Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

ApexSQL Audit VS PingCastle

Compare ApexSQL Audit VS PingCastle and see what are their differences

ApexSQL Audit logo ApexSQL Audit

SQL auditing and compliance - Meet SQL Server audit and compliance requirements for all instances across your enterprise

PingCastle logo PingCastle

Because the Active Directory security lies in the process and not in expensive tools, our solution is simple: download PingCastle and apply its methodology.
  • ApexSQL Audit Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-27
  • PingCastle Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-05-09

ApexSQL Audit features and specs

  • Comprehensive Auditing
    ApexSQL Audit provides in-depth auditing capabilities for SQL Server databases, allowing users to track and log various database activities and changes, which is essential for compliance and security purposes.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The tool features an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, which simplifies the setup and management of audit policies and the review of audit data.
  • Real-Time Monitoring
    ApexSQL Audit supports real-time monitoring of SQL Server activities, enabling users to promptly detect and respond to any suspicious activities or potential breaches.
  • Customizable Reporting
    Users can generate customizable reports that are tailored to the specific needs of their organization, facilitating better analysis and decision-making.
  • Compliance Support
    The tool helps organizations meet various regulatory requirements by providing comprehensive auditing and detailed reporting, which are crucial for compliance management.

Possible disadvantages of ApexSQL Audit

  • Resource Intensive
    Running comprehensive audits can be resource-intensive, potentially impacting the performance of the SQL Server, especially on systems with limited resources.
  • Cost
    Depending on the level of features and the size of the deployment, licensing ApexSQL Audit can be expensive, which might be a concern for smaller organizations.
  • Complex Configuration
    While the interface is user-friendly, setting up advanced audit configurations can be complex and may require significant expertise and time investment.
  • Limited Compatibility
    The tool is specifically designed for SQL Server, limiting its use for organizations that utilize a diverse set of database management systems.
  • Dependency on SQL Server
    ApexSQL Audit heavily relies on SQL Server infrastructure, which means any issues or downtime with SQL Server could affect the auditing capabilities.

PingCastle features and specs

  • Comprehensive Security Assessment
    PingCastle provides a thorough assessment of Active Directory environments, identifying potential security risks and vulnerabilities that may not be easily detectable through other means.
  • Ease of Use
    The tool is user-friendly and does not require extensive technical knowledge to operate, making it accessible to IT professionals with varying levels of expertise.
  • Detailed Reporting
    Generates detailed and customizable reports that help administrators understand their security posture and prioritize remediation efforts effectively.
  • Lightweight and Fast
    PingCastle is lightweight, typically requiring no installation, and can quickly scan even large Active Directory environments without significant impact on performance.
  • Regular Updates
    The tool is regularly updated to keep up with new security threats and changes in Active Directory security best practices.

Possible disadvantages of PingCastle

  • Limited to Active Directory
    PingCastle is specifically designed for Active Directory security assessments, limiting its applicability to environments that do not use Active Directory.
  • Lack of Real-time Monitoring
    It does not provide real-time monitoring of Active Directory environments, which means it cannot alert administrators to security issues as they occur.
  • Requires Regular Scans
    To maintain an accurate security assessment, regular scans must be conducted, which can be resource-intensive in large environments.
  • Potential False Positives
    As with many security tools, there is a potential for false positives, which can lead to unnecessary remediation efforts.
  • Limited Scope Beyond Active Directory
    While it excels in Active Directory assessment, PingCastle does not cover other aspects of network security, necessitating supplementary tools for comprehensive security management.

ApexSQL Audit videos

An introduction to ApexSQL Audit

More videos:

  • Review - ApexSQL Audit before-after auditing
  • Tutorial - How to configure ApexSQL Audit for security auditing

PingCastle videos

PingCastle Lightening Overview

More videos:

  • Review - PingCastle - La sécurisation de l'Active Directory

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to ApexSQL Audit and PingCastle)
Monitoring Tools
42 42%
58% 58
Identity And Access Management
Auditing And Compliance
43 43%
57% 57
Security & Privacy
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

Share your experience with using ApexSQL Audit and PingCastle. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, PingCastle seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 4 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

ApexSQL Audit mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of ApexSQL Audit yet. Tracking of ApexSQL Audit recommendations started around Mar 2021.

PingCastle mentions (4)

  • Any useful cybersecurity software under $5k?
    If you're doing assessments of active directory environments - checkout pingcastle.com. It's an easy to use AD assessment tool. They have a free version that you can run to check the output, if you're doing it to assess other's environments they require you to buy an auditors license. Source: over 2 years ago
  • How can I learn more about Active Directory?
    Piggy backing off this comment, I strongly suggest you go to pingcastle.com and download their free assessment tool and use it to scan your lab AD. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Domain Admin accounts best practice
    I addition to a lot of the other advice here, I strongly suggest you go to pingcastle.com and download their AD security audit tool. It's free and will generate you a nice report in HTML format on the status of your domain. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Brand New AD
    Go to pingcastle.com and download their assessment tool and make sure you fix everything it points out, a blank domain scores fairly poorly in their tool with default configurations. Source: over 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing ApexSQL Audit and PingCastle, you can also consider the following products

NetWrix Auditor - Configuration Auditing of IT Infrastructure

ManageEngine ADAudit - ManageEngine ADAudit is a real-time windows active directory auditing tool.

LepideAuditor - LepideAuditor Suite - A change auditing software for Active Directory, GPO and Exchange Server.

Raygun - Raygun gives developers meaningful insights into problems affecting their applications. Discover issues - Understand the problem - Fix things faster.

Purple Knight - Purple Knight is a free Active Directory security assessment tool built and managed by an elite group of Microsoft identity experts.

GreenSQL - GreenSQL is an Open Source database firewall used to protect databases from SQL injection attacks.