If you’re evaluating Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps for cloud access security broker (casb) software, the three strongest independent alternatives in our editorial ranking are Netskope, Forcepoint CASB, Trellix CASB. Each has a different best-fit buyer — the right choice depends on team size and workflow, not on which has the loudest review-site presence.
Why Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps sometimes isn’t the right pick: Google Workspace-anchored shops, AWS-native cloud-first organizations, Slack-first companies, or buyers needing deepest CASB feature depth (Netskope better). See full “worst for” verdict →
9 Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps alternatives
| Rank | Product | Best for | Target size | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Netskope | Mid-market to enterprise buyers (1,000-50,000+ employees) leading with CASB or DLP needs and consolidating multiple cloud-security tools onto one SSE platform. | 1,000-100,000+ | ○ Quote-only |
| #3 | Forcepoint CASB | Existing Forcepoint multi-product customers (NGFW + DLP + CASB + web) maintaining current investment, or federal / regulated buyers leveraging Forcepoint ONE FedRAMP authorization. | 1,000-50,000+ | ○ Quote-only |
| #4 | Trellix CASB | Existing Trellix XDR multi-product customers maintaining their stack, or buyers wanting CASB tightly coupled with XDR cross-signal. | 1,000-50,000+ | ○ Quote-only |
| #5 | Cisco Cloudlock | Cisco-anchored customers consolidating onto Cisco Secure Access; existing Cloudlock customers maintaining investment. | 1,000-100,000+ | ○ Quote-only |
| #6 | Lookout | Organizations (500-25,000 employees) needing mobile-threat defense plus CASB in one vendor, especially BYOD-heavy or regulated industries with mobile workforce. | 500-25,000 | ○ Quote-only |
| #7 | Forcepoint ONE (Bitglass) | Forcepoint buyers preferring agentless reverse-proxy CASB for BYOD or unmanaged-device fleets, or existing Bitglass customers who migrated to Forcepoint ONE. | 500-25,000 | ○ Quote-only |
| #8 | Trend Micro Cloud App Security | Existing Trend Vision One customers consolidating XDR + CASB in one vendor, particularly Microsoft 365-anchored shops with API-based protection as primary use case. | 500-50,000 | ◐ Partial |
| #9 | CyberArk Cloud Access Security | Organizations where privileged access is the anchor security control and CASB is a complementary pillar; existing CyberArk PAM customers extending into cloud-app access. | 1,000-100,000+ | ○ Quote-only |
| #10 | iboss | Mid-market to enterprise (1,000-25,000 employees) wanting one-vendor SSE consolidation below Zscaler scale; education, federal, and regulated industries. | 1,000-25,000 | ○ Quote-only |
Which alternative for which buyer
Netskope
Deepest CASB heritage with full SSE breadth and persistent IPO speculation.
Mid-market to enterprise buyers (1,000-50,000+ employees) leading with CASB or DLP needs and consolidating multiple cloud-security tools onto one SSE platform.
SMBs under 500 employees (overkill, Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps via E5 or iboss cheaper), Microsoft-anchored shops with M365 E5 already paid for, or buyers wanting transparent published pricing.
Forcepoint CASB
Legacy Forcepoint CASB now consolidating into Forcepoint ONE under Francisco Partners.
Existing Forcepoint multi-product customers (NGFW + DLP + CASB + web) maintaining current investment, or federal / regulated buyers leveraging Forcepoint ONE FedRAMP authorization.
Net-new buyers without existing Forcepoint stack (Netskope or Microsoft cleaner choices), Microsoft 365 E5-anchored shops, or buyers wanting transparent published pricing.
Trellix CASB
McAfee Enterprise + FireEye merger product line under STG with persistent roadmap-clarity questions.
Existing Trellix XDR multi-product customers maintaining their stack, or buyers wanting CASB tightly coupled with XDR cross-signal.
Net-new CASB buyers without existing Trellix investment (Netskope or Microsoft cleaner), buyers seeking clear product-line roadmap, or organizations sensitive to PE-ownership turbulence.
Cisco Cloudlock
API-based CASB folded into Cisco Secure Access; standalone procurement is rare.
Cisco-anchored customers consolidating onto Cisco Secure Access; existing Cloudlock customers maintaining investment.
Non-Cisco buyers (Netskope or Microsoft cleaner choices), buyers needing inline CASB depth, or organizations wanting transparent published pricing.
Lookout
Mobile + endpoint heritage with CASB inherited from CipherCloud merger.
Organizations (500-25,000 employees) needing mobile-threat defense plus CASB in one vendor, especially BYOD-heavy or regulated industries with mobile workforce.
Pure CASB buyers without mobile-threat use case (Netskope better), Microsoft 365 E5-anchored shops, or buyers wanting transparent published pricing.
Forcepoint ONE (Bitglass)
Bitglass CASB folded into Forcepoint ONE under Francisco Partners; the modern Forcepoint CASB SKU.
Forcepoint buyers preferring agentless reverse-proxy CASB for BYOD or unmanaged-device fleets, or existing Bitglass customers who migrated to Forcepoint ONE.
Microsoft 365-anchored shops with modern auth requirements (compatibility friction), buyers wanting transparent published pricing, or organizations sensitive to PE-ownership turbulence.
Related editorial
- Full Top 10 Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) Software for 2026 ranking with comparison table and decision matrix →
- Who shouldn’t buy Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps? Editorial “worst for” verdict →
- Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps vendor trust score (6 dimensions, dated) →
- Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps full intelligence profile →
Last updated 2026-05-10. Rankings reflect editorial judgment based on the published Top 10 Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) Software for 2026. We accept no vendor payments. Found something inaccurate? Tell us.