Varonis vs. BigID
BigID focuses on data discovery and privacy workflows. Varonis goes further by combining accurate classification, automated remediation, and integrated threat detection to actively reduce data risk.
Organizations choose Varonis when they need security outcomes, not just privacy discovery and reporting.
Trusted by 8,000+ customers
Trusted by 8,000+ customers
Varonis vs. BigID
Organizations need security outcomes, not just basic discovery.
BigID's discovery-only approach creates an inventory of your problems. Varonis' data security platform solves them. See why organizations are replacing BigID's passive scanning with Varonis' active defense.
Partner with a leader in data security.
Feature Comparison
BigID only finds data. Varonis protects it.
| CAPABILITY | VARONIS | BIGID |
| Discovery & classification | Continuous, real-time discovery and classification across large, dynamic environments | Periodic, scan-based discovery that can becomes incomplete or stale |
| Classification depth & context | High-precision classification enriched with identity, permissions, usage, and exposure context | Classification focused on content and metadata, with limited security context |
| AI Security |
Full-stack AI security via AllTrue acquisition: red teaming, AI-SPM, observability, runtime protection, and compliance | Offers just inventory and governance; lacks active blocking or remediation |
| Threat detection & response | Behavior-based threat detection (UEBA) for insider threats, compromised identities, ransomware, and data exfiltration | ❌ No threat detection or real-time monitoring of data access |
| Identity & behavior analytics | Native correlation of users, service accounts, roles, and behavior to sensitive data | ❌ No identity-driven or behavior-based analytics |
| Automation & remediation | Built-in, automated remediation to reduce exposure, enforce least privilege, and lock down data at scale | Limited automation via manual workflows and ticketing systems—requires human intervention to fix risks |
| Expert Services | Offers expert 24/7 MDDR with SLA. Varonis Concierge post-sale services are included at no extra cost | No IR offering. Dedicated support and “BigID Concierge” are paid, add on licenses |
| Pricing Module | Single platform price includes classification, permissions management, threat detection, remediation, and expert services | Variable pricing based on data volume and scan depth, with core security outcomes like permission management, remediation, and privacy are sold as separate add-ons |
Why Companies Choose Varonis over BigID
Varonis continuously removes stale permissions, locks down overexposed data, and enforces lead privilege - without requiring manual intervention.
Varonis natively correlates users, service accounts, roles, and groups with the data they can access, providing context tools like Cyera lack.
Varonis monitors how data is actually accessed and used, enabling detection of insider threats, compromised accounts, and misuse - not just misconfiguration.
Varonis includes industry-recognized threat detection and response capabilities built specfically to protect sensitive data at scale, rather than relying on compliance - or privacy-oriented workflows.
Customers choose Varonis to reduce blast radius, minimize standing access, and stop data-centric attacks - not just to support privacy initiatives or maintain data inventories.
Customers choose Varonis to lower blast radius, reduce standing access, and minimize exposure, not just to inventory sensitive data.
Varonis continuously removes stale permissions, locks down overexposed data, and enforces lead privilege - without requiring manual intervention.
Varonis natively correlates users, service accounts, roles, and groups with the data they can access, providing context tools like Cyera lack.
Varonis monitors how data is actually accessed and used, enabling detection of insider threats, compromised accounts, and misuse - not just misconfiguration.
Varonis includes industry-recognized threat detection and response capabilities built specfically to protect sensitive data at scale, rather than relying on compliance - or privacy-oriented workflows.
Customers choose Varonis to reduce blast radius, minimize standing access, and stop data-centric attacks - not just to support privacy initiatives or maintain data inventories.
Customers choose Varonis to lower blast radius, reduce standing access, and minimize exposure, not just to inventory sensitive data.
BigID uses complex, modular licensing
BigID requires you to purchase a foundational license, then add separate bundles to unlock security capabilities. To match Varonis feature parity, you'll need:
-
DSPM Bundle: Permissions analysis, remediation, risks
-
Data Minimization Bundle: Deletion and privacy remediation workflows
-
Insider Threat Bundle: Retention and access management
-
BigID Concierge: Post-sale professional services (a paid add-on)
-
Designated Support Engineer: Dedicated TAM support (a paid add-on)
Why it matters: Varonis delivers discovery, classification, threat detection, remediation, professional services, and dedicated support in one predictable platform price.
BigID focuses exclusively
on discovery
BigID is fundamentally discovery and privacy-centric. It helps catalog where sensitive data exists, primarily to support governance and compliance workflows but it stops there.
Varonis goes beyond discovery to deliver true data security. By correlating sensitivity with identity, permissions, activity, and posture, Varonis doesn't just show you where data lives - we actively reduce exposure and enforce least privilege.
Why it matters: Knowing where sensitive data exists doesn't reduce risk. Securing access to it does.
BigID can't detect threats to your data
BigID does not provide threat detection, behavioral analytics, or real-time monitoring of how data is accessed. It cannot identify insider threats, compromised identities, ransomeware activity, or data exfiltration - nor support forensic investigations.
Varonis audits every data access, applies advanced behavior-based analytics, and detects threats at they happen. Combined with 24x7x365 Managed Data Detection and Response (MDDR), Varonis investigates anomalies and responds to incidents before damage spreads.
Why it matters: Data breaches aren't compliance failures - they're active attacks exploiting access in real time.
"Varonis shows you security weaknesses you didn’t think you had. And you can’t fix what you don’t know."
Michael Trofi
CISO, Cultural Institution
"Varonis gives me hard data to present to our board of directors and the ability to identify where we have issues that we need to address for compliance purposes."
Brett Brickey
CIO, TPMG
"Having Varonis’ eyes on our infrastructure to ensure we’re not missing anything has been huge."
Ken Christman
Director of IT, Mackenzie
Frequently asked questions
BigID is a data discovery and privacy tool that catalogs where sensitive data lives.
Varonis is a data security platform that discovers data and actively secures it through automated remediation, behavioral threat detection, and least privilege enforcement.
Bottom line: BigID tells you what's wrong. Varonis fixes it.
No. BigID markets "Data Detection and Response" but this identifies static risks like exposed files - not active threats. It cannot detect ransomware, lateral movement, or compromised credentials, and lacks UEBA, forensics, and MDDR.
Varonis provides integrated UEBA threat detection, full audit trail, and optional 24x7x365 MDDR to stop attacks in real time.
No. BigID focuses on data discovery, classification, and privacy workflows, but it does not provide native threat detection, identity correlation, or automated remediation.
Varonis combines discovery with real‑time activity monitoring, identity‑aware analytics, and automated risk reduction to actively protect data rather than simply inventory it.
Customers choose Varonis over BigID when they realize discovery alone doesn't reduce risk. Common reasons include:
-
Licensing complexity. BigID requires multiple bundles and paid support add-ons to match Varonis' included capabilities.
-
No threat detection. BigID can't detect ransomware, insider threats, or compromised accounts.
-
Scalability issues. Scan-based architecture struggles with large unstructured data environments.
-
Manual workflows. BigID creates tickets; Varonis automates remediation.
Varonis delivers discovery, threat detection, remediation, and expert support in one predictable price.
Discover Next-Gen DAM For Yourself
There's a new way to approach database activity monitoring.
Scale data security across thousands of databases (in the cloud and on-prem) without slowing down.
No agents. No fines. No breaches.
Schedule a personalized, 30-minute call to discuss how Varonis next-gen DAM can help you secure both structured and unstructured data in ONE unified platform.

Thank you for registering!
Add to calendar:
Ready to see the #1 Data Security Platform in action?
Ready to see the #1 Data Security Platform in action?
“I was amazed by how quickly Varonis was able to classify data and uncover potential data exposures during the free assessment. It was truly eye-opening.”
Michael Smith, CISO
"What I like about Varonis is that they come from a data-centric place. Other products protect the infrastructure, but they do nothing to protect your most precious commodity — your data."
Deborah Haworth, Director of Information Security
“Varonis’ support is unprecedented, and their team continues to evolve and improve their products to align with the rapid pace of industry evolution.”
Al Faella, CTO