you achieve a very stable environment. I am giving this review an overall rating of eight.

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Frank Van Der Spek

Security and Continuity Manager at Rolinco NV

Deployment has been seamless with insightful data categorization and enhanced control

The features of Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps that I have found most valuable include the overall portal view, with bubble graphs which give us insight into what goes where in the categorization, nowadays with Generative AI but all kinds of categorization, collaboration, etc. That central view of the portal is very useful for us. The impact of Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps on our organization's ability to assess and manage app related risks has been significant because we have more visibility. Therefore, we can add more control, and we have already done so. This was not possible in the old solution, in the old CASB solution with Netskope. We now can see on the spot, and we do that almost weekly, what the end users are utilizing, which cloud providers or cloud apps they're using. The visibility into OAuth apps provided by Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps is very good. The visibility into risk and risk management of our organization's Generative AI apps is very nice, as you can choose the category Generative AI and then see exactly what traffic has been going to and from Generative AI in the cloud. This makes us very insightful on what is used within the company. We have some policies on blocking specific Generative AI, and we use within our company one particular AI part, which is CoPilot of Microsoft. In this way, we can see what the end users are using other than CoPilot, and that makes us more in control. The effectiveness of the integration of Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps with Defender XDR and defending against SaaS attacks is very intuitive. It works immediately if we create a new policy or in Purview or in Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps, or when we make an app unsanctioned by blocking it, then it is almost immediately, or at least within a couple of hours, effective on all the endpoints where the EDR is running. This gives us much better control over things than before.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"The console is cloud-based, which is something I really appreciate."

"I would definitely recommend iboss for web filtering purposes to other organizations or individuals."

"Our primary use case for this product is DLP,"

"The security aspect of the solution, particularly the malware behind it, is excellent. That's something that really helped us out. It's not just a simple proxy that just blocks the insights of potential threats that come on behind it. They do malware detection and that helps us a lot."

"Because of iboss, I did not have to assign web filtering tasks to my techs on a daily basis."

"Valuable features: Within the filter: Controls (Web categories, applications, and Allow/Block list) and Network (local Subnets). Within the reporter: Logs (Event Log) and Reports."

"We were impressed by the solution's mental health function, which can detect if someone needs help. It scans what users are browsing and flags warning signs so we can check to see if they are okay. We've had to use it a couple of times."

"iboss is among the few products providing inline filtering where no application is needed on the device. It operates on the network side and is not device-based. This feature was one of the main reasons why we stayed with them for so long."

More iboss pros

"The product offers several advantageous features including real-time control and monitoring capabilities, helping identify and manage various activities including shadow IT activities."

"The tool's most valuable feature is its management ease."

"The most valuable aspect for us is the fact that the product seamlessly integrates with the Forcepoint DLP."

"As it is based on AWS, it is not a problem."

"Generally, most of our customers are happy with it though."

"Forcepoint CASB ensures that access to cloud applications is properly vetted and monitored, helping us unify access across the board regardless of device or location, while advanced notifications and behavior analytics make it easy to detect unknown connections or baseline changes."

"It gives you value for your investment."

"Most of the features are valuable, primarily for the firewalls, the proxy, and Forcepoint CASB products."

More Forcepoint CASB pros

"The most valuable feature of Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps is that we are primarily using only the Defender for Cloud on the Azure Cloud."

"The product’s most valuable feature is SQL database."

"The feature that helps us in detecting the sensitive information being shared has been very useful. In addition, the feature that allows MCAS to apply policies with SharePoint, Teams, and OneDrive is being used predominantly."

"I like the alert policies because they are quite robust. It has some built-in templates that we can easily pick up. One of them is the alert for mass downloads, when a particular user is running a massive download on your SharePoint site."

"On-demand scanning is the most valuable feature. In addition, it's a fairly fluid product. It syncs back to the cloud and provides metrics. It's pretty intelligent."

"Defender for Cloud Apps has given us good visibility regarding what we've allowed in our environment until now. It helps us to know our inventory, understand what our customers are using, and steer them toward safer practices."

"It's very easy to install and it includes the Intune portal from Microsoft where I can control all the devices from one place."

"Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps is very comprehensive, providing a complete 360-degree view of applications within an organization."

More Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps pros

Cons

"To scale up, a new iboss Node Blade Chassis must be purchased."

"Sometimes, obviously, there are bugs."

"Sometimes the agent stops working in iboss, and we have to reinstall the agent."

"One thing I would like to see differently with their Zero Trust platform is that some of the AI aspects related to high-risk activities have more false positives."

"The solution could be stronger on the integration side and offer more cloud applications like G Suite or Oracle."

"I am currently doing a PoC of the zero trust aspect of it. Compared to other similar solutions, it is hard to get around each feature. It takes a while to get used to it."

"Regarding pricing, setup costs, and licensing, iboss is not cheap, and that's my only concern."

"For zero trust implementation, we encountered complexity issues, especially with a large infrastructure company ExxonMobil."

More iboss cons

"When using the Forcepoint CASB, and you are a remote worker, basically not in the office, you have to have an agent on your computer, a Forcepoint agent. However, with many other CASB solutions, they can integrate with MDM."

"Integration is an area of the solution that needs to be improved."

"Lacks different ways to authenticate users."

"Forcepoint removed the ability to scan for unsanctioned applications on the CASB."

"They should work on the possibility of consolidating all of the products with the group of agents."

"Forcepoint CASB is mature and performing its function, but it is not easy to manage and not as fully-featured as competitors."

"Forcepoint technical support in general could improve in this area."

"There are various modules to secure a public cloud, such as Cloud Security Posture Management. You might have seen these features available if you've reviewed solutions like Zscaler or Netskope. A full-fledged CASB should be manageable. However, the tool does not seem to offer complete public cloud visibility. While it provides some cloud visibility and can manage API traffic for Web 2.0, it lacks a specific module for securing public cloud environments."

More Forcepoint CASB cons

"Defender could integrate better with multi-cloud and hybrid environments. It requires some additional configuration to ingest data from non-Azure environments and integrate it with Sentinel."

"The response time could be better. It will be helpful if the alerts are even more proactive and we can see more data. Currently, the data is a little bit weak. It is not complete. I can't just see it and completely know which user or which device it is. It takes some effort and time on my part to investigate and isolate a user. It would be great if it is more user-friendly or easy for people to understand."

"An area of Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps that needs to be improved or enhanced is the reporting function. In the beginning, there was a good reporting function which gave us a sort of monthly overview report. But that has gone away."

"I would like for it to be available on Mac and for it to support all of the features of Microsoft financing products. It is really for Windows."

"Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps’s technical support services needs improvement."

"The product is very good so far, however, it would be better if it could include more up-to-date threat protection."

"I would like to see them include more features in the older licenses. There are some features that are not available, such as preventing or analyzing cloud attacks."

"Defender for Cloud apps is primarily useful for Azure apps. It has limited capabilities for applications based on other cloud platforms."

More Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The overall pricing for iboss is very competitive and transparent."

"We had the cost of purchasing a new appliance along with the implementation and licensing costs. However, the following year, the cost of just licensing was similar to what was paid the previous year for a new appliance along with the implementation and licensing costs."

"It is not expensive, and it is also not cheap. iboss is priced right in the sweet spot for the number of features it offers."

"It is probably in line with other solutions, but I do not deal with the financial side."

"We have not priced the solution recently, but they were competitive with other vendors in the past."

"It is expensive compared to one of its competitors."

"The solution is not that expensive compared to Zscaler. Netskope is between Forcepoint CASB and Zscaler in terms of cost. Forcepoint CASB would be the first choice because it negotiates well and offers a perpetual license, though it may seem subscription-based. I rate its pricing a six out of ten."

"The pricing really depends on the size of the customer's business because it is price-relevant to the environment."

"We utilize the Microsoft E5 licensing, which encompasses the entire Microsoft suite; however, it is costly."

"It has fair pricing. You pay for what you get. As far as I know, there are no costs in addition to the standard licensing fee."

"It is a little bit expensive. When you want to have the complete package with Office 365, Defender, and everything else, it is expensive."

"I'm not totally involved in the pricing part, but I think its pricing is quite aggressive, and its price is quite similar to Netskope. Netskope has separate licensing fees or additional charges if you want to monitor certain SaaS services, whereas, with MCAS, you get 5,000 applications with their Office 365. It is all bundled, and there's no cost for using that. You only have the operational costs. In the country I am in, it is a bit difficult to get people with the required skill sets."

"We have an educational licensing agreement. It's a customer agreement for multiple years."

"This product is not expensive."

"The pricing is fair."

"The product's pricing seems fair."

More Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

No data available

Manufacturing Company

15%

Comms Service Provider

10%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Computer Software Company

10%

Financial Services Firm

11%

Computer Software Company

11%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	6
Midsize Enterprise	6
Large Enterprise	5

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	6
Midsize Enterprise	2
Large Enterprise	3

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	15
Midsize Enterprise	10
Large Enterprise	19

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with iboss?

For zero trust implementation, we encountered complexity issues, especially with a large infrastructure company Exxon...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for iboss?

Previously when I used iboss, we did the POC for iboss for ExxonMobil. Four or five people wanted to move from our ol...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for iboss?

Regarding pricing, setup costs, and licensing, iboss is not cheap, and that's my only concern. There are cheaper alte...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Forcepoint CASB?

I would put the pricing of Forcepoint CASB at a five, closer to a four. I don't think it's very expensive, but it's a...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Forcepoint CASB?

From a functionality perspective, I don't have any recommendations, but in terms of support, the speed of support is ...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Forcepoint CASB?

Forcepoint CASB ensures that access to cloud applications is properly vetted and monitored. We have a lot of remote a...

See all answers

Which is the better security solution - Cisco Umbrella or Microsoft Cloud App Security?

Cisco Umbrella is an integral component of the Cisco SASE architecture. It integrates security in a single, cloud-nat...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft Cloud App Security?

At the time of implementation, when the size of our organization was small, it was a more affordable product. Since a...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Microsoft Cloud App Security?

The fidelity of the signal in Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps has been a challenge in some areas. There have been i...

See all answers

Comparisons

Netskope vs iboss

Compared 13% of the time

Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks vs iboss

Compared 10% of the time

Cisco Umbrella vs iboss

Compared 9% of the time

Zscaler Internet Access vs iboss

Compared 9% of the time

FortiSASE vs iboss

Compared 7% of the time

More iboss Competitors

Netskope vs Forcepoint CASB

Compared 18% of the time

Zscaler Internet Access vs Forcepoint CASB

Compared 14% of the time

Skyhigh Security vs Forcepoint CASB

Compared 11% of the time

Proofpoint Cloud App Security Broker vs Forcepoint CASB

Compared 8% of the time

Cisco Umbrella vs Forcepoint CASB

Compared 4% of the time

More Forcepoint CASB Competitors

Zscaler Internet Access vs Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps

Compared 14% of the time

Cisco Umbrella vs Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps

Compared 14% of the time

Netskope vs Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps

Compared 10% of the time

Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks vs Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps

Compared 7% of the time

Skyhigh Security vs Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps

Compared 5% of the time

More Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

iboss

January 2026

Download iboss product report

Buyer's Guide

Forcepoint CASB

January 2026

Download Forcepoint CASB product report

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps

January 2026

Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps report

Download Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps product report

Also Known As

iBoss Cloud Platform

Imperva Skyfence

MS Cloud App Security, Microsoft Cloud App Security

Overview

Iboss offers a comprehensive cloud-based security platform valued for its scalability and autonomous features, ensuring robust security with easy deployment and management capabilities.

Renowned for its robust security architecture, Iboss integrates seamlessly within diverse networks, delivering efficient granular filtering and advanced content categorization. Its single pane of glass console provides ease of management, allowing rapid scalability suitable for rapidly deploying environments. Operates in BYOD setups due to inline filtering without device installation. Integration with cloud-based applications enhances user control, and features like SASE, SSL inspection, and ChatGPT risk protection stand as highlights. Despite its strengths, users have pointed out areas for enhancement like direct navigation in reports, SSL decryption, and better cloud integration while having room to improve data loss prevention.

What are the most important features of Iboss?

Scalability: Supports rapid deployment across diverse networks.
SASE: A consolidated approach to secure access.
SSL Inspection: Ensures safe data transmission.
Granular Filtering: Detailed control over accessible content.
Single Pane Management: Unifies control through a centralized console.

What benefits should users consider in reviews?

Cost-effectiveness: Offers competitive pricing with robust features.
Autonomous Operation: Reduces management overhead.
Responsive Support: Provides assistance when needed.
Flexible Deployment: Available for both cloud and on-premises environments.

The usage of Iboss spans educational institutions, specifically K-12, to enforce internet policies, protect data, and support remote work environments. It provides web filtering and security frameworks to ensure safe browsing. Its platform-as-a-service model offers flexibility for both cloud-based and on-premises requirements, integrating seamlessly to deliver enhanced security features suitable for various deployment needs including zero trust, CASB, and network security for work-from-home setups.

iboss

Forcepoint CASB (Cloud Access Security Broker) is a security solution which is designed to secure and monitor the use of cloud services within an organization. It helps organizations gain visibility and control over the cloud applications and services being used by their employees. Forcepoint CASB integrates with cloud service providers' APIs and employs various techniques such as traffic analysis, proxying, and API-based controls to provide security and visibility into cloud application usage. It can be deployed as a standalone solution or integrated with other security technologies within an organization's existing infrastructure.

Forcepoint CASB Features:

Cloud Application Visibility: CASB helps organizations discover and gain insights into the cloud applications and services being used across their network.
Data Loss Prevention (DLP): It enables organizations to enforce data protection policies and prevent sensitive information from being leaked or exposed in cloud applications.
User Behavior Monitoring: CASB monitors user activities and behavior within cloud services, allowing organizations to detect and respond to potential insider threats or anomalous behavior.
Compliance and Governance: It helps organizations enforce regulatory compliance requirements and maintain control over data stored and processed in the cloud.
Threat Protection: CASB offers protection against cloud-specific threats such as account hijacking, unauthorized access, malware, and data breaches.
Access Control and Encryption: It provides capabilities to control user access to cloud applications and data, as well as encryption options for securing sensitive information.

Forcepoint CASB Benefits:

Cloud Visibility: Provides a clear view of cloud applications and services used within the network.
Data Protection: Enforces policies to prevent data leakage and ensures compliance with regulations.
Insider Threat Detection: Monitors user behavior to identify potential insider threats or malicious activities.
Compliance and Governance: Helps meet regulatory requirements and maintain control over cloud data.
Threat Protection: Detects and prevents cloud-specific threats like account compromise and data breaches.
Access Control and Encryption: Implements strong access controls and encryption for secure cloud access.
Shadow IT Discovery: Identifies unauthorized cloud applications for risk assessment and control.
Integration and Orchestration: Integrates with existing security technologies for enhanced visibility and response.

Reviews from Real Users

Edwin Eze Osiago, Regional Solutions Manager (Sub-Sahara Africa) at InfodataReliable, says that Forcepoint CASB is "Easy to set up and offers good visibility".

PeerSpot user, Professional Services Coordinator at a tech vendor, writes that Forcepoint CASB "Needs better backend code, requires stronger technical support, and the initial setup should be easier" and also adds that "The most valuable aspect for us is the fact that the product seamlessly integrates with the Forcepoint DLP".

Mahendra Bedre, Lead at Infrastructure Solutions ALM, says that Forcepoint CASB's "Macro integration and IDs for credentials are great features; It is easy to use with a good layout".

Forcepoint

Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps is a comprehensive security solution that provides protection for cloud-based applications and services. It offers real-time threat detection and response, as well as advanced analytics and reporting capabilities. With Defender for Cloud Apps, organizations can ensure the security of their cloud environments and safeguard against cyber threats. Whether you're running SaaS applications, IaaS workloads, or PaaS services, Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps can help you secure your cloud environment and protect your business from cyber threats.

Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps Benefits:

Provides comprehensive security for cloud applications
Integrates with other Microsoft security tools
Easy to use and deploy
Provides real-time threat detection and response
Strong protection against phishing attacks and other common threats
Highly customizable to meet specific needs of different organizations

Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps Use Cases:

Governance, authentication, security, and compliance.
Detects shadow IT and anomalous user behavior
Controls access to applications
Provides auditing and filtering setups
Used for end-user compute devices, file monitoring, user investigation, and activity
Used for data governance, threat detection, and getting visibility over cloud applications
Used to identify information about applications beyond organizational boundaries
Prevent exfiltration and data filtration of corporate data
Used to deal with spam emails and detect shadow IT

Reviews from Real Users

Ram-Krish, Cloud Security & Governance at a financial services firm, says that Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps "Integrates well and helps us in protecting sensitive information, but takes time to scan and apply the policies and cannot detect everything we need".

PeerSpot user, Senior Cloud & Security Consultant at a tech services, writes that Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps "Great for monitoring user activity and protecting data while integrating well with other applications".

Simon Burgess,Infrastructure Engineer at SBITSC, states that Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps is "A fluid, intelligent product for great visibility, centralized management, and increased uptime".

Microsoft

Sample Customers

More than 4,000 global enterprises trust the iboss Cloud Platform to support their modern workforces, including a large number of Fortune 50 companies.

Zions Bank, GE Healthcare, HomeAway, Logitech, Universal, California National Resources Agency and many mor

Customers for Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps include Accenture, St. Luke’s University Health Network, Ansell, and Nakilat.

Buyer's Guide

Forcepoint CASB vs. Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps

December 2025

Free Report: Forcepoint CASB vs. Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps

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