In today’s SaaS and AI-driven world, selecting the right security platform can be challenging. This comparison aims to provide a clear understanding of Falcon Shield and Obsidian, focusing on their strengths, weaknesses, and key differences in areas like identity protection, SaaS supply-chain risk management, and real-time AI threat prevention.
Falcon Shield (by CrowdStrike) focuses on SaaS Security Posture Management (SSPM) inside the Falcon ecosystem.
Obsidian combines SaaS-native intelligence with real-time browser controls, giving CISOs a full-spectrum defense. Best suited for companies that need rapid deployment and deep protection against identity-driven and AI-era threats.
When it comes to pricing, Falcon Shield is typically licensed as part of the broader Falcon platform and may require additional modules to achieve comprehensive coverage, while Obsidian provides an all-in-one SaaS and browser-native security solution. This difference often makes Obsidian more cost-efficient by reducing the need for multiple add-on products and simplifying total cost of ownership.
The platform extends robust endpoint security to the SaaS and cloud identity layer, delivering AI-driven detection and streamlined incident response to help organizations maintain operational continuity and meet regulatory requirements.
SaaS Configuration & ComplianceContinuously monitor SaaS settings to meet compliance requirements like SOC 2 and ISO 27001.
Identity & Permission InventoryDiscover users, groups, and permissions across connected SaaS applications for governance and auditing.
Connected-App VisibilityDetect and catalog third-party app integrations to assess configuration risk.
Remediation Workflow ManagementIntegrate with ITSM tools to assign and track SaaS configuration fixes for IT and security teams.
Limited Real-Time Threat PreventionNo native browser-layer detection for adversary-in-the-middle (AiTM) phishing, token replay, or AI prompt exfiltration.
Dependence on Other Falcon ModulesRequires Falcon Identity, Next-Gen SIEM, or marketplace partners for advanced identity analytics and OAuth threat detection.
Manual Incident ResponseToken and session compromise typically demand tenant-by-tenant revocation and SIEM correlation.
Operational OverheadCoordinating multiple modules and integrations increases deployment complexity and time-to-value.
Ultimately, the choice between Falcon Shield and Obsidian depends on each organization’s security priorities and budget. Both platforms bring strong SaaS protection, but many security leaders select Obsidian for its built-in SaaS intelligence, real-time browser defenses, and rapid deployment that reduce operational complexity and total cost of ownership.
Mario Duarte, Vice President of Security, Snowflake
Heather Akuiyibo, VP Go-To-Market, Databricks
Øyvind Berget, Chief Technical Officer, Norma Cyber
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