Sweet Security vs Lacework FortiCNAPP: A Complete 2026 Comparison Guide

Cloud security has become a battlefield. Organizations face threats from every direction. Misconfigurations, identity risks, runtime attacks, and vulnerable code all compete for your security team’s attention. Two platforms stand out in the Cloud Native Application Protection Platform (CNAPP) space: Sweet Security and Lacework FortiCNAPP.

These aren’t just similar tools with different logos. They take fundamentally different approaches to protecting cloud workloads. Sweet Security built its platform around runtime context and real-time threat detection. Lacework FortiCNAPP, born from Fortinet’s acquisition of Lacework in August 2024, leans heavily on behavioral analytics and integration with Fortinet’s broader security fabric.

This comparison breaks down every angle that matters. We’ll look at deployment methods, detection capabilities, pricing models, and real-world use cases. By the end, you’ll know which platform fits your cloud security needs.

Understanding the Two Platforms: Background and Evolution

Sweet Security: The Runtime-First Approach

Sweet Security positions itself as the leading provider of Runtime CNAPP and AI Security solutions. The company raised $75M in Series B funding in late 2024. That capital went toward building what they call the “first unified runtime CNAPP for cloud and AI security.”

What does runtime-first mean in practice? Sweet Security focuses on what’s actually happening inside your containers, workloads, and applications right now. Not what could happen. Not what happened last week. What’s happening this second.

The platform unifies runtime context with advanced AI intelligence. This combination helps security teams spot active threats faster. It also reduces the noise that comes from static scanning alone.

Sweet Security built its reputation on several core capabilities:

• Unified Cloud Native Detection and Response – combining multiple security functions into one platform
• Runtime-powered vulnerability management – prioritizing fixes based on actual exploitability
• AI security protection – a newer focus area addressing AI agent risks
• SOC and Incident Response integration – tools designed for security operations teams

The company targets several buyer personas. CISOs looking for consolidated metrics. Application security teams needing developer-friendly tools. Cloud security and DevSecOps professionals managing complex multi-cloud environments. SOC teams handling incident response.

Lacework FortiCNAPP: From Startup to Fortinet Acquisition

Lacework’s story took a major turn in August 2024. Fortinet acquired the company and rebranded the platform as FortiCNAPP. The lacework.com domain now redirects to Fortinet’s product pages.

Before the acquisition, Lacework built a strong reputation for behavioral analytics. The platform established baselines of normal cloud behavior. Then it flagged anomalies when something looked off. This approach earned Lacework 225 cloud security and AI patents.

Those patents now belong to Fortinet. The integration has expanded FortiCNAPP’s reach significantly.

Lacework FortiCNAPP now combines several security capabilities:

• CSPM (Cloud Security Posture Management)
• KSPM (Kubernetes Security Posture Management)
• CIEM (Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management)
• CWPP (Cloud Workload Protection Platform)
• CDR (Cloud Detection and Response)
• Code Security and Infrastructure as Code scanning
• DSPM (Data Security Posture Management) – added in January 2026

The platform covers AWS, Azure, GCP, OCI, and Kubernetes environments. KuppingerCole named it a Leader in their 2025 CNAPP Leadership Compass.

But here’s the catch. FortiCNAPP now sits inside Fortinet’s broader “Security Fabric.” That integration brings benefits if you’re already a Fortinet customer. It includes connections to FortiGate, FortiWeb, and FortiSOAR. But it also raises questions about platform lock-in.

Deployment and Setup: Getting Started with Each Platform

Sweet Security Deployment Process

Sweet Security emphasizes speed to value. The platform uses a lightweight approach that doesn’t require extensive agent deployment across every workload.

Getting started typically involves:

• Cloud account connection – linking AWS, Azure, or GCP accounts to the Sweet Security console
• Runtime sensor deployment – installing lightweight sensors on target workloads
• Policy configuration – setting up detection rules and alert thresholds
• Integration setup – connecting to SIEM, SOAR, and ticketing systems

The company promotes its solution for SOC and Incident Response teams. This suggests the platform was designed with operational workflows in mind from the start.

Sweet Security’s deployment model focuses on getting actionable data quickly. Runtime context means you see real threats faster. You don’t wait weeks for behavioral baselines to establish themselves.

Lacework FortiCNAPP Deployment Requirements

Lacework FortiCNAPP takes a more complex approach to deployment. According to competitive analysis, the platform requires configuration of multiple components:

• Cloud service configuration – connecting cloud accounts through API integrations
• Agentless configuration – available for AWS EC2 instances
• Multi-step agent configuration – required for different platforms and workload types

This mixed approach means more planning before deployment. Teams need to decide which workloads get agents. They need to configure agentless scanning for supported environments. And they need to handle the different requirements for each cloud provider.

The behavioral analytics engine also needs time to learn. Lacework FortiCNAPP establishes baselines of normal activity before it can effectively flag anomalies. This learning period can take days or weeks depending on the environment’s complexity.

One advantage of the Fortinet integration: organizations already running Fortinet products can connect FortiCNAPP to their existing security fabric more easily. FortiSOAR integration means alerts can flow into existing response workflows. FortiGate integration enables network-level enforcement.

Deployment Comparison Table

Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) Capabilities

How Sweet Security Handles Cloud Posture

Sweet Security takes a different angle on posture management. Instead of just flagging misconfigurations, the platform connects posture issues to runtime context.

Here’s why that matters. A misconfigured S3 bucket is a problem. But a misconfigured S3 bucket that’s actively being accessed by an unusual process is an emergency. Sweet Security’s approach helps teams tell the difference.

The platform supports Cloud Security Metrics that CISOs can use to track improvement over time. This focus on measurable outcomes suggests Sweet Security designed CSPM features with executive reporting in mind.

Key CSPM capabilities from Sweet Security include:

• Configuration scanning – checking cloud resources against security benchmarks
• Risk prioritization – ranking issues based on runtime exploitability
• Compliance mapping – connecting findings to regulatory frameworks
• Metrics dashboards – tracking security posture over time

The runtime-powered approach changes how teams prioritize fixes. Static scanners might flag 500 misconfigurations. Sweet Security helps identify which 10 actually put you at risk right now.

Lacework FortiCNAPP CSPM Features

Lacework FortiCNAPP brings mature CSPM capabilities to the table. The platform scans cloud configurations continuously. It checks against built-in policies and custom rules.

The behavioral analytics foundation extends to CSPM. FortiCNAPP doesn’t just look for known misconfigurations. It also flags when configuration changes deviate from normal patterns.

For example, if someone suddenly enables public access on resources that have always been private, the platform notices. This goes beyond simple rule matching.

Lacework FortiCNAPP CSPM includes:

• Multi-cloud configuration scanning – AWS, Azure, GCP, OCI, and Kubernetes
• Compliance frameworks – CIS benchmarks, SOC 2, PCI DSS, HIPAA, and more
• Configuration drift detection – spotting when resources change from known-good states
• Risk context – connecting misconfigurations to potential attack paths

The platform’s Composite Alerts feature correlates multiple CSPM findings. Instead of getting separate alerts for related issues, you get a unified view of the problem.

FortiCNAPP also includes Policy as Code enforcement. This lets teams define acceptable configurations as code. The platform then checks deployments against those policies before they go live.

CSPM Comparison: Key Differences

Both platforms scan cloud configurations. Both map to compliance frameworks. The difference lies in how they contextualize findings.

Sweet Security prioritizes based on runtime activity. If a misconfiguration isn’t being actively exploited or isn’t in the path of running workloads, it drops down the priority list.

Lacework FortiCNAPP prioritizes based on behavioral anomalies and attack path analysis. It looks at what could happen based on the configuration graph.

Neither approach is wrong. They serve different operational styles. Teams focused on active threat hunting might prefer Sweet Security’s runtime context. Teams focused on proactive risk reduction might prefer FortiCNAPP’s attack path analysis.

Cloud Workload Protection Platform (CWPP) Analysis

Sweet Security’s Runtime Workload Protection

This is where Sweet Security really differentiates itself. Runtime workload protection sits at the core of the platform’s value proposition.

Sweet Security monitors what actually happens inside containers and workloads. The platform tracks process execution, network connections, file access, and system calls in real time.

When something abnormal happens, Sweet Security doesn’t just flag it. The platform provides context about what led to the event and what the potential impact might be.

For SOC teams, this means faster incident response. You don’t start from zero when investigating an alert. The platform shows you the full chain of events.

Sweet Security CWPP capabilities include:

• Runtime process monitoring – tracking every process inside workloads
• Network connection tracking – seeing all inbound and outbound traffic
• File integrity monitoring – detecting unauthorized changes to critical files
• Container-specific protections – purpose-built for containerized environments
• Threat detection – identifying malicious activity as it happens

The company appeared at the CNAPP Showdown 2025, highlighting their detection and response capabilities. This focus on real-time protection sets them apart from scan-only solutions.

Sweet Security also addresses vulnerability management differently. Instead of just listing CVEs, the platform shows which vulnerabilities are actually loaded in memory. This “runtime-powered” approach means you fix what’s actually exploitable first.

Lacework FortiCNAPP Workload Protection Approach

Lacework FortiCNAPP takes the behavioral analytics approach to workload protection. The platform learns what normal looks like for each workload. Then it flags deviations.

This approach has strengths. You don’t need to define every possible attack signature. The platform notices when something unusual happens even if that specific attack pattern isn’t in a database.

The flip side: you need that learning period. And false positives can spike during periods of legitimate change. A new deployment pattern or application update might trigger alerts until the baseline adjusts.

FortiCNAPP workload protection includes:

• Behavioral baselines – establishing normal patterns for each workload
• Anomaly detection – flagging activities that deviate from baselines
• Vulnerability scanning – identifying known vulnerabilities in workloads
• Kubernetes protection – specific capabilities for K8s environments
• Agent-based monitoring – deep visibility through deployed agents

The Composite Alerts feature reduces alert fatigue. When multiple signals relate to the same underlying issue, FortiCNAPP groups them together. This makes investigation more efficient.

Integration with FortiSOAR enables automated response workflows. When FortiCNAPP detects a threat, it can trigger playbooks in FortiSOAR to contain the issue automatically.

CWPP Comparison: Detection Philosophy Differences

Here’s the core philosophical difference between these platforms:

Sweet Security asks: “What is happening right now, and is it bad?”

Lacework FortiCNAPP asks: “Is this behavior different from what we’ve seen before?”

Both questions have value. Sweet Security’s approach catches threats faster because it doesn’t wait for baseline deviation. If a process tries to exfiltrate data, that’s bad regardless of whether it’s “normal” for this workload.

FortiCNAPP’s approach catches novel threats that might not match known patterns. An attacker using legitimate tools in unusual ways would trigger behavioral alerts even without signature matches.

The best security programs might use both approaches. But if you’re choosing one platform, consider your team’s operational style.

Teams with mature SOC operations and incident response capabilities often prefer runtime-first tools like Sweet Security. They have the staff to investigate and respond to threats in real time.

Teams looking for more automated detection with less manual investigation might prefer FortiCNAPP’s behavioral approach. The baseline comparison does some of the analysis work automatically.

Cloud Detection and Response (CDR) Capabilities

Sweet Security’s Unified Detection and Response

Sweet Security positions its platform as a “Unified Cloud Native Detection and Response” solution. This isn’t just marketing language. The architecture supports detection through response in a single workflow.

When Sweet Security detects a threat, the platform provides:

• Full attack chain visibility – seeing every step the attacker took
• Affected resource identification – knowing exactly what’s at risk
• Response recommendations – suggested actions to contain the threat
• Integration hooks – connections to external response tools

The company specifically markets to SOC and Incident Response teams. This focus shows in the platform design. Features like the Cloud Security Metrics Cheat Sheet help teams track their detection and response performance over time.

Sweet Security also published a buyer’s guide focused on “What to Look for in a Detection and Response Solution.” This content suggests the company sees CDR as a core differentiator.

The “5 Steps to Boost Cloud Detection and Response in a Multi-Layered Cloud” resource from Sweet Security outlines their approach:

• Gaining visibility across all cloud layers
• Correlating signals from multiple sources
• Prioritizing alerts based on actual risk
• Providing context for faster investigation
• Enabling rapid response actions

Lacework FortiCNAPP Detection and Response Features

Lacework FortiCNAPP includes Cloud Detection and Response (CDR) as a core module. The platform identifies threats through behavioral analytics and correlates them with cloud context.

The Composite Alerts feature plays a big role here. Instead of bombarding teams with individual alerts, FortiCNAPP groups related findings. A single composite alert might include:

• An initial suspicious login
• Followed by unusual API calls
• Leading to resource modification
• And data access attempts

This correlation happens automatically. Security teams see the attack story rather than disconnected events.

FortiCNAPP’s integration with the broader Fortinet Security Fabric extends response capabilities. FortiSOAR integration enables automated playbooks. FortiGate integration allows network-level blocking. FortiWeb integration protects web applications.

This ecosystem approach has real advantages for Fortinet customers. Detection in FortiCNAPP can trigger prevention across the entire security stack.

For non-Fortinet customers, these integrations matter less. But the platform still offers standard SIEM and SOAR integrations through APIs.

CDR Response Time Comparison

Response time in cloud security breaks down into several phases:

Detection Time – How quickly does the platform identify the threat?

• Sweet Security’s runtime approach enables near-instantaneous detection for active threats
• Lacework FortiCNAPP’s behavioral approach may take longer for novel attacks while comparing to baselines

Investigation Time – How quickly can analysts understand what happened?

• Sweet Security provides runtime context immediately
• FortiCNAPP’s Composite Alerts pre-correlate information, reducing manual investigation

Response Time – How quickly can teams contain the threat?

• Sweet Security integrates with external response tools
• FortiCNAPP enables automated response through FortiSOAR for Fortinet customers

Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management (CIEM) Features

Identity and Access Risk in Sweet Security

Sweet Security addresses identity risks as part of its broader cloud security platform. The runtime-first approach applies to identity as well.

Instead of just analyzing IAM policies statically, Sweet Security tracks how identities actually behave. Which permissions do they actually use? Which resources do they actually access? This information helps right-size permissions based on real activity.

Sweet Security’s approach to identity risk includes:

• Permission usage analysis – seeing which permissions are actually exercised
• Excessive privilege identification – flagging identities with unused permissions
• Cross-account access tracking – monitoring identity activity across cloud accounts
• Service account monitoring – tracking non-human identities

The runtime context adds value here too. An identity accessing unusual resources during a detected attack becomes part of the threat story. You see not just that excessive permissions exist but whether they’re being actively misused.

Lacework FortiCNAPP CIEM Capabilities

Lacework FortiCNAPP includes CIEM as a core module. The platform analyzes cloud identity configurations and access patterns across all supported cloud providers.

FortiCNAPP’s CIEM focuses on several risk areas:

• Excessive permissions – identities with more access than they need
• Unused permissions – access rights that haven’t been exercised
• Cross-account risks – identities with access across cloud accounts
• Service account exposure – non-human identities with broad access
• Policy conflicts – permissions that create unintended access paths

The behavioral analytics engine applies to identity as well. FortiCNAPP establishes baselines for normal identity behavior. When an identity suddenly starts accessing different resources or making unusual API calls, the platform flags it.

This connects to the CDR capabilities. A compromised identity often shows behavioral changes before obvious malicious activity. FortiCNAPP can catch the early signs.

CIEM Comparison: Static vs Dynamic Analysis

Both platforms go beyond static IAM policy analysis. But they approach dynamic analysis differently.

Sweet Security watches identity behavior in runtime. The platform sees actual usage patterns as they happen. This enables immediate detection of identity misuse.

Lacework FortiCNAPP builds behavioral baselines over time. The platform detects deviations from established patterns. This can catch subtle changes that might indicate compromise.

Organizations with strict least-privilege requirements often prefer platforms that show actual permission usage. Both platforms provide this, but Sweet Security’s runtime approach makes the data available faster.

Organizations concerned about insider threats might prefer FortiCNAPP’s behavioral approach. The baseline comparison can detect legitimate users behaving suspiciously.

Code Security and Shift-Left Capabilities

Sweet Security Application Security Features

Sweet Security includes application security capabilities designed for development teams. The platform helps shift security left while maintaining runtime context.

The company markets specifically to Application Security teams. This suggests code security isn’t an afterthought but a core focus area.

Sweet Security’s approach connects development-time findings to runtime behavior. A vulnerability found in code becomes more urgent if that code path is actually executed in production. This context helps development teams prioritize fixes.

Application security features include:

• Code vulnerability scanning – identifying security issues in application code
• Dependency analysis – checking third-party libraries for known vulnerabilities
• Runtime validation – confirming which vulnerabilities are actually exploitable
• Developer workflows – integrating findings into development tools

Lacework FortiCNAPP Code Security and IaC Scanning

Lacework FortiCNAPP provides comprehensive code security capabilities. This includes both application code and Infrastructure as Code (IaC) scanning.

IaC security matters because many cloud misconfigurations originate in Terraform, CloudFormation, or Kubernetes manifests. Catching issues before deployment prevents them entirely.

FortiCNAPP code security includes:

• Infrastructure as Code scanning – checking Terraform, CloudFormation, Kubernetes manifests
• Policy as Code enforcement – defining acceptable configurations as code
• CI/CD integration – scanning in deployment pipelines
• Pre-deployment checks – blocking risky configurations before they deploy

The platform’s Policy as Code feature deserves special attention. Security teams can define what acceptable configurations look like. The platform then checks deployments against these policies automatically.

This shifts security left in a governance-friendly way. Instead of fixing misconfigurations after deployment, you prevent them entirely.

Shift-Left Comparison: Developer Experience

Developer adoption determines shift-left success. Security tools that slow down developers get ignored or circumvented.

Sweet Security focuses on prioritization. By showing which vulnerabilities actually matter at runtime, the platform reduces the noise that frustrates developers. Fewer alerts means developers pay more attention to the ones that remain.

FortiCNAPP focuses on prevention. Policy as Code and IaC scanning catch issues before deployment. Developers learn to write secure configurations because insecure ones get blocked.

Both approaches have merit. The choice often depends on organizational culture. Teams that value developer autonomy might prefer Sweet Security’s prioritization approach. Teams that need stricter governance might prefer FortiCNAPP’s policy enforcement.

AI Security Capabilities: A Newer Battleground

Sweet Security’s AI Security Focus

Sweet Security has made AI security a major focus area. The company published an “AI Security Maturity Playbook” and “AI Agent Security Best Practices Cheat Sheet” as resources for security teams.

AI security matters because AI agents and large language models introduce new risk vectors. These systems can be manipulated, can leak sensitive data, and can take actions that weren’t intended.

Sweet Security’s AI security capabilities address:

• AI agent monitoring – tracking what AI systems do in your environment
• Prompt injection detection – catching attempts to manipulate AI systems
• Data leakage prevention – stopping AI systems from exposing sensitive information
• AI workload protection – securing the infrastructure running AI systems

The company’s Series B funding specifically mentioned AI security as a focus area. This suggests ongoing investment in these capabilities.

Lacework FortiCNAPP AI and ML Capabilities

Lacework FortiCNAPP uses AI and machine learning internally for behavioral analytics. The 225 patents that transferred to Fortinet included AI-related innovations.

But there’s a difference between using AI for detection and protecting AI systems. FortiCNAPP’s current focus is on the former. The platform uses machine learning to establish behavioral baselines and detect anomalies.

Specific AI workload protection isn’t as prominently featured in FortiCNAPP’s marketing. Fortinet’s broader product portfolio does address AI security in other ways, but the CNAPP module doesn’t appear to be the primary vehicle.

AI Security Comparison: Current State and Trajectory

Sweet Security appears to be ahead on dedicated AI security features. The company has made this a strategic focus with specific resources and capabilities.

Lacework FortiCNAPP uses AI powerfully for detection but hasn’t positioned as strongly for protecting AI workloads specifically.

This matters if you’re running AI systems in production. Sweet Security’s dedicated AI security features may provide better protection for these emerging workloads.

If you’re not yet running significant AI systems, this difference matters less. Both platforms protect traditional cloud workloads effectively.

Compliance and Governance Features

Sweet Security Compliance Capabilities

Sweet Security supports compliance monitoring through its Cloud Security Metrics approach. The platform maps findings to regulatory frameworks and provides dashboard visibility.

Compliance features include:

• Framework mapping – connecting findings to specific regulatory requirements
• Continuous monitoring – checking compliance status ongoing
• Dashboard reporting – visualizing compliance posture
• Evidence collection – gathering documentation for audits

The Cloud Security Metrics Cheat Sheet suggests Sweet Security focuses on quantifiable compliance outcomes. This helps CISOs demonstrate improvement to boards and auditors.

Lacework FortiCNAPP Compliance Features

Lacework FortiCNAPP provides extensive compliance coverage. The platform supports major frameworks including CIS benchmarks, SOC 2, PCI DSS, HIPAA, and others.

Compliance features include:

• Pre-built framework mappings – out-of-box support for major regulations
• Custom policy creation – defining organization-specific requirements
• Continuous assessment – ongoing compliance checking
• Audit-ready reporting – generating documentation for compliance audits
• Multi-cloud coverage – consistent compliance across AWS, Azure, GCP, OCI

The platform’s Policy as Code feature helps maintain compliance proactively. By encoding compliance requirements as policies, teams prevent non-compliant configurations from deploying.

Compliance Comparison: Coverage vs Context

Both platforms support compliance monitoring. The difference lies in how they present compliance status.

Sweet Security adds runtime context to compliance. A compliance violation connected to an active threat gets higher priority than a theoretical exposure.

Lacework FortiCNAPP provides broader coverage. With OCI support and extensive pre-built frameworks, the platform covers more compliance scenarios out of the box.

Organizations with strict compliance requirements across multiple cloud providers might prefer FortiCNAPP’s broader coverage. Organizations wanting to focus on compliance issues that actually put them at risk might prefer Sweet Security’s contextual approach.

Integration Ecosystem and Third-Party Connections

Sweet Security Integration Approach

Sweet Security integrates with existing security tooling rather than trying to replace everything. The platform connects to:

• SIEM platforms – sending alerts to centralized logging
• SOAR tools – enabling automated response workflows
• Ticketing systems – creating issues in Jira, ServiceNow, and similar tools
• Communication tools – alerting through Slack, Teams, and email

This open approach means Sweet Security fits into existing security operations. You don’t need to rip and replace your entire stack.

Lacework FortiCNAPP Integration Ecosystem

Lacework FortiCNAPP’s integration story has two parts: the Fortinet Security Fabric and third-party connections.

Fortinet Security Fabric integrations include:

• FortiGate – network security enforcement
• FortiWeb – web application firewall
• FortiSOAR – security orchestration and response
• FortiGuard – threat intelligence services

These integrations work tightly. Detections in FortiCNAPP can trigger automated responses across the Fortinet stack. For existing Fortinet customers, this creates a unified security fabric.

Third-party integrations support standard security tools:

• SIEM platforms – Splunk, Sumo Logic, and others
• Ticketing systems – Jira, ServiceNow
• Communication tools – Slack, PagerDuty

Integration Comparison: Open vs Ecosystem

This is one of the starkest differences between the platforms.

Sweet Security takes an open approach. The platform integrates with whatever tools you already use. There’s no pressure to adopt a specific vendor ecosystem.

Lacework FortiCNAPP offers deeper integration for Fortinet customers. If you’re running FortiGate firewalls and FortiWeb WAF, the CNAPP integration creates powerful automated workflows. But this depth comes with a pull toward the Fortinet ecosystem.

Competitive analysis has noted this dynamic. FortiCNAPP is “primarily positioned to keep you inside Fortinet’s ‘Security Fabric’, locking you into Fortinet’s platform instead of using the right tools for your enterprise.”

That assessment may be harsh. Many organizations deliberately choose single-vendor stacks for simplicity. But it’s a real consideration if vendor independence matters to you.

Pricing and Total Cost of Ownership

Sweet Security Pricing Model

Sweet Security doesn’t publish specific pricing on their website. The company offers demos and custom quotes based on environment size and requirements.

Pricing factors typically include:

• Number of protected workloads
• Cloud accounts or subscriptions
• Feature modules selected
• Data retention requirements

As a growth-stage company (recently raised Series B), Sweet Security likely offers flexible pricing for competitive situations. Asking for demos from both vendors creates negotiating leverage.

Lacework FortiCNAPP Pricing Considerations

Lacework FortiCNAPP pricing also requires direct engagement. Fortinet typically prices through enterprise agreements that may include multiple products.

Pricing factors include:

• Cloud resource count
• Feature modules
• Fortinet ecosystem bundles
• Support tier

Existing Fortinet customers may have advantages. Enterprise agreements covering multiple Fortinet products often include better CNAPP pricing than standalone purchases.

Total Cost of Ownership Beyond Licensing

Licensing is just part of the cost. Consider these factors when comparing total cost:

Deployment costs:

• Sweet Security’s faster deployment may reduce initial setup costs
• Lacework FortiCNAPP’s mixed agent approach requires more deployment planning

Operational costs:

• Alert volume affects analyst time requirements
• Better prioritization (Sweet Security’s runtime context) may reduce investigation time
• FortiCNAPP’s Composite Alerts reduce manual correlation work

Training costs:

• Existing Fortinet expertise transfers to FortiCNAPP
• New Sweet Security customers need platform training

Integration costs:

• Sweet Security integrations use standard approaches
• FortiCNAPP integrations are deeper for Fortinet stack but may require professional services

Ideal Use Cases: Which Platform Fits Which Organization

When Sweet Security Makes More Sense

Sweet Security fits best for organizations that:

• Prioritize runtime threat detection – Teams facing active threats need real-time visibility
• Have mature SOC operations – The platform’s detection and response focus supports skilled analysts
• Run container-heavy environments – Runtime protection excels in containerized workloads
• Want vendor independence – The open integration approach avoids lock-in
• Need AI security now – Early AI adopters benefit from dedicated AI protection features
• Value speed to value – Faster deployment gets protection in place quickly

Sweet Security works well for cloud-native companies. Startups and digital-first enterprises often prefer its modern approach.

Financial services firms that need real-time threat detection might also prefer Sweet Security. The company specifically markets to this sector with “Fireside with CISOs: Cloud Security For Financial Sectors” content.

When Lacework FortiCNAPP Makes More Sense

Lacework FortiCNAPP fits best for organizations that:

• Already use Fortinet products – Existing customers get deeper integration benefits
• Need unified cloud and on-prem security – The Fortinet fabric spans environments
• Value behavioral analytics – Teams wanting anomaly detection benefit from the baseline approach
• Require OCI support – Oracle Cloud customers need this coverage
• Prefer single-vendor simplicity – Consolidated vendors reduce complexity
• Need comprehensive compliance coverage – Extensive pre-built framework support

Large enterprises with established Fortinet relationships are natural FortiCNAPP customers. The integration benefits justify the ecosystem investment.

Regulated industries with complex compliance requirements might prefer FortiCNAPP’s broader framework coverage. Healthcare, finance, and government organizations often fall into this category.

Hybrid Scenarios and Coexistence

Some organizations run both types of tools. This isn’t necessarily wasteful if the use cases differ.

For example, an organization might use FortiCNAPP for posture management and compliance across their entire cloud estate. Then add Sweet Security for runtime protection on critical production workloads.

This layered approach costs more in licensing. But it provides both proactive posture management and reactive threat detection.

Customer Support and Vendor Stability

Sweet Security Support and Company Trajectory

Sweet Security is a growth-stage company. The $75M Series B provides runway for continued development. But it’s smaller than Fortinet.

Support considerations:

• Customer success focus – Smaller companies often provide more personalized attention
• Product responsiveness – Feature requests may get faster attention
• Long-term stability – Venture funding means potential for acquisition or other changes

Sweet Security’s technology could make it an acquisition target. That’s not necessarily bad. But it’s a factor for organizations planning multi-year investments.

Lacework FortiCNAPP Support and Fortinet Backing

Lacework FortiCNAPP benefits from Fortinet’s scale. The acquisition provides:

• Enterprise support infrastructure – Global support teams and resources
• Long-term stability – Fortinet is a public company with stable revenue
• Continued investment – Resources for ongoing product development

Support considerations:

• Acquisition integration – Product direction may shift to serve Fortinet strategy
• Support routing – Former Lacework customers may experience changes in support relationships
• Feature prioritization – Development focus may align with Fortinet ecosystem needs

The acquisition is still relatively recent (August 2024). Integration is ongoing. Some former Lacework customers have reported changes in their experience.

Making the Decision: A Framework for Choosing

Questions to Ask Your Team

Before choosing between Sweet Security and Lacework FortiCNAPP, answer these questions:

About your environment:

• Which cloud providers do you use? (OCI support matters for FortiCNAPP)
• How containerized is your environment? (Affects runtime protection value)
• Are you running AI systems in production? (Affects AI security feature relevance)

About your existing tools:

• Do you already use Fortinet products? (Major factor for integration benefits)
• What SIEM/SOAR tools do you use? (Affects integration requirements)
• Are you willing to change existing tools? (Affects ecosystem consideration)

About your team:

• Do you have dedicated SOC analysts? (Affects runtime detection value)
• What’s your investigation capacity? (Affects alert volume tolerance)
• Do you have Fortinet expertise? (Affects FortiCNAPP learning curve)

About your priorities:

• Is real-time threat detection your top concern? (Favors Sweet Security)
• Is compliance coverage your top concern? (Favors FortiCNAPP)
• Is vendor independence a strategic priority? (Favors Sweet Security)

Evaluation Process Recommendations

Run proof-of-concept evaluations with both vendors. Here’s how to structure them:

Week 1-2: Deployment comparison

• How long does each platform take to deploy?
• What resources are required for deployment?
• When do you get first actionable data?

Week 3-4: Detection comparison

• Run controlled tests with known attack patterns
• Compare detection times and alert quality
• Assess false positive rates

Week 5-6: Operational comparison

• How much time do analysts spend on each platform?
• Which platform provides better investigation context?
• How well do integrations work?

Document everything. Quantify where possible. The evaluation data will inform the decision better than vendor presentations.

Conclusion: Sweet Security vs Lacework FortiCNAPP Summary

Sweet Security and Lacework FortiCNAPP represent different philosophies in cloud security. Sweet Security’s runtime-first approach catches threats as they happen. The platform’s AI security focus addresses emerging risks. Open integrations maintain vendor independence.

Lacework FortiCNAPP’s behavioral analytics detect subtle anomalies. Fortinet integration creates a unified security fabric. Broad coverage spans multiple clouds and compliance frameworks.

Neither platform is universally better. The right choice depends on your specific environment, team capabilities, existing tools, and strategic priorities. Evaluate both against your actual requirements.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sweet Security vs Lacework FortiCNAPP