Fortra's Digital Guardian vs Varonis Platform comparison

Fortra and Varonis are both solutions in the Data Loss Prevention (DLP) category. Fortra is ranked #21 with an average rating of 8.5, while Varonis is ranked #8 with an average rating of 8.4. Fortra holds a 1.3% mindshare in DLP, compared to Varonis’s 4.3% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Fortra users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 95% of Varonis users who would recommend it.

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report

Executive SummaryUpdated on Mar 15, 2026

Fortra's Digital Guardian and Varonis Platform compete in data protection and threat detection. Varonis Platform is considered more feature-rich, offering a comprehensive security experience, while Fortra's Digital Guardian is more cost-effective with lower setup costs.

Features: Fortra's Digital Guardian offers endpoint data loss prevention, rapid response capabilities, and simple deployment. Varonis Platform stands out with data classification, threat monitoring, and a robust security framework.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Fortra's Digital Guardian provides a straightforward deployment process and supportive customer service. Varonis Platform has a detailed setup strategy and a strong support framework, suitable for complex environments.

Pricing and ROI: Fortra's Digital Guardian is known for lower initial setup costs and quicker ROI. Varonis Platform, although requiring higher initial investment, offers long-term security benefits justifying the extended ROI period.

To learn more, read our detailed Fortra's Digital Guardian vs. Varonis Platform Report (Updated: August 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Fortra's Digital Guardian vs. Varonis Platform

August 2026

Download the complete report

Helped 908,858 peers since 2012

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

Cloudflare One

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2026, in the Data Loss Prevention (DLP) category, the mindshare of Cloudflare One is 2.0%, up from 1.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Fortra's Digital Guardian is 1.3%, up from 0.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Varonis Platform is 4.3%, down from 7.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Data Loss Prevention (DLP) Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Varonis Platform	4.3%
Fortra's Digital Guardian	1.3%
Cloudflare One	2.0%
Other	92.4%

Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

Featured Reviews

Cobe Van Coller

Network Architect at IP Dimension

Cloud security has improved remote access and has reduced costs for smaller client sites

I have used Cloudflare One's Identity-Aware Proxy, and it is quite straightforward from what I have seen so far. The app registration on the Azure side integrates fully into Cloudflare, and I am very satisfied with that part because it is easy to set up. The integration of Cloudflare One's Secure Web Gateway and Zero Trust Network Access works without any issues. That part is pretty automatic, and if you complete the rest of the setup, it comes together by itself with no issues from my side. What makes it nice is that we can actually start replacing on-site firewalls at this stage for the smaller clients because it does not matter if they go to a coffee shop or work from home; they are still secured by the same connection. The hops get shorter and you get better latency. We have done testing to see if it is better. One thing that we did notice with our proof of concept with our current client is that they have people connecting from the UK. When they used their previous VPN solution, uploading CAD drawings and other files to the server took a long time. They mentioned that it is much quicker on Cloudflare One's solution. I definitely believe that is part of the improved performance, and I am satisfied with that as well. What is nice about Cloudflare One is that it makes the setup easier and also easier to train technicians to maintain it. Compared to legacy systems, we do not need to get fancy firewalls in place that are costly. That is definitely also a cost-saver with Cloudflare One.

Read full review

Lucianofernandez Fernandez Moroaga

Automation Engineer at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees

Security has protected data quietly and now needs to give users more visibility and control

Regarding how Fortra's Digital Guardian can be improved, the fact that it runs as a background process isn't necessarily a bad thing, but you don't get any visibility into what it's doing unless a security policy is triggered. In the future, they could improve that to give users more visibility about what's happening. I give Fortra's Digital Guardian a seven because it doesn't compromise my system performance, but I don't get any visibility about what's happening and I don't know which criteria are used for preventing data leaks or classifying my files as sensitive or not sensitive. I would give it a ten if it had more visibility about what's happening or more contact with the user. Regarding the accuracy and reliability of Fortra's Digital Guardian's output, since it's fully managed by my company's IT department, I don't get any visibility of what processes it runs internally, so I don't know how it classifies the files. Therefore, I cannot give you a certain answer about that.

Read full review

TarunKumar11

Global Leadership Council at a tech company with 10,001+ employees

Data governance has strengthened and automation now reduces risk and manual compliance work

Varonis Platform offers key features including data discovery, data classification, data analysis, governance, user and entity behavior analysis, also known as UEBA, which helps in ransomware detection, insider threat detection, and compliance reporting. It does a lot of automation from a remediation standpoint, as well as investigation and forensics. The number one feature that makes the biggest difference for my clients is visibility into unstructured data; that is the most difficult for organizations to achieve. They do not have a good understanding of where sensitive data resides, who has access to this data, whether this access is appropriate, and how data is being used. Varonis Platform provides visibility, governance, threat detection, and automated remediation around data. Varonis Platform is a great data discovery platform that provides visibility into sensitive data estimates and how it is being used. Clients have been able to reduce excessive permissions, strengthen their compliance posture, detect insider threats, and ransomware activity, which would otherwise be difficult and manual. Varonis Platform is deployed in my clients' organizations in a combination of all types. Many clients use Varonis Platform in a largely SaaS-based model since it is a data security platform consumed in this way, and many organizations still operate hybrid environments. As far as Varonis Platform is in a position to get the data source and identify systems, it can discover and classify more secure data. Deployment in most of our clients is cloud-based, connecting to Microsoft 365, AWS, or other SaaS applications such as Salesforce. In other environments, it is a hybrid deployment with SaaS and on-premises, including file servers, NAS devices, and AD servers.

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

"Clover is the best product globally."

"It's a perfect solution from my perspective; it's easy to understand and easy to configure."

"We mostly use Cloudflare WAF, and gets basic Cloudflaire DDoS, caching as extra bonus . We like the factor these features are all integrated into 1 console, simple to manage."

"Cloudflare, in my opinion, was easy to implement."

"Cloudflare Access is a stable solution."

"It will take the blow rather than our applications should an attack occur."

"I'm very satisfied with the environment and the dashboard."

"Cloudflare DDoS is better than its competitors for its security, deployment, and scalability."

More Cloudflare One pros

"As a general impression, I can say that Fortra's Digital Guardian is a worthwhile investment when it comes to DLP tools."

"Endpoint DLP can detect activity without implementing any rules, unlike other DLP solutions where you need to configure rules and policies; Fortra's Digital Guardian can detect any user activity after installation and commissioning without the need for policy implementation, and it just works by system default."

"We have accurate detection on data protection and more visibility on different data channels compared to other DLP solutions. So, basically, more on the principle, there is ROI."

"Fortra's Digital Guardian has impacted my organization positively, especially for companies with remote or automation-focused teams, as it effectively prevents data leaks without bothering the users or blocking their development tools, making it very useful for a big company for preventing data leaks and for not blocking development tools."

"As long as you know the flow and how the setup phase works, the process can be totally straightforward."

"This solution informs us about who's moving data, whether accidentally or on purpose."

"Varonis Platform is transparent and captures everything in the environment without impacting the performance. The tool helps us unify data feeds into a single reporting system."

"Varonis Platform has positively impacted my organization by providing clarity regarding data and permissions, improving visibility, security, and compliance."

"That alerting and reporting service is great."

"In my experience, the best features that Varonis Platform offers are data labeling, data classification, along with all the integrations and its easy-to-use platform."

"I also appreciate the reporting feature, which allows for the extraction of various reports based on specific needs. These reports can be used for audit purposes, such as tracking changes in file locations or deletions."

"The example I used with the hospital gives a very clear picture of the ROI."

"Varonis offers robust data access governance, allowing us to understand which sensitive data exists and who has access to it."

More Varonis Platform pros

Cons

"Operating and tuning the product is difficult."

"The response time for support must be reduced."

"The software has automated alerts, but the automated alerts are not available in the mobile app."

"The onboarding process can be improved a little bit."

"Cloudflare One is not very powerful, but for what we require, it is basic and sufficient."

"Our subscription plan for the solution has a limitation of bot signatures."

"The tool should provide on-premise versions. Currently, all versions are cloud-based."

"The initial onboarding was causing us some confusion."

More Cloudflare One cons

"The tool needs to be more optimized in terms of CPU usage."

"Several areas need improvement. System reporting and default system reporting are not totally usable and require customization to be practical."

"I give Fortra's Digital Guardian a seven because it doesn't compromise my system performance, but I don't get any visibility about what's happening and I don't know which criteria are used for preventing data leaks or classifying my files as sensitive or not sensitive."

"In my opinion, there's a need for an extensive skill set or knowledge of creating policies. There's room for improvement to make it more user-friendly in creating custom rules and policies."

"The trouble with the tool is its ability to integrate with a third-party application."

"I'd like to see automatic updates for this solution. Currently, it's a manual process to update all the keywords."

"Varonis Platform could be improved because when I used it, we had a significant issue related to the large volume of data on that file share."

"For user-based reports, log on activity, and stuff like that, it doesn't seem to really be present like Log360."

"The licensing pricing model and module licensing can be complex for customers to understand."

"The solution's areas of improvement are the interface and the dependency on on-premises deployment for some components."

"Varonis requires more access permissions for its core functions compared to competitors, which can be a concern for companies about data safety."

"The GUI should be more functional. There should be a process for connecting through Chrome, Internet Explorer, etc."

"There is one thing that if I add something manually, I get so many alerts. That's the biggest bad thing."

More Varonis Platform cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The pricing is somewhere in the middle. I would rate the pricing a seven out of ten."

"Cloudflare Zero Trust Platform's pricing is good."

"The price tag is no longer $200,000, but rather $300,000 to $400,000. It's twice."

"The pricing of the solution is cheap. The licensing cost is also very low. I rate the cost and pricing a three out of ten."

"The prices are slightly expensive."

"My company has to make yearly payments towards the licensing costs attached to the solution. There are no hidden charges apart from the licensing costs of the solution."

"The solution is not that expensive."

"The solution's pricing lacks transparency."

"As long as your needs are fulfilled, even if the price is high, you will buy the tool."

"I would rate the pricing an eight out of ten, with ten being the most expensive."

"Licensing is on an annual basis. Maintenance and renewal fees are separate. Varonis Datalert is quite expensive."

"Varonis Platform wasn't certainly the cheapest solution."

"It's expensive, kind of, really expensive."

"You could do a subscription, where you pay yearly, or you could purchase it outright. The licensing cost is based on the number of users on the system that you are monitoring."

"The pricing is good. It neither expensive nor cheap. It is average."

"The platform is expensive. I rate the pricing a nine out of ten."

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Data Loss Prevention (DLP) solutions are best for your needs.

See recommendations

908,858 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Construction Company

19%

Comms Service Provider

11%

Outsourcing Company

Financial Services Firm

Comms Service Provider

15%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Financial Services Firm

11%

Government

Financial Services Firm

15%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Healthcare Company

Insurance Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	10
Midsize Enterprise	1
Large Enterprise	12

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	3
Midsize Enterprise	2
Large Enterprise	15

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Cloudflare Zero Trust Platform?

Pricing is competitive. Akamai is more expensive, in my view.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Cloudflare Zero Trust Platform?

In my opinion, Cloudflare One can be improved mainly through compatibility, as the integration should be much simpler...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Cloudflare Zero Trust Platform?

Cloudflare One's primary use case for my organization is to protect servers and to provide remote access with the VPN...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Fortra's Digital Guardian?

Regarding pricing, setup cost, and licensing, I am not aware of the actual cost since only the leadership discusses t...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Fortra's Digital Guardian?

The tool needs to be more optimized in terms of CPU usage. Most users experience a little bit of slowness, especially...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Fortra's Digital Guardian?

Fortra's Digital Guardian serves as our main DLP tool. We utilize its policy to either block or allow users depending...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Varonis Platform?

Varonis Platform could be improved because when I used it, we had a significant issue related to the large volume of ...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Varonis Platform?

My main use case for Varonis Platform is to monitor access to sensitive data across file shares, Microsoft 365, and S...

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering Varonis Platform?

Varonis Platform receives a rating of seven out of ten. I chose seven out of ten because the user experience was easy...

See all answers

Comparisons

Cato SASE Cloud Platform vs Cloudflare One

Compared 3% of the time

Zscaler Zero Trust Exchange Platform vs Cloudflare One

Compared 3% of the time

Prisma Access by Palo Alto Networks vs Cloudflare One

Compared 3% of the time

Twingate vs Cloudflare One

Compared 3% of the time

Fortinet FortiGate vs Cloudflare One

Compared 3% of the time

More Cloudflare One Competitors

Microsoft Purview Data Loss Prevention vs Fortra's Digital Guardian

Compared 22% of the time

GTB Technologies Inspector vs Fortra's Digital Guardian

Compared 8% of the time

Teramind vs Fortra's Digital Guardian

Compared 8% of the time

Dtex Systems vs Fortra's Digital Guardian

Compared 7% of the time

Next DLP vs Fortra's Digital Guardian

Compared 6% of the time

More Fortra's Digital Guardian Competitors

Cyera vs Varonis Platform

Compared 5% of the time

Microsoft Purview Data Governance vs Varonis Platform

Compared 4% of the time

BigID Next vs Varonis Platform

Compared 3% of the time

Wiz vs Varonis Platform

Compared 3% of the time

Check Point Email Security (formerly Harmony Email & Collaboration) vs Varonis Platform

Compared 1% of the time

More Varonis Platform Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Cloudflare One

August 2026

Download Cloudflare One product report

Buyer's Guide

Fortra's Digital Guardian

August 2026

Download Fortra's Digital Guardian product report

Buyer's Guide

Varonis Platform

July 2026

Download Varonis Platform product report

Also Known As

Cloudflare Area 1 Email Security, Cloudflare Bot Management, Cloudflare Gateway, Cloudflare Zero Trust Platform, Cloudflare DDoS, Cloudflare SASE & SSE Platform

No data available

SlashNext Complete

Overview

Cloudflare One is a comprehensive platform for security, performance, and connectivity. It provides features like rate limiting, DDoS protection, and application access, tailored to enhance user experience while securing internet access and accelerating communications.

Designed to integrate security measures with ease of use and scalability, Cloudflare One offers a secure web gateway and zero trust network access. These features ensure seamless setup and operation, making connectivity reliable and protected. Users appreciate its integrated console, intuitive interface, and the ability to manage risk effectively. It offers straightforward deployment, improves latency, and boasts cost-effectiveness. While its onboarding process and documentation need enhancement, its value in content delivery and application shielding is notable. Despite challenges in integrating Cloudflare Access with existing VPNs and the need for better automation and support, it remains vital for DNS and infrastructure protection.

What features make Cloudflare One stand out?

Rate Limiting: Controls the traffic rate to prevent abuse.
DDoS Protection: Shields applications from distributed denial-of-service attacks.
Secure Web Gateway: Provides secure internet access with seamless operation.
Zero Trust Network Access: Ensures secure, application-based connectivity without relying on traditional VPNs.
Access for Connectivity: Facilitates access to internal applications securely.

What benefits should users look for in reviews?

Security: Robust measures for DNS and browsing protection.
Performance: Enhanced site accessibility and communication speed.
Cost-Effectiveness: Offers competitive pricing for its features.
Ease of Deployment: Straightforward and efficient setup process.

In industries like finance, retail, and technology, Cloudflare One is crucial for enabling secure remote access and protecting web applications against dynamic threats. It supports compliance access policies and enhances content delivery, playing a key role in safeguarding digital infrastructure.

Cloudflare

Fortra's Digital Guardian is celebrated for its robust data protection, especially in data loss prevention across various endpoints. It enhances organizational efficiency, streamlines workflows, and provides deep insights via advanced analytics and real-time alerts, significantly improving data security and compliance management. Ideal for monitoring, customizing policies, and guarding against internal and external threats.

Fortra

Varonis Platform enhances data security and governance with advanced analytics, identifying unusual access patterns and sensitive areas. Its centralized interface manages permissions across systems, offering essential capabilities for alerting and reporting.

Varonis Platform provides continuous data protection and monitoring by identifying and alerting on unauthorized data access. It offers comprehensive insights into file access and user activities, supporting data classification and simplifying compliance with tracking and monitoring capabilities. Integration with storage systems enables users to manage permissions and access effectively. Room for improvement includes cloud integration and simplifying its interface and calculation engine for ease of use. Challenges include on-premises dependency, licensing costs, and a need for enhanced DLP capabilities.

What are the primary features of Varonis Platform?

24/7 Technical Support: Ensures continuous assistance and issue resolution.
Advanced Analytics: Identifies unusual data access patterns for increased security.
Centralized Permission Management: Manages access permissions across systems.
Data Classification: Categorizes data to enhance protection measures.
Integration with Storage Systems: Simplifies compliance through tracking and monitoring.

What benefits and ROI should users expect?

Increased Security: Protects against unauthorized data access.
Compliance Simplification: Offers comprehensive tracking and monitoring to meet compliance standards.
Efficient Permission Management: Simplifies access controls across platforms.
Enhanced Alerting: Provides timely notifications of potential security breaches.

In finance, Varonis aids in safeguarding sensitive financial data, while in healthcare, it secures patient records. Legal industries utilize it for protecting client information, and retail sectors manage sensitive customer data. These industries benefit from Varonis' ability to prevent unauthorized access and streamline compliance.

Varonis

Sample Customers

23andMe

Information Not Available

Nottingham Building Society

Buyer's Guide

Fortra's Digital Guardian vs. Varonis Platform

August 2026

Free Report: Fortra's Digital Guardian vs. Varonis Platform

Find out what your peers are saying about Fortra's Digital Guardian vs. Varonis Platform and other solutions. Updated: August 2026.

DOWNLOAD NOW

908,858 professionals have used our research since 2012.

See our Fortra's Digital Guardian vs. Varonis Platform report.

See our list of best Data Loss Prevention (DLP) vendors.

We monitor all Data Loss Prevention (DLP) reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.