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IBM Security Guardium Data Protection vs Vormetric Application Crypto Suite comparison

The compared IBM and Thales solutions aren't in the same category. IBM is ranked #1 in DS , with an average rating of 8.7, and holds a 31.8% mindshare in the category. Thales is ranked #10 in DM , with an average rating of 8.0, and holds a 2.8% mindshare. Additionally, 85% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Thales 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
Vormetric Application Crypt...
Read 2 Vormetric Application Crypto Suite reviews
  • 222 Views
  • 131 Comparison Views
100% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive Summary
We performed a comparison between IBM Security Guardium Data Protection and Vormetric Application Crypto Suite based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about IBM, Imperva, Oracle and others in Database Security.

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To learn more, read our detailed Database Security Report (Updated: July 2025).
Buyer's Guide
Database Security
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 ...
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.6
Number of Reviews
78
Ranking in other categories
Database Security (1st)
Vormetric Application Crypt...
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
2
Ranking in other categories
Data Masking (10th)
 

Mindshare comparison

While both are Database Development and Management Tools solutions, they serve different purposes. IBM Security Guardium Data Protection is designed for Database Security and holds a mindshare of 31.8%, up 31.4% compared to last year.
Vormetric Application Crypto Suite, on the other hand, focuses on Data Masking, holds 2.8% mindshare, down 3.5% since last year.
Database Security
Data Masking
 

Q&A Highlights

CR
Jul 07, 2020
IBM Guardium Data Protection vs. Vormetric Application Crypto Suite for a tech services company
I have been working with Guardium for 5 years, but I had not heard of Vormetric. So, I will not be able to help. Something I can report is from the IBM website: " IBM Security Guardium Data Encryption runs on a variety of Microsoft Windows, UNIX, and Linux platforms. It requires prerequisite software available from Vormetric, Inc. Visit the Vormetric website for information. For additional information, refer to the Software requirements section. Vormetric is not affiliated or associated with IBM. Vormetric software products and licenses are subject to change in accordance with the policies and procedures of Vormetric. " Source: https://www-01.ibm.com/common/ssi/ShowDoc.wss?docURL=/common/ssi/rep_ca/2/897/ENUS216-412/index.html&request_locale=en
See all answers
 

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.
Read full review
reviewer2537625 - PeerSpot reviewer
Useful to encrypt sensitive data or crown jewel data stored in various places within organizations
One of the most valuable features is the solution's integration with many leading industry solutions, both on-premises and cloud-based. It has API integration with a large number of technologies. The key management capability supports security protocols by providing an additional layer of security by separating duties. It's more secure to store encryption keys in a separate system like Thales rather than locally. If a database is compromised, the keys in Thales remain protected, making it harder for attackers to access the information.
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

"The platform provides data protection from internal and external threats."
"It supports our audit compliance."
"The features I like are the robust policies, which allow us to create customized monitoring based on specific activities."
"It allows us to put in controls to make sure that only the right persons access the proper records in the database."
"The most valuable feature of the solution for the customers is the monitoring and full log of the database activity of privileged users."
"The reporting side is also very, very good, especially its flexibility which allows you to tailor the reports to whatever information you want."
"The solution supports a lot of databases."
"Our ability to see when users are accessing sensitive data."
More IBM Security Guardium Data Protection pros
"Transfer encryption is a great feature of Crypto Suite."
"One of the most valuable features is the solution's integration with many leading industry solutions, both on-premises and cloud-based. It has API integration with a large number of technologies."
 

Cons

"The solution lacks control over database security."
"The integration part of the present solution is very complex and tedious. Plus it gives a lot of false positives which need to be eradicated over time."
"It was difficult implementing it, configuring it, getting it up and running and in production. However, since then, I believe it has stabilized."
"There are features like end-to-end and S-TAP mapping, and the ability to install policies for your configuration builder. They're not there, but we'd like to see them in the next version."
"The one thing that I would like to see improved, but I don't think it's going to be in the next release, is its reporting capabilities. I think that's been offloaded to another third-party product that I think IBM actually endorses for that."
"Guardium Data Protection is far better in terms of external integration. But in terms of firewall features, like when you're blocking activities, it's as if Oracle AVDF simply has superior features. This is just from third-party observations, but the users of Oracle AVDF are saying that when it comes to the firewall and protection functionality, they're much more inclined to AVDF."
"The user interface could be improved and modernized."
"​Overall testing and quality need improvement. It is fairly buggy at times, so it feels like it could use additional staff on the product, testing and trying it out."
More IBM Security Guardium Data Protection cons
"Could be more agent-led with options for simplifying implementation."
"Some feature sets could be improved, particularly alerting, reporting, and monitoring capabilities."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It is not an expensive product. We purchase its yearly license."
"Its cost is good. With the new metric of licensing, such as PDO not being available now, customers are expecting a good price for the solution."
"It's an expensive solution"
"On a scale from one to ten, where one is low price, and ten is very high price, I rate the solution's pricing a nine out of ten."
"The price of the solution could be better."
"Guardium has not saved us time or money."
"For IBM Guardium, licensing is very simple and straightforward. There are no issues I can speak of."
"Guardium is most suitable for large scale enterprises because the pricing model is better if you are implementing a large number of databases."
More IBM Security Guardium Data Protection pricing and cost advice
Information not available
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Answers from the Community

CR
Jul 7, 2020
Jul 7, 2020
IBM Guardium Data Protection vs. Vormetric Application Crypto Suite for a tech services company
I have been working with Guardium for 5 years, but I had not heard of Vormetric. So, I will not be able to help. Something I can report is from the IBM website: " IBM Security Guardium Data Encryption runs on a variety of Microsoft Windows, UNIX, and Linux platforms. It requires prerequisite software available from Vormetric, Inc. Visit the Vormetric website for information. For additional inf...
See 2 answers
ET
Jul 7, 2020
IBM is reselling Vormetric. IBM Guardium Data Protection includes Vormetric as part of the Data Protection Family.
Read full answer
SM
Jul 7, 2020
I have been working with Guardium for 5 years, but I had not heard of Vormetric. So, I will not be able to help. Something I can report is from the IBM website: " IBM Security Guardium Data Encryption runs on a variety of Microsoft Windows, UNIX, and Linux platforms. It requires prerequisite software available from Vormetric, Inc. Visit the Vormetric website for information. For additional information, refer to the Software requirements section. Vormetric is not affiliated or associated with IBM. Vormetric software products and licenses are subject to change in accordance with the policies and procedures of Vormetric. " Source: https://www-01.ibm.com/common/ssi/ShowDoc.wss?docURL=/common/ssi/rep_ca/2/897/ENUS216-412/index.html&request_locale=en
Read full answer
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
28%
Computer Software Company
9%
Insurance Company
6%
Manufacturing Company
6%
No data available
 

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 needs improvement with Vormetric Application Crypto Suite?
Some feature sets could be improved, particularly alerting, reporting, and monitoring capabilities.
See all answers
What is your primary use case for Vormetric Application Crypto Suite?
I use the system to encrypt sensitive data or crown jewel data stored in various places within organizations. For example, we can encrypt databases with it. We store and manage the encryption keys ...
See all answers
What advice do you have for others considering Vormetric Application Crypto Suite?
I rate Vormetric Application Crypto Suite an eight out of ten.
See all answers
 

Comparisons

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Oracle Audit Vault vs IBM Security Guardium Data Protection
Compared 19% of the time
DataSunrise Database Security vs IBM Security Guardium Data Protection Logo
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Compared 5% of the time
Trustwave DbProtect vs IBM Security Guardium Data Protection Logo
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Compared 4% of the time
Oracle Data Masking and Subsetting vs IBM Security Guardium Data Protection Logo
Oracle Data Masking and Subsetting vs IBM Security Guardium Data Protection
Compared 1% of the time
More IBM Security Guardium Data Protection Competitors
OpenText Data Privacy and Protection Foundation (Voltage) vs Vormetric Application Crypto Suite Logo
OpenText Data Privacy and Protection Foundation (Voltage) vs Vormetric Application Crypto Suite
Compared 57% of the time
More Vormetric Application Crypto Suite 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
Data Masking
August 2025
Vormetric Application Crypto Suite reportDownload Vormetric Application Crypto Suite 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

At the core of the Vormetric Application Crypto Suite from Thales is a set of products that streamline development efforts to add encryption, tokenization, masking and other cryptographic functions to applications. The job of the developer is made easy and fast by leveraging sample code and APIs that are best for their environment, while key management functions are kept separate and secure in a FIPS 140-2 hardware or virtual appliance that is operated by IT or SecOps. Securing data at the application, with separation of duties for key management, provides the highest levels of protection and compliance.

The Vormetric Application Crypto Suite also includes applications and utilities that leverage the core components to add security layers to databases and other structured data stores.

Thales
 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
BD, Delta Dental, CMI
Buyer's Guide
Database Security
July 2025
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