IT asset management is no small feat. You’ve got hybrid environments. Thousands of accounts. Multiple clouds and chaos everywhere.
Cloudaware and Axonius aim to bring order. Both discover assets automatically, help manage configurations, and reduce manual effort.
But what sets them apart? That’s what we’ll uncover in this article.
Let’s discuss which tool fits your needs: features, integrations, and pricing. No jargon, no fluff — just the information you need to make a wise choice.
Platforms overview
What is Cloudaware CMDB?
Cloudaware CMDB is for the big players. This tool is your best friend if your company manages a maze of multi-cloud and on-prem systems. It’s like having a single, crystal-clear source of truth for all your configuration items. Everything's tracked in real-time, without throttling. Costs, vulnerabilities, CPU usage, and patch status.
But here’s the magic: Cloudaware ties it all together:
- It discovers cloud and on-prem resources,
- enriches them with additional data from the cloud and third-party tools,
- and automatically maps relationships and dependencies.
The result is a clear view of hierarchy and connections. You can see how everything is linked and get a detailed picture of your IT environment.
Cloudaware is built natively on Salesforce's Force.com platform. That’s why all the highest security standards are met. There are features like end-to-end encryption, auditing, multi-factor authentication, and role based access controls. Its scalable design allows growth with your business. Moreover, you can customize reports and workflows to fit your needs.
As one of Device42 competitors it is perfect for big enterprises with dynamic, hybrid IT setups. Cloudaware CMDB offers 50+ integrations, real-time inventory updates, and top-notch security compliance. On top of that, dedicated experts assist with platform setup and optimization.
What is Axonius?
Axonius isn’t your standard CMDB. It’s the heavy hitter for large enterprises dealing with massive, complex IT environments. No need to deploy agents. Axonius pulls in data from over 300 sources. Thus, you have a unified asset inventory across AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google, Oracle clouds, and on-prem systems.
Axonius dashboard.
So, who’s using it? Big players. Enterprises in industries like healthcare, finance, retail, and tech. If you’ve got thousands of accounts and assets scattered across various systems, Axonius keeps things neat and accessible.
Its superpower? Seamless integrations. Within hours, you can get data flowing from different tools into one cohesive view. This is a lifesaver for teams struggling with fragmented asset information.
But, it’s not perfect. Axonius excels at visibility and vulnerability management. But if you're after deep configuration management, it might fall short. It’s more about knowing what you’ve got and how secure it is than managing every little detail of those assets.
In a nutshell, Axonius is perfect for those who need fast, scalable asset management with strong security features. But, if you’re after intricate configuration management, you might need to pair it with something else.
A comparison table of Cloudaware and Axonius CMDB
| Feature | Cloudaware CMDB | Axonius |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | Multi-cloud and hybrid IT environments asset discovery and dependency mapping. There is also a security module within a platform. | Multi-cloud and on-prem infrastructure, but more security-focused. It emphasizes compliance and gap analysis across assets. |
| Tagging | System assigns tags based on CI attributes, such as environment, region, or business unit. Then, if needed, clients can customize them. | Security-related tagging, such as vulnerability status. |
| Data Enrichment | Enriches configuration items (CIs) with metadata from the cloud and third-party tools. | Enriches It assets data from security tools and integrations, with a focus on compliance. |
| Workflow Automation | Advanced automation for tasks, tagging, notifications, and compliance. | Automated gap remediation, with workflows for security and compliance tasks. |
| Relationship Mapping | Detailed CI dependency and hierarchy mapping. | Basic relationship mapping for security gaps and vulnerabilities. |
| Automated Notifications | Real-time alerts for changes, events, and workflows. | Automated alerts, mostly around security gaps and missing patches. |
| Change Detection | Tracks every CI change with detailed logs; supports approval workflows. | Gap and vulnerability detection with basic change logs. |
| Security | Built on the Salesforce Force.com platform with MFA, encryption, and auditing. | Built with data encryption, MFA, and role-based access controls. Complies with SOC 2 Type II and ISO/IEC 27001 standards. |
| Analytics and Reports | Highly customizable with real-time, interactive dashboards and filters. | Grids, diagrams, histograms, and tables limited by periodic syncs |
| Integrations | 50+ integrations, including cloud, DevOps, and security tools. | 300 integrations with a strong focus on security side. |
Now that you’ve got the basics, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and dig into the details.
Detailed Features Comparison
In this section, we compare Cloudaware and Axonius. We'll look at visibility, automation, security, and more. This helps you choose the best option, whether managing hybrid environments or scaling globally.
Comprehensive Asset and Configuration Visibility
Cloudaware focuses on everything in your IT ecosystem. You’ll see all endpoints, servers, network devices, VMs, physicall IT assets, and cloud services. On top of that, it enriches them with data from clouds and third-party tools. The next step — Cloudaware maps out relationships between IT components — like servers, VMs, network devices, and apps. Imagine seeing how a cloud service connects to your on-prem hardware or how a VM is tied to multiple security tools.
Whether on-prem or in the clouds, this CMDB automatically connects everything, no extra setup needed. Thus, you have a complete, real-time view of your infrastructure, perfect for managing hybrid IT setups.
Axonius simplifies asset discovery by pulling in data from over 300 integrated tools. No agents required. It automates the process of gathering asset data across your hybrid environment. This is especially useful for organizations with large, dynamic infrastructures.
As well as in the Cloudaware case, it focuses endpoints, servers, network devices, virtual machines (VMs), and cloud service object.
Once the assets are discovered, Axonius enriches this data with critical details. For example, there are info about CIs vulnerabilities, software versions, and security settings. This ensures you have a comprehensive, up-to-date view of each asset’s status.
| Cloudaware | Axonius CMDB | |
|---|---|---|
| Assets Discovery | Cloudaware continuously scans and discovers all instances across cloud platforms and on-premises environments. It maps each configuration item (CI) in real time. | Axonius automates asset discovery by pulling data from over 300 integrated tools, with no agents required. It provides visibility into both cloud and on-prem environments. |
| Data enrichment | Cloudaware enriches CIs with detailed data gathered from cloud services and third-party tools. It provides valuable context such as costs, vulnerabilities, patch status, and business role. | Axonius enriches asset data by integrating with various security, IT, and cloud platforms. However, the depth of enrichment may vary depending on integration and tool coverage. |
| Detailed Attributes for Each CI | Based on discovered data, the CMDB assigns attributes to build relationships. This provides the context by connecting related resources. You’ll see which cloud a CI belongs to. Applications and business units are easily identified. Details like costs, vulnerabilities, and CPU usage appear. Patch status is included for better insights. | Axonius provides insights into how assets are interconnected but with less visual depth. |
| Relationship Mapping | Cloudaware links CIs to display dependencies, relationships, and hierarchy. The CMDB displays an instance's supported application, connections, and business role. The CMDB arranges objects in a tree structure, showing interconnected items and their dependencies. | Axonius provides a straightforward grid or list format for asset discovery. |
| Visual representation | Cloudaware provides visual dashboards for CI management. They include diagrams, histograms, and lists. The CMDB Navigator organizes assets by providers, services, and regions. CMDB Search quickly locates CIs by name, ID, or attribute, providing clear, actionable insights. | Axonius displays asset discovery results in a grid, diagram, histogram formats. |
Compared to Axonius, Cloudaware shines with its advanced CIs data enrichment. Axonius collects data well, but Cloudaware excels. It offers deeper insights into asset connections. Additionally, it enhances this data with cloud and third-party information. This provides a more integrated and up-to-date view of your IT environment.
Tagging and Project Organization
Let’s talk tagging. It’s not just slapping labels on things; it’s about control and clarity. Here's how Cloudaware and Axonius stack up when keeping your infrastructure in check.
| Aspect | Cloudaware | Axonius |
|---|---|---|
| Tagging Basics | System assigns tags based on CI attributes, such as environment, region, or business unit. Then, if needed, clients can customize them. | Tags are applied to assets based on specific attributes. But the process is more manual. |
| Tagging Across Clouds | Works seamlessly across multi-cloud environments, standardizing the tagging process across providers. | Users may need to manage tagging across different cloud environments separately. |
| Customization Options | Tags can be automatically assigned through workflows. For example, they can be based on predefined CI attributes, such as environment, region, or business unit. | Custom tags are created manually, offering less automation and flexibility. |
| Tag Validation | The Tag Analyzer ensures all assets are tagged consistently. It helps maintain tagging standards across the platform. | Axonius doesn’t have a built-in tag validation feature. Inconsistent tagging may arise. |
| Automation | Tags can automatically adjust based on changes in the environment (like resource movements or updates). | Manual updates are required to adjust tags when asset attributes change. |
| Grouping of Assets | The Virtual Applications group assets by specific applications or business units. It uses tags, CI attributes, and custom logic. | Axonius allows users to categorize assets into groups, but this needs to be manually organized. |
| Dynamic Grouping | Groupings automatically updated based on tag changes or resource attributes. | Grouping is static, requiring manual updates when assets change. |
Cloudaware offers dynamic tagging with Tag Analyzer and automated grouping via virtual apps. It's ideal for managing complex, multi-cloud environments with frequently changing assets.
Axonius allows tagging across integrations, but is less automated. It's ideal for organizations that prefer manual tagging, especially in stable environments. On the other hand, Cloudaware excels in automated tagging and real-time management in multi-cloud setups. If you need manual control and flexibility, Axonius is a good choice.
Workflow Automation
Both Cloudaware and Axonius provide robust automation capabilities, tailored to distinct needs.
Cloudaware takes workflow automation to the next level. It doesn’t just simplify tasks; it turns your CMDB into an action hub.
Workflows handle field updates, attach assets, manage tags, and flag incidents automatically. No need to micromanage these processes — it’s all on autopilot.
Got alerts? Cloudaware ensures your team stays in the loop. Email notifications and Slack updates can be triggered instantly for critical events.
The magic lies in customization. Workflows adapt to your unique setup. You can define triggers based on CI attributes, relationships, or even time-based criteria.
Example? Automating updating security groups in AWS. Adjusting storage buckets in Google Cloud. Tweaking load balancers in Azure. Cloudaware tracks assets security, notifies the right team, and logs the issue. All without lifting a finger.
Axonius is all about automation for gap analysis. It hunts down compliance or configuration gaps. Think missing EDR software or unpatched assets.
The magic? It doesn’t just find issues — it fixes them. Workflows automatically trigger remediation tasks. No more chasing updates manually.
Integration is seamless with tools like ServiceNow and Jira. These workflows ensure issues are tracked, fixed, and closed.
But here’s the catch. Axonius isn’t as focused on deep CMDB workflows. It shines brightest in security and compliance automation.
| Feature | Cloudaware | Axonius |
|---|---|---|
| Automation Complexity | Advanced, supports multi-cloud and hybrid environments. | Comprehensive yet user-friendly. It excels in aggregating and correlating IT assets and security data. |
| Automation Scope | Field updates, tagging, compliance checks, incident and ticket creation. | Focuses on automating data aggregation, reporting, and security policy validation. |
| Custom Workflows | Once data is in Cloudaware, it becomes fully actionable. With workflows, you can customize tasks based on CI attributes, relationships, and events. | Pre-built queries for security and operational policies workflows. |
| Trigger-Based Actions | Trigger actions based on CI attributes, tags, or relationships. | Automates tasks based on queries like “devices without EDR installed” or “unpatched systems.” |
| Automated Notifications | Real-time notifications for any data in the system. | Sends alerts for policy violations, configuration drift, or unprotected devices. |
| Use Case | Problem: Expired certificate causes business disruption. Solution: Create a time-based workflow to notify you to update the certificate 30 days before expiration. Asset: ACM Certificate. Criteria: Expiration Date < 30 days from Current Date. Action: Send an email and create a Jira ticket. | Problem. Endpoint devices are missing Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) software. Solution. Build a workflow to identify and remediate devices without EDR installed. Asset. Endpoint devices (e.g., laptops, desktops, mobile devices). Criteria. Devices not meeting the query “EDR installed = No.” Action: Email the IT security team about listing the non-compliant devices. Open a ticket for remediation. Trigger a follow-up task to install or verify the EDR installation on the identified devices. |
Does your focus is managing a complex CMDB with deep customization? Multi-cloud automation? Dependency mapping? Choose Cloudaware. If your priority is security-driven workflows and identifying compliance gaps. Opt for Axonius.
Change Management
Cloudaware’s got change management down to a science. Everything in your CMDB can be tracked, and when something changes, it’s logged. Think of it like a watchful guardian, catching every tweak, whether a small config change or a significant shift.
- Change Detection. Every time something changes in a resource, it’s tracked. Thus, you have all changes recorded and saved in the history.
- Approval Process. Need a second opinion before a change goes through? Cloudaware can set up custom approval workflows.
- Automated Actions. Cloudaware can trigger emails, create Jira tickets, and execute tasks based on changes.
- Tracking History. Changes get logged in real time. You’ll know exactly what happened and when.
Axonius CMDB shines in addressing endpoint management issues. But its change management capabilities are less CMDB-specific.
- Change Detection. Identifies changes primarily related to security and compliance gaps. There is no full CMDB change tracking.
- Approval Process. No dedicated approval workflows for changes.
- Tracking History. Focuses on security-related changes, but lacks comprehensive CMDB-level history.
| Feature | Cloudaware CMDB | Axonius |
|---|---|---|
| Change Detection | Tracks every change in detail and records them. So you can look back and see exactly what happened. | Tracks security and compliance-related changes |
| Approval Process | Customizable approval workflows | None |
| Automated Actions | Incident and ticket creation, fields updates, start/stop instances, tagging, compliance checks. | Remediation workflows for compliance gaps |
| Tracking History | Detailed change logs for every object | Limited to security or compliance events |
| Visibility | Real-time updates on changes and status | Security-focused visibility |
| Use Case | Problem. Your SSL certificate expires soon. Solution. Cloudaware can notify you 30 days before the certificate expires. It can also trigger a Jira ticket or email to ensure the certificate is updated in time. | Problem. An endpoint lacks required EDR software. Solution. Axonius detects the issue and triggers an automated task to deploy the missing software through integrated IT tools. |
For complex, real-time change tracking across hybrid environments, Cloudaware is the clear choice. It excels in CMDB-focused workflows and offers robust logging, approvals, and automation. Axonius is better suited for organizations prioritizing endpoint security and compliance. Unfortunately, this platform lacks the depth needed for detailed CMDB change management.
Integrations
This is where it gets interesting. Both tools integrate with other platforms, but the scope and depth differ.
Cloudaware is one of the best Axonius competitors. It is like that toolkit you wish you had for your hybrid cloud environment. The platform is packed with integrations that cover everything from cloud services to security tools and DevOps platforms. You can connect anything you need, especially if juggling multiple cloud platforms and services.
- 50+ integrations
- Cloud services.
- Security tools.
- Monitoring tools.
- Billing integrations.
- DevOps tools.
- Custom integrations via API.
If your environment is multi-cloud and you need all your tools to talk to each other, Cloudaware is your buddy. It's built for complex infrastructures and has integrations for almost everything.
Axonius integrations takes a different approach. It shines by integrating deeply with security and IT management tools for asset visibility and compliance.
- 300+ integrations
- Security platforms: CrowdStrike, Palo Alto, Cisco Umbrella.
- IT service management: ServiceNow, Jira.
- Cloud services. AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and Oracle Cloud.
- Endpoint management: Microsoft SCCM, VMware Workspace ONE.
- Need something specific? Axonius offers custom API integrations.
| Feature | Cloudaware CMDB | Axonius CMDB |
|---|---|---|
| Total Integrations | 50+ integrations | 300+ integrations |
| Cloud Integrations | AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle, Alibaba | AWS, Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), and Oracle Cloud |
| Security Integrations | Tenable, Qualys, Rapid7 and more. | CrowdStrike, Palo Alto, Cisco |
| DevOps Tools | Ansible, Puppet, Chef, Jenkins, Nagios, Terraform | No DevOps-specific tools |
| Monitoring Tools | CloudWatch, New Relic, Datadog, Nagios, Pingdom, Sensu, Wormly, Sumo logic, Zabbix. | WhatsUp Gold, Zenoss, Syxsense |
| Physical Asset Tracking | Any physical infrastructure using Breeze agent. | There’s no integrations for physical asset tracking |
| Custom Integrations | Yes, with API support | RESTful APIs |
If you're tackling hybrid clouds and need robust CMDB capabilities, Cloudaware is your MVP. Its integrations streamline asset and configuration management across clouds and tools.
Companies focusing on endpoint security, compliance, or IT policy enforcement choose Axonius. It leads the way with an expansive library of integrations tailored to security and IT management.
It all depends on your environment’s complexity and priorities.
Reporting and Analytics
When managing assets, you need clear visibility into their status, maintenance, and lifecycle. Both Cloudaware and Axonius offer reporting capabilities. But they cater to slightly different needs, especially regarding how the data is presented and the level of customization you can do.
Cloudaware’s reporting is for cloud-based asset management. It focuses on monitoring cloud resources like VMs, storage, and services. Here’s an example of how it looks:
- Report Format. Cloudaware offers a mix of tables and interactive dashboards.
- Customization. Cloudaware allows you to customize reports and dashboards based on:
- Time Periods. You can set up reports for daily, weekly, monthly, or even custom date ranges. This makes it easy to track trends over time.
- Custom Filters. You can add filters to view specific groups of assets by region, cost threshold, cloud account, application, business unit, tags, and more.
- Data Segmentation. Customize how data is segmented by different asset types, tags, account IDs, or regions.
- Analytics:
- Real-Time Data. The reports show always-up-to-date data on asset usage and costs, even if generated earlier.
- Cost Analytics. It provides detailed insights into cloud asset costs. You can track over-budget usage and detect cost anomalies. Costs can be broken down by applications, lines of business, tags, or other dimensions. Reserved Instances (RIs) and Kubernetes costs are also tracked separately for better management.
- Historical Trends. Analyze trends over different periods, helping you spot patterns and manage asset lifecycles.
Axonius approaches reporting with a strong focus on security and compliance. It offers summary dashboards and tables, complemented by basic graphing options. Yes, the customization isn’t extensive. But it does allow filtering by integrations, asset attributes, and compliance gaps. This is particularly useful for pinpointing issues quickly.
Historical data is available with customizable time ranges. However, real-time updates depend on periodic syncs, not constant updates.
Here’s what it does well:
- Segments data by integrations or detected gaps, like missing patches.
- Provides compliance-focused analytics and remediation insights.
- Supports CSV and PDF export for easy sharing.
The visualization is basic, designed for fast decision-making rather than in-depth analysis. If your main priority is security gap analysis and quick remediation, Axonius is your option. It’s streamlined and efficient, but don’t expect bells and whistles.
| Feature | Cloudaware | Axonius |
|---|---|---|
| Report Format | Tables, interactive dashboards (charts, graphs) | Tables, summary dashboards |
| Customization | Highly customizable dashboards with filters. | Focused on compliance and integrations |
| Time Period Options | Daily, Weekly, Monthly, Custom date ranges | Daily, weekly, or monthly |
| Asset Type Focus | Cloud and physical assets | Cloud and physical assets |
| Data Segmentation | By any logic. For example, by tags, accounts, regions, business units, application, and more. | Asset types, compliance gaps, or devices and users |
| Real-Time Data | Yes, always up-to-date | Limited, sync-driven |
| Analytics Capabilities | Cloudaware can display and analyze all the data available within the platform. | Compliance and security remediation |
| Data Visualization | Yes, interactive dashboards (charts, graphs) | Basic summary dashboards |
| Historical Reporting | Yes, for all data across all Cloudaware modules | Yes, with maintenance history and depreciation tracking |
| Approval Workflow Reports | Yes, with approval statuses and workflow tracking | The system focuses on data visibility and compliance rather than approval management. |
| Export Options | Yes, to CSV, Excel, PDF | CSV, PDF |
| Custom Reports | Yes, with filters and dynamic parameters | Users can choose which sections of data or charts are included. And they can be scheduled for recurring delivery. |
Pricing
How much does Cloudaware CMDB cost?
Cloudaware’s CMDB pricing is server-based, starting with a minimum of 50 servers and 1 user. For example, the cost for 100 servers is approximately $400 per month.
Cloudaware offers tiered pricing with discounts based on the number of servers. An easy-to-use calculator on the pricing page allows you to estimate costs for your specific infrastructure.
Additionally, Cloudaware provides a 30-day free trial to explore its features.
How much does Axonius cost?
Axonius pricing uses a flexible model. It depends on factors like asset count, environment complexity, and needed integrations. Generally, pricing increases with the number of devices, assets, and integrations involved.
On average, Axonius costs around $55,000 per year, or roughly $4,583 per month. However, some organizations may pay as much as $126,000 annually, especially if they have complex needs.
For those uncertain about the investment, Axonius offers a 14-day free trial. You can explore its features without commitment before deciding if it suits your needs.
Which tool is right for you?
Cloudaware excels in managing hybrid cloud environments. It automates configuration syncs across AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud. You can customize reports and dashboards to track costs, usage, and trends. Real-time notifications and workflows ensure you stay on top of any critical changes. Pricing is flexible and subscription-based.
Axonius is more security-focused. It's great for gap analysis and compliance reporting, identifying vulnerabilities and missing software. If you need automated remediation for security gaps, Axonius is a strong contender. The price scales with your assets, averaging around $55,000 annually, but could go higher depending on complexity.
If cloud management is your priority, Cloudaware offers more comprehensive features. If security and compliance remediation are key, Axonius may be the better fit.