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IBM Security Guardium Data Protection vs Imperva SecureSphere Database Security comparison

IBM and Imperva are both solutions in the Database Security category. IBM is ranked #1 with an average rating of 8.8, while Imperva is ranked #2 with an average rating of 7.7. IBM holds a 32.0% mindshare in DS, compared to Imperva’s 31.2% mindshare. Additionally, 85% of IBM users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 92% of Imperva users who would recommend it.
IBM Security Guardium Data ...
Read 78 IBM Security Guardium Data Protection reviews
  • 4,901 Views
  • 2,342 Comparison Views
85% willing to recommend
Imperva SecureSphere Databa...
Read 55 Imperva SecureSphere Database Security reviews
  • 3,730 Views
  • 2,382 Comparison Views
92% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Apr 20, 2025

Imperva SecureSphere and IBM Security Guardium Data Protection compete in the database security market. Imperva holds an edge due to its comprehensive security alerts and real-time monitoring capabilities.

Features: Imperva SecureSphere provides advanced threat alerts, a robust Database Activity Monitoring (DAM) module, and seamless data classification. It also includes a web application firewall and offers integration with third-party systems. IBM Guardium excels in vulnerability assessments, supports a wide range of databases, and integrates well with IBM's own security suite. It is renowned for its accurate vulnerability assessments and comprehensive database protection.

Room for Improvement: Imperva SecureSphere could improve integration with mainframe environments, reporting capabilities, and support for cloud-hosted databases. Users report challenges with its user interface and scalability. IBM Guardium should enhance its file activity monitoring, refine its user interface, and improve deployment flexibility for complex environments. Both solutions need more intuitive licensing models and better support experiences.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Imperva SecureSphere is mainly deployed on-premises, though it offers some cloud integrations, necessitating advanced administrative knowledge for setup. Customer support experiences vary, from prompt assistance to inconsistent service. IBM Guardium supports on-premises, private, and hybrid cloud deployments, generally receiving positive feedback for its customer service, though technical assistance could improve in responsiveness.

Pricing and ROI: Imperva SecureSphere is seen as expensive but offers flexible licensing that can suit different enterprise needs, ensuring a high ROI through reduced losses and compliance risk. IBM Guardium traditionally has complex pricing due to PVU-based licensing, although new server-based models aim to simplify this. Organizations appreciate its ROI for robust security insights and compliance, though need to evaluate budget constraints for cost-effectiveness.

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To learn more, read our detailed IBM Security Guardium Data Protection vs. Imperva SecureSphere Database Security Report (Updated: April 2025).
Buyer's Guide
IBM Security Guardium Data Protection vs. Imperva SecureSphere Database Security
April 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
Imperva SecureSphere Databa...
Ranking in Database Security
2nd
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
6.9
Number of Reviews
55
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Database Security category, the mindshare of IBM Security Guardium Data Protection is 32.0%, up from 31.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Imperva SecureSphere Database Security is 31.2%, down from 32.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Database Security
 

Featured Reviews

Ahmer Faisel Khan - PeerSpot reviewer
Offers mature agents, compliance reporting and reliable database security
The solution should allow the data to shift to a centralized repository with elastic servers and big data infrastructure. If a customer searches for old logs for retention purposes, there are limitations on appliances once they are set with specific hardware, so they can only be changed by uninstalling or reinstalling the hardware. The solution's aggregator feature allows data aggregation, but for instance, if a customer wants a project ready in two years, having an Elasticsearch in DB or the capacity to store huge amounts of data would be beneficial in data investigation or evaluation at an affordable cost. Some AI features should be added to IBM Security Guardium Data Protection. For example, the AI features implemented in the solution can be anomaly detection or suspicious activity identification.
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Andrew_Kampolo - PeerSpot reviewer
The fine-grained auditing available on the platform makes life easier and helps explain anything happening in your database
Imperva's most valuable features are ease of use and log correlation. I also like the ability to trace activity from the host machine to the server access, the user details, and the exact query that they executed. If a database administrator or application process executes a query on the database, people know exactly what was executed, including all the variables. For example, it will tell you how many rows they were trying to select on which table, and you get the OS information, network details, IPs, and the user. That fine-grained auditing available on the platform makes life easier and helps explain anything happening in your database.
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 maturity of the agent is the most valuable feature of the solution"
"Accelerators is one of the big functions they have out there. It gives you canned reports that you don't have to make yourself, they're out there by being part of the patch. You just have to fill your information in to some of the already built groups, for your environment, and it automates a lot of that. That has definitely helped improve things."
"We are using it to do a lot of data discovery from a data classification for structured data."
"Good data encryption and data masking features."
"It protects sensitive data and blocks unauthorized access to the data."
"Database logging and audit functions are the most valuable features."
"The product has proven to be flexible"
"IBM Guardium Data Protection is very good at keeping your database secure."
More IBM Security Guardium Data Protection pros
"Flexible reporting allows for customization that keeps the admins from having to interact with system automation."
"They have very good documentation and knowledgebase resources that add to the depth of their support."
"The initial setup is very simple."
"The functionality is very useable and easy to understand."
"We use it for database security, vulnerability analysis, discovery, and handling requests from applications and users."
"The tool happens to be very intelligent when it comes to processing policies and sounding alerts. It allows us to implement policies and measure actions against them, raising alerts accordingly."
"I like Imperva SecureSphere platform forms. Imperva SecureSphere is the foundation for SecureSphere data, file and web application solutions."
"This is a stable product."
More Imperva SecureSphere Database Security pros
 

Cons

"It was difficult implementing it, configuring it, getting it up and running and in production. However, since then, I believe it has stabilized."
"The installation should be a bit easier."
"I would like to see a lot of additional reporting and analytics features. They have basic outlier detection, but I would love to see that go further, and model it after analytics tools like Splunk."
"We deal with updates manually on Sundays and sometimes face bugs with the newer versions."
"We've had some issues recently that we're working through, on the agent software that runs on the databases."
"Needs nore cloud support."
"Can't be used for a NoSQL database, which is limiting."
"The main issue I have with IBM Security Guardium Data Protection is the support. It's not good."
More IBM Security Guardium Data Protection cons
"The GUI for this solution could use some improvement."
"The firewall features are not very strong and should be improved."
"I'd like to see some sort of solution for storage."
"Once we read the activity logs on the platform, we cannot open them anywhere else as they are stored in a proprietary format."
"The GUI is bad."
"Imperva SecureSphere Database Security can improve something in all the versions I have used."
"Integration with other databases or third-party products would be useful."
"Reporting could be improved."
More Imperva SecureSphere Database Security cons
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"Guardium has not saved us time or money."
"The price of Guardium is higher than the main competitor, Imperva. In addition, it's complex as the calculation of the licensing is done by Processor Value Unit (PVU). However, before purchasing a DAP solution, it is important to analyze specific points to evaluate the cost-benefit of each tool. For example: Does the environment to be monitored have mainframes? If so, it's a point for Guardium. If not, a point for Imperva. Note: IBM is looking into a new licensing policy and reducing the price of Guardium."
"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."
"The tool is not cheap, but it is not expensive."
"I would suggest to review the type of data, need for security, and if the organizational structure needs the options IBM Guardium provides."
"We haven't talked much about pricing and licencing. But it is not cheap for sure"
"Guardium won mostly because of our scope and scale. It was able to perform at the scale that we wanted to use it. ​"
"Reasonable cost but could be lower."
More IBM Security Guardium Data Protection pricing and cost advice
"The pricing over-all depends on the entry level. For example, if support and maintenance are about $20,000 - $25,000, the initial cost can be five times more. It is less expensive for the company to maintain the client than to make the deployment."
"It is quite expensive. We wanted it in my former organization, but the price was very high. So, we couldn't purchase it. I moved to a different organization, and this organization has purchased it."
"The price is very high but compared to the price of the overall solution, then I think it's a good deal because the solution itself is great."
"The product is expensive."
"It is very expensive."
"The price of the solution is reasonable. The cost of the solution depends on the customer, they have the flex protect licensing which can vary in price."
"We have all the licenses, which we pay for annually. The price is a little high, but the product is good."
"There is an annual licensing fee for upgrading the device."
More Imperva SecureSphere Database Security pricing and cost advice
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
30%
Computer Software Company
10%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Insurance Company
7%
Financial Services Firm
29%
Computer Software Company
14%
Insurance Company
7%
Retailer
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

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...
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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IBM Guardium Data Protection?
The pricing is good, and I have no problem with it. Although there is no flexibility to compete with other products, it generally costs between one hundred and three hundred thousand per year depen...
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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
Which is the best DDoS protection solution for a big ISP for monitoring and mitigating?
My recommendation is Imperva.
See all answers
What do you like most about Imperva SecureSphere Database Security?
The tool's pricing is flexible and affordable for small and medium enterprises.
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Imperva SecureSphere Database Security?
It is not cheaper, but based on the feature, it is okay.
See all answers
 

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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
IBM Security Guardium Data Protection
April 2025
IBM Security Guardium Data Protection reportDownload IBM Security Guardium Data Protection product report
Buyer's Guide
Imperva SecureSphere Database Security
April 2025
Imperva SecureSphere Database Security reportDownload Imperva SecureSphere Database Security 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

Imperva SecureSphere Database Security:

  • Audits all access to sensitive data.
  • Alerts or blocks database attacks and unauthorized activities, in real time.
  • Detects and virtually patches database vulnerabilities.
  • Identifies excessive user rights and dormant users, and enables a complete rights review cycle.
  • Accelerates incident response and forensics investigations with advanced analytics.
Imperva
 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
BlueCross BlueShield, eHarmony, EMF Broadcasting, GE Healthcare, Metro Bank, The Motley Fool, Siemens
Buyer's Guide
IBM Security Guardium Data Protection vs. Imperva SecureSphere Database Security
April 2025
Free Report: IBM Security Guardium Data Protection vs. Imperva SecureSphere Database Security
Find out what your peers are saying about IBM Security Guardium Data Protection vs. Imperva SecureSphere Database Security and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.
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