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IBM Security Guardium Data Protection vs Oracle Database Vault comparison

IBM and Oracle are both solutions in the Database Security category. IBM is ranked #1 with an average rating of 8.7, while Oracle is ranked #4 with an average rating of 7.4. IBM holds a 31.8% mindshare in DS, compared to Oracle’s 3.1% mindshare. Additionally, 85% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 80% of Oracle users who would recommend it.
IBM Security Guardium Data ...
Read 78 IBM Security Guardium Data Protection reviews
  • 5,040 Views
  • 4,133 Comparison Views
85% willing to recommend
Oracle Database Vault
Read 5 Oracle Database Vault reviews
  • 359 Views
  • 359 Comparison Views
80% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Apr 6, 2025

IBM Security Guardium Data Protection and Oracle Database Vault compete in the database security category. IBM Security Guardium is often chosen for data protection capabilities, whereas Oracle Database Vault is seen as more feature-rich and justifies its cost with an extensive feature set.

Features: IBM Security Guardium provides data activity monitoring, anomaly detection, and security insights. Oracle Database Vault offers robust access control, unauthorized access prevention, and tightly integrated features suitable for Oracle environments.

Room for Improvement: IBM Security Guardium could enhance integration with non-IBM environments, simplify its custom policy creation, and expand support for emerging database technologies. Oracle Database Vault may need to streamline deployment processes, improve user interface intuitiveness, and offer better support for databases outside of Oracle.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: IBM Security Guardium is applauded for straightforward setup and effective customer support. Oracle Database Vault, despite its strong integration, involves a complex deployment process, although Oracle's support infrastructure effectively addresses implementation challenges.

Pricing and ROI: IBM Security Guardium is favored for its competitive pricing structure and promising ROI. Oracle Database Vault, although seen as expensive, provides substantial ROI through its advanced features and comprehensive security measures, making its premium pricing justifiable for many.

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To learn more, read our detailed IBM Security Guardium Data Protection vs. Oracle Database Vault Report (Updated: July 2025).
Buyer's Guide
IBM Security Guardium Data Protection vs. Oracle Database Vault
July 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

IBM Security Guardium Data ...
Ranking in Database Security
1st
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.6
Number of Reviews
78
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Oracle Database Vault
Ranking in Database Security
4th
Average Rating
7.4
Reviews Sentiment
6.7
Number of Reviews
5
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2025, in the Database Security category, the mindshare of IBM Security Guardium Data Protection is 31.8%, up from 31.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Oracle Database Vault is 3.1%, up from 0.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Database Security
 

Featured Reviews

Jared Ochieng - PeerSpot reviewer
Used for monitoring database activity and tracking databases
The response time could be improved. Navigating support for the solution can be challenging, especially when finding the right contact for specialized issues. Improvements could make raising tickets and identifying the correct support channels easier. While general support information is provided, specialized support may require contacting different teams. We guide our clients through this process to ensure they know where to turn for various needs. Typically, we are the first point of contact for any issues, big or small, and then direct them to the appropriate resources. The quality of technical support largely depends on the expertise of the partner who implemented the solution. If you have a partner who is well-versed in IBM, the technical support is usually excellent. If not, support might be less reliable.
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AjayKumar13 - PeerSpot reviewer
Setup challenges and user experience issues persist
I primarily use Oracle Database Vault for encryption during data transit. The data is encrypted as it travels across the network, and I have previously used it for backup purposes I use Oracle Database Vault mainly for encryption at transit. It encrypts data traveling across the network.…
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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

"Supports security initiatives and ensures compliance policies."
"Database logging and audit functions are the most valuable features."
"The front-end works very well."
"Guardium lets you centrally manage aggregators and collectors."
"The ability to collect the data without database administers being able to modify it."
"It's made database monitoring more visible to the business, creating more conversations about how we should do it better."
"This is a multi-platform solution that consolidates everything and centralizes support for it."
"The possible number of databases and database servers which can be monitored by Guardium is high. For me, this is a differentiator of IBM."
More IBM Security Guardium Data Protection pros
"It encrypts data traveling across the network."
"The product is easy to use and provides good performance."
"I haven’t seen any other database perform as well as Oracle."
"Oracle Database Vault has been valuable for database security in maritime companies and ports."
"The product is fairly easy to implement."
 

Cons

"The installation should be a bit easier."
"Right now we're having some issues where it's using a high CPU, we don't know why. So, better testing before the product is ready would help."
"It would be helpful, and convenient to improve the Chat support."
"Needs easier integration with custom applications."
"The price of this solution is quite high for smaller organizations, so they should release a version that is affordable for small and medium-sized businesses."
"The biggest complaint that I hear from customers and users is that using this solution requires database skills, yet it is a security and monitoring tool."
"Needs nore cloud support."
"Setup can be complex. The documentation is in so many different locations, and a lot of times we have to leverage support and higher level resources to figure out the right steps to take."
More IBM Security Guardium Data Protection cons
"Oracle Database Vault is not easy to set up, and if I lose the key, it can lead to significant issues."
"The solution is relatively expensive."
"Oracle's technical support could be improved."
"The product's cost could be better."
"The solution is excessively expensive. There is a lot of room for improvement, considering the pricing model of the solution."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Guardium is most suitable for large scale enterprises because the pricing model is better if you are implementing a large number of databases."
"It is not an expensive product. We purchase its yearly license."
"The cost depends on the number of databases. You can purchase advanced licenses, but the standard license is calculated based on the number of databases you have to onboard."
"Guardium won mostly because of our scope and scale. It was able to perform at the scale that we wanted to use it. ​"
"The biggest challenge is the cost associated with the product, and the cost of maintaining. Everything is not translated directly to the benefits we see. There are benefits, yes, but if I were writing the check, would I buy Guardium? No."
"The price of the solution could be better."
"The product's pricing is reasonable and affordable. It is in the moderate range."
"​If you are researching this type of solution, work with IBM."
More IBM Security Guardium Data Protection pricing and cost advice
"I rate the product's pricing a ten on a scale of one to ten, where one is a low price, and ten is a high price."
"The product is more costly than its competitors."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
28%
Computer Software Company
9%
Insurance Company
6%
Manufacturing Company
6%
Financial Services Firm
25%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Computer Software Company
10%
Retailer
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

How does IBM Guardium Data Protection compare with Imperva SecureSphere Database Security?
IBM Security Guardium Data Protection is a solution for database security from IBM that gives complete visibility, control, and analysis to secure sensitive data and comply with regulations. IBM S...
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IBM Guardium Data Protection?
I don't remember the exact prices, but Guardium is an expensive tool because it is targeted towards corporate enterprises.
See all answers
What do you like most about IBM Security Guardium Data Protection?
The features I like are the robust policies, which allow us to create customized monitoring based on specific activities.
See all answers
What do you like most about Oracle Database Vault?
The product is easy to use and provides good performance.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Oracle Database Vault?
I do not handle pricing, so I am not aware of pricing details related to Oracle Database Vault.
See all answers
What needs improvement with Oracle Database Vault?
Oracle Database Vault is not easy to set up, and if I lose the key, it can lead to significant issues. A more user-friendly setup process would be beneficial.
See all answers
 

Comparisons

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Imperva SecureSphere Database Security vs IBM Security Guardium Data Protection
Compared 50% of the time
Oracle Audit Vault vs IBM Security Guardium Data Protection Logo
Oracle Audit Vault vs IBM Security Guardium Data Protection
Compared 19% of the time
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DataSunrise Database Security vs IBM Security Guardium Data Protection
Compared 5% of the time
Trustwave DbProtect vs IBM Security Guardium Data Protection Logo
Trustwave DbProtect vs IBM Security Guardium Data Protection
Compared 4% of the time
Protegrity’s Data Protection Platform vs IBM Security Guardium Data Protection Logo
Protegrity’s Data Protection Platform vs IBM Security Guardium Data Protection
Compared 2% of the time
More IBM Security Guardium Data Protection Competitors
Oracle Audit Vault vs Oracle Database Vault Logo
Oracle Audit Vault vs Oracle Database Vault
Compared 75% of the time
More Oracle Database Vault Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
IBM Security Guardium Data Protection
August 2025
IBM Security Guardium Data Protection reportDownload IBM Security Guardium Data Protection product report
Buyer's Guide
Database Security
July 2025
Oracle Database Vault reportDownload Oracle Database Vault product report
 

Also Known As

InfoSphere Guardium, Guardium, IBM Guardium
No data available
 

Overview

IBM Security Guardium Data Protection automatically discovers and classifies sensitive data from across the enterprise, providing real-time data activity monitoring and advanced user behavior analytics to help discover unusual activity around sensitive data.

Deploy the solution to help discover regulated data in your data stores and use pre-built templates for regulations such as PCI, SOX, HIPAA, CCPA and many more, to streamline and automate compliance workflows.

IBM

Oracle Database Vault enhances security through firewall integration and encryption of data in transit. Known for its performance and user-friendliness, organizations across various industries, such as maritime, utilize it for robust database management and safeguarding sensitive information.

Oracle Database Vault is designed to secure databases with advanced encryption and auditing capabilities. It facilitates organizations in implementing relevant policies for tables and schemas, ensuring protection of critical data assets. While the software excels in security, its initial setup is complex and expensive. Organizations use it for encryption of data and backups with assurance of data integrity, while its operational ease encourages regular monitoring of access to tables and user activities. However, enhancements in interface, documentation, and marketing strategy are needed to improve its usability and visibility in the security software market. Interaction with Oracle MetaLink for technical support is often inefficient, indicating a need for improvement.

What are the main features of Oracle Database Vault?
  • Advanced Encryption: Protects data during transit and backups.
  • Firewall Integration: Enhances security with firewall capabilities.
  • Policy Implementation: Allows creation of customized policies for tables and schemas.
  • Fine-Grained Auditing: Facilitates detailed monitoring of user activities.
What benefits and ROI should users look for?
  • Enhanced Security: Provides comprehensive data protection strategies.
  • Performance: Offers high performance and ease of use in database environments.
  • Data Integrity: Ensures secured backups and data consistency.
  • Monitoring Capabilities: Supports continuous access monitoring and auditing.

Companies across numerous sectors, such as maritime, integrate Oracle Database Vault into their database security initiatives. It is extensively used alongside Oracle Cluster, Database Guard, and GoldenGate to implement strong encryption and auditing practices, ensuring the protection and integrity of data as it moves through networks and various database environments.

Oracle
Buyer's Guide
IBM Security Guardium Data Protection vs. Oracle Database Vault
July 2025
Free Report: IBM Security Guardium Data Protection vs. Oracle Database Vault
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