The database security market is growing from $14.82 billion in 2025 to a projected $32.89 billion by 2030 at 17.5% CAGR. SQL injection remains among the top security threats in 2025, with CVE-2025-59499 (CVSS 8.8) affecting multiple SQL Server versions in November 2025. The convergence of database security with Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) is reshaping the market, with Microsoft Purview DSPM reaching general availability in early April 2026.
Compliance pressures intensify with HIPAA 2025 updates making encryption mandatory (no longer addressable), PCI-DSS 4.0.1 effective April 2025, and DORA fully enforced for financial institutions by 2026.
How We Evaluated
We assessed database activity monitoring including real-time visibility, threat detection, and behavioral analytics. Encryption capabilities covering transparent data encryption, field-level encryption, and key management mattered. Access control including privilege management, masking, and separation of duties was evaluated. Cloud database coverage across AWS RDS, Azure SQL, GCP BigQuery, and modern data platforms like Snowflake and Databricks counted heavily. SIEM/SOAR integration for security operations workflow inclusion was important. Compliance automation for PCI-DSS, HIPAA, SOX, and GDPR rounded out the criteria.
1. Imperva Data Security
Score: 95/100
Imperva is the database security market leader with the most comprehensive Database Activity Monitoring (DAM) platform. The Data Security Fabric provides unified protection across on-premises and cloud databases with 260+ built-in integrations. Support for 65+ data sources including Oracle, SQL Server, MongoDB, and cloud-native databases.
Market-leading DAM with 65+ data source support. 260+ built-in SIEM integrations including Splunk, Microsoft Sentinel, and Graylog. Comprehensive cloud coverage: RDS, Aurora, Azure SQL, Google Cloud SQL. Data discovery and classification with risk analytics. Dynamic masking and blocking for sensitive data protection. Hybrid deployment supporting cloud SaaS and on-premises. Starting at $59/month with customized enterprise plans.
Best for: Enterprises requiring the most comprehensive DAM coverage across hybrid and multi-cloud database environments
2. IBM Guardium
Score: 92/100
IBM Guardium provides enterprise-grade database security with the deepest mainframe and legacy database support. Data Detection and Response (DDR) capabilities launched in 2025 extend beyond traditional DAM to proactive threat hunting. Strong in regulated industries with comprehensive compliance reporting.
Data Detection and Response (DDR) for proactive threat hunting. Strongest mainframe and legacy database support including DB2, Sybase, Teradata. Cloud deployment on AWS, Azure, GCP, and OCI with v11.5+. Kubernetes deployment via Amazon EKS and ROSA. Automated data discovery and classification. Real-time activity monitoring with dynamic blocking and redaction. Containerized scanner for cloud-native environments.
Best for: Large enterprises with mainframe and legacy database requirements needing comprehensive compliance automation
3. Oracle Database Security
Score: 89/100
Oracle provides native security for Oracle databases with Audit Vault and Database Firewall for activity monitoring, Database Vault for privilege controls, and native Transparent Data Encryption. Deep integration advantages for Oracle-centric environments but limited cross-platform capabilities.
Native integration with Oracle Database for deepest protection. Audit Vault and Database Firewall for activity monitoring and SQL injection prevention. Database Vault with Realms and Operations Control for privilege management. Transparent Data Encryption (TDE) built into database engine. Key Vault for centralized key management. Cloud-native on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure. Audit Vault: $6,000/processor, Database Vault: $11,500/processor.
Best for: Oracle-centric environments requiring native database security with deep engine integration
4. Thales CipherTrust Data Security Platform
Score: 87/100
Thales CipherTrust provides comprehensive encryption and key management across databases and file systems. The platform delivers 221% ROI over three years with payback in under six months according to Thales studies. Strong tokenization and dynamic masking capabilities complement encryption.
Transparent encryption across databases and file systems. Centralized key management with multi-cloud support (AWS, Azure, GCP). Tokenization and dynamic data masking. Data Risk Intelligence (DRI) for risk visibility. Multiple SIEM log formats: RFC-5424, CEF, LEEF. Data Protection on Demand (DPoD) SaaS marketplace. Community Edition available free. 221% ROI over 3 years with <6 month payback.
Best for: Organizations requiring comprehensive encryption and key management with strong tokenization capabilities
5. Fortanix Data Security Manager
Score: 85/100
Fortanix provides HSM-grade encryption and key management with quantum-resistant capabilities. NIST post-quantum algorithms supported in 2025 updates position Fortanix for the quantum transition. Strong secrets management and tokenization complement database encryption.
FIPS-validated HSM with quantum-resistant encryption (NIST algorithms). Enterprise key management with multi-cloud external key management. Transparent database encryption for Oracle, SQL Server, MongoDB. MongoDB CSFLE (Client-Side Field-Level Encryption) support. Secrets management for application credentials. Format-preserving tokenization. SaaS, on-premises appliance, and hybrid deployment. Custom pricing via AWS Marketplace.
Best for: Organizations prioritizing HSM-grade security with quantum-resistant encryption for long-term data protection
6. Informatica Data Security
Score: 83/100
Informatica provides data masking and security as part of the Intelligent Data Management Cloud (IDMC). The Salesforce acquisition in 2025 extends reach and integration capabilities. Strong unstructured data governance capabilities launched in 2025.
Persistent and dynamic data masking. Format-Preserving Encryption (FPE) for database fields. Data discovery and classification across structured and unstructured data. Policy pushdown to Databricks, AWS Redshift, and Microsoft Fabric. Unstructured Data Governance launched 2025. AI Governance capabilities with Google Vertex AI integration. Part of Salesforce ecosystem post-2025 acquisition.
Best for: Organizations with Informatica data management investments wanting integrated security across the data lifecycle
7. Satori Data Security Platform
Score: 81/100
Satori provides agentless database security with just-in-time access controls for modern data platforms. Acquired by Commvault in August 2025, extending data security into the backup and recovery ecosystem. Strong LLM monitoring and prompt protection for AI data pipelines.
Agentless DAM via proxy architecture. Just-in-time data access with time-limited permissions. LLM monitoring and prompt protection for AI pipelines. Automated discovery and classification. Dynamic security policy enforcement. Support for Snowflake, Databricks, Redshift, MongoDB Atlas. Commvault acquisition August 2025 adds backup ecosystem. Yearly subscription based on active data users.
Best for: Organizations with modern cloud data platforms requiring agentless security with AI/LLM data governance
8. Immuta Data Security Platform
Score: 79/100
Immuta provides attribute-based access control (ABAC) with privacy-enhancing technologies for analytics platforms. Immuta AI and Copilot launched in 2025 for automated policy creation and access recertification. Strong differential privacy and anonymization capabilities.
Attribute-based access control (ABAC) for fine-grained permissions. Dynamic data masking at query time with no performance impact. Privacy-enhancing technologies including differential privacy. Immuta AI and Copilot for automated policy creation. Access Recertification and Policy Recommendation engine. Native integrations: Snowflake, Databricks Unity Catalog, BigQuery, Redshift. Audit log export to Amazon S3 for compliance.
Best for: Analytics-focused organizations requiring ABAC and privacy-enhancing technologies for data democratization
9. Privacera
Score: 77/100
Privacera provides data access governance with the first AI Governance platform (PAIG) in the industry. Named a GigaOm Radar Leader for Data Access Governance for the fourth consecutive year in 2025. 50+ data connectors for comprehensive enterprise coverage.
GigaOm Radar Leader for Data Access Governance (4th consecutive year). PAIG (Privacera AI Governance) first-to-market for AI data governance. 50+ data connectors for enterprise-wide governance. Tag-based, role-based, and attribute-based access control. Snowflake Premier Partner with native integration. Cross-platform auditing for compliance. Cloud-native SaaS with multi-cloud support.
Best for: Organizations prioritizing AI governance with comprehensive data access controls across multi-cloud environments
10. Protegrity Data Security Platform
Score: 75/100
Protegrity provides vaultless tokenization and field-level data protection with strong Snowflake and cloud data warehouse integration. Developer Edition (September 2025) and AI Team Edition (November 2025) extend protection to AI development workflows.
Vaultless tokenization for scalable protection. Format-preserving encryption for database fields. Cloud Protect for Snowflake with native integration. Serverless cloud functions for auto-scaling. Developer Edition (September 2025) with Python SDK. AI Team Edition (November 2025) for agentic AI workflow protection. SDK and REST API options for custom integration. Azure Marketplace availability.
Best for: Organizations requiring vaultless tokenization for cloud data warehouses with emerging AI pipeline protection
Market Outlook
Database security is converging with DSPM, data governance, and AI governance into unified data security platforms. The Commvault-Satori acquisition signals that database security is becoming part of broader data protection and resilience ecosystems. Key trends for 2026 include Microsoft Purview DSPM general availability, mandatory HIPAA encryption requirements, and growing focus on AI/LLM data pipeline protection.
Organizations should prioritize platforms with comprehensive cloud database coverage, DSPM integration capabilities, and emerging AI data governance as LLM adoption accelerates.