Software Alternatives & Startups

Censys VS CloudLinux

Compare Censys VS CloudLinux and see what are their differences

Censys

Censys helps organizations, individuals, and researchers find and monitor every server on the Internet to reduce exposure and improve security.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Freemium Free trial
CloudLinux

Making Linux secure, stable, and profitable for thousands of hosting providers and data centers worldwide.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, Censys seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 13 times since March 2021.

social mentions
13 vs 0
Web Application Security popularity
100% vs 0%

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

Censys
CloudLinux
Website censys.com cloudlinux.com
Pricing
Freemium Free trial Official pricing
Open source
Listed in

About Censys and CloudLinux

In their own words, as submitted to SaaSHub.

Censys
CloudLinux

Attack Surface Management (ASM) At Censys, we can see it all. Our world-leading attack surface management platform gives organizations a sixth sense — relentlessly monitoring assets, seeing the unseen, and proactively giving security teams an opportunity to solve issues before they have a chance...

Read more about Censys

No description of CloudLinux yet.

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

Censys 5 features
CloudLinux 5 features
  • Comprehensive Internet Scanning
    Censys provides extensive data on internet-facing assets, helping organizations understand their exposure and discover potential vulnerabilities across the network.
  • Real-time Monitoring
    Offers continuous monitoring of the internet to detect changes and vulnerabilities as soon as they occur, providing timely security insights.
  • Detailed Data Analysis
    Equipped with robust tools for data analysis, Censys enables users to dissect and interpret large volumes of data effectively, facilitating informed decision-making.
  • User-friendly Interface
    Censys features an intuitive and easy-to-navigate interface, making it accessible for both technical and non-technical users to utilize the platform effectively.
  • API Access
    Offers API access which allows for seamless integration with other tools and platforms, enhancing workflow automation and data management capabilities.

Possible disadvantages

  • Data Overload
    The abundance of data provided can be overwhelming, especially for users without a background in cybersecurity who may struggle to interpret the results effectively.
  • Cost
    Censys services can be costly, potentially making it less accessible for smaller organizations or startups with limited budgets.
  • Learning Curve
    While the interface is user-friendly, the platform still requires time to learn and master, particularly for users without prior experience in cybersecurity or data analysis.
  • False Positives
    As with many scanning tools, there is the potential for false positives, which may require additional verification and analysis by the user.
  • Technical Dependencies
    Using Censys effectively often requires integration with other cybersecurity tools and platforms, which may require technical expertise and support.
  • Enhanced Server Stability
    CloudLinux uses its lightweight virtualization technology (LVE) to isolate each tenant on a shared hosting server, preventing any single user from consuming excessive resources and crashing the server for everyone else. This ensures consistent uptime and performance.
  • Improved Security with HardenedPHP and KernelCare
    CloudLinux offers HardenedPHP, which patches old and unsupported PHP versions against known vulnerabilities, and KernelCare, which provides live kernel patching without requiring server reboots. These features significantly enhance server security posture.
  • Resource Limit Management
    Administrators can set granular resource limits (CPU, memory, I/O, number of processes, etc.) per user account using LVE Manager. This makes it easy to manage shared hosting environments and ensure fair resource distribution among tenants.
  • CageFS File System Virtualization
    CageFS creates a virtualized file system for each user, preventing them from seeing other users on the server, viewing sensitive configuration files, or exploiting server vulnerabilities. This adds an important layer of isolation and security.
  • Wide Compatibility with Hosting Panels
    CloudLinux integrates seamlessly with popular hosting control panels such as cPanel, Plesk, and DirectAdmin, making it straightforward for hosting providers to adopt without overhauling their existing infrastructure or workflows.

Possible disadvantages

  • Additional Licensing Cost
    CloudLinux requires a paid monthly or annual license on top of the base server cost. For smaller hosting providers or individual server owners, this additional expense can add up and may not always be justifiable compared to free alternatives.
  • Limited to CentOS/RHEL-Based Systems
    CloudLinux is built on top of RHEL/CentOS and does not support other Linux distributions like Ubuntu or Debian. This limits its adoption for hosting providers who prefer or already run non-RHEL-based environments.
  • Learning Curve for Configuration
    While CloudLinux provides powerful resource management tools, properly configuring LVE limits, CageFS, PHP Selector, and other features requires a solid understanding of the platform. Misconfiguration can lead to users being unnecessarily restricted or resources being poorly allocated.
  • Potential Performance Overhead
    The additional layers of virtualization, resource monitoring, and file system isolation introduced by CloudLinux can impose a slight performance overhead on the server compared to running a bare, unmodified Linux distribution without these controls.
  • Dependency on CloudLinux Ecosystem
    Adopting CloudLinux means relying on their ecosystem for kernel updates, PHP patches, and security fixes. If the company experiences delays in releasing patches or changes its pricing/licensing model, hosting providers may find themselves locked into a dependency that is difficult to migrate away from.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

Censys
CloudLinux

No analysis of Censys yet.

Overall verdict

  • CloudLinux is a well-regarded, mature Linux OS distribution and toolset specifically designed for shared hosting and multi-tenant server environments, offering strong isolation, resource management, and security features that make it a solid choice for hosting providers.

Why this product is good

  • Provides LVE (Lightweight Virtual Environment) technology for per-tenant resource isolation, preventing 'bad neighbor' effects on shared servers
  • Enhances server stability and security by isolating users so that one account's issues (crashes, resource spikes) don't affect others
  • Offers extended lifecycle support (longer than standard CentOS/RHEL support windows), which is valuable for legacy systems
  • Includes tools like CloudLinux OS Shield, Imunify360 integration, and hardened kernel options for improved security
  • Compatible with popular control panels like cPanel and Plesk, making it easy to integrate into existing hosting stacks
  • Backed by an established company with a long track record in the hosting industry and responsive support
  • Offers granular control over CPU, memory, I/O, and other resources per user account
  • Provides PHP Selector and multiple PHP version support, useful for hosting providers serving diverse client needs

Recommended for

  • Web hosting companies running shared or reseller hosting environments
  • Hosting providers needing to isolate customer accounts on the same physical server
  • Businesses requiring extended OS support lifecycles beyond standard RHEL/CentOS EOL dates
  • Enterprises using cPanel or Plesk that want tighter security and resource control
  • Hosting companies looking to reduce support tickets caused by noisy-neighbor resource contention
  • IT teams managing multi-tenant infrastructure who need governance and monitoring tools built into the OS layer

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

Censys 1 video + Add
CloudLinux 3 videos + Add

Attack Surface Management

When To Use Cloudlinux On Your Virtual Private Server (VPS)

More videos

  • - CloudLinux OS+ in a minute: Explore Features
  • - How CloudLinux Plans to Keep CentOS 6 Alive

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
Censys
CloudLinux
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using Censys and CloudLinux. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

Censys 13 mentions
CloudLinux 0 mentions
  • Arris NVG468MQ - get rid of it
    You should be able to see scans from censys.io, and other. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Tools for very basic security audits
    Some tools to consider: Gitleaks - open-source secret scanner for git repositories, files, and directories. Retire.js - dependency check tool for client JS code. Censys - It’s a search engine that you can use, for example, to scan any... Source: over 3 years ago
  • Is shodan api worthy for automation?
    You also have censys.io, but I do not have much experience with them. Source: over 3 years ago

View more

Tracking CloudLinux since Mar 2021.

Alternatives to Censys and CloudLinux

When comparing Censys and CloudLinux, you can also consider the following products.