CGPulse

CGPulse scans Azure and AWS resources for misconfigurations and tracks cloud compliance against policy rules and frameworks. Its listed coverage includes 621 policy rules across 19 frameworks, with Azure, AWS, and cross-cloud rules. Scans use read-only access and do not modify cloud resources. Users can review supported fixes before applying them, and fixes considered dangerous require a warning and confirmation. The service can generate Terraform, Bicep, and CLI remediation templates, while a YAML editor lets users create custom compliance rules. It provides a REST API and an MCP server for AI assistants including Claude and Copilot. Documentation says data is stored in Azure Cosmos DB in the EU North Europe region, encrypted at rest, with tenant data separated by partition keys. CGPulse offers a free plan and paid plans: Team is €99/mo and Business is €299/mo; Team and Business include a 7-day trial. The free plan lists two cloud accounts and 10 monthly scans. CGPulse describes itself as a posture assessment tool, not a certified compliance audit.

CGPulse combines cloud posture scanning with policy tracking and reviewed remediation options. Its documentation clearly distinguishes posture assessment from certified compliance auditing.

CGPulse suits cloud security engineers, compliance officers, GRC managers, DevOps and platform engineers, and engineering leaders who need to assess cloud configurations against policies.

CGPulse is a multi-cloud posture and policy-tracking service for Azure and AWS. It suits security, compliance, and platform teams that want repeatable checks plus controlled remediation artifacts. The strongest case is broad policy coverage with read-only assessment; organizations needing a certified audit should choose a different kind of service.

Overview

CGPulse evaluates Azure and AWS resources for configuration problems and measures them against policy rules and compliance frameworks. Its multi-cloud scope is useful when one team governs both providers, while the policy-as-code approach gives compliance and engineering groups a shared way to express requirements. Scanning uses read-only access, so an assessment does not itself alter production resources.

The boundary is important: CGPulse is a posture assessment tool, not a certified compliance audit. Use its findings to guide remediation and internal oversight, not as a substitute for an auditor’s certification.

Key features

The service covers 621 policy rules across 19 frameworks, including Azure, AWS, and cross-cloud rules. That is substantial breadth for teams consolidating checks across providers, although the practical value depends on whether those frameworks match the obligations you need to track.

Custom rules can be authored in a YAML editor, and drift detection helps identify when environments move away from the intended state. Supported fixes are available after review; dangerous fixes require a warning and explicit confirmation. This review gate is a sensible fit for production operators who want automation without unrestricted changes, but it means remediation is not a completely hands-off process.

CGPulse can generate Terraform, Bicep, and CLI remediation templates. Those exports let infrastructure teams turn a finding into a change that can pass through existing code and deployment workflows. A REST API and MCP server integrate with AI assistants such as Claude and Copilot, with the full API and MCP server reserved for Business.

Security documentation describes storage in Azure Cosmos DB in the EU North Europe region, encryption at rest, and tenant isolation through per-tenant partition keys. Vulnerability reports sent to [email protected] receive a response commitment within 48 hours.

Pricing

The Free plan is appropriate for a small environment or an initial evaluation, but ten scans, two accounts, one initiative, and five fixes per month impose clear operating limits; its PDF reports are watermarked. Team removes the scan cap and expands account and initiative capacity, making it the practical tier for a growing security or compliance function. Business is aimed at larger estates that need unlimited scale, hourly visibility, longer audit history, and AI or API integration. Paid plans start at €99/mo, and the listed trials last 7 days.

Platforms

CGPulse is offered through web and API access. Its multi-cloud coverage spans Azure and AWS, with infrastructure-oriented outputs for Terraform, Bicep, and CLI workflows.

Who it's for

Cloud security engineers can use read-only scans, drift detection, and reviewed fixes to manage exposure. Compliance officers and GRC managers get framework tracking, initiatives, and custom YAML rules for translating requirements into checks. DevOps and platform engineers benefit from remediation templates that can be carried into infrastructure code. CTOs and VPs of Engineering get a cross-cloud view and, on Business, API, MCP, hourly scans, and a 365-day log. It is not the right primary tool for organizations whose requirement is certified audit evidence.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Broad multi-cloud policy coverage: 621 rules across 19 frameworks reduce the need to assemble separate provider checks.
• Controlled remediation: Read-only assessment and confirmation for dangerous fixes limit unwanted production changes.
• Engineering-friendly outputs: Terraform, Bicep, and CLI templates connect findings to infrastructure workflows.
• Extensible policy model: YAML custom rules and drift detection support organization-specific controls.

Cons

• Not a certified audit: Its posture-assessment scope cannot replace formal compliance certification.
• Strict Free limits: Two accounts, ten scans, one initiative, and five fixes per month restrict ongoing use.
• Key integrations are tier-gated: Full REST API and MCP access require Business at €299/mo.
• Watermarked Free reports: The no-cost tier is less suitable for polished external reporting.

Alternatives

OmniGCloud is the better fit when a lower-cost Team plan at $39 per seat per month, self-hosting, or a single SaaS workspace with connector-based governance is the priority.

Powerpipe is an open-source option for teams wanting a free tool across Linux, macOS, Windows, self-hosted, and web environments.

AWS Control Tower suits organizations standardizing governance within AWS and accepting usage charges for underlying AWS services.

Cloud Custodian is preferable when an Apache 2.0 open-source policy tool is the requirement.

CloudBolt is an alternative for broader cloud-management capabilities, with a free tier covering up to 100 resources.

Google Cloud Organization Policy is the focused choice for Google Cloud organization policy controls.

Kyverno fits teams seeking an Apache-licensed open-source policy project across API and self-hosted environments.

Open Policy Agent Gatekeeper is the specialized alternative for open-source Kubernetes policy control.

See the broader Cloud Governance Software category for additional options.

Verdict

Choose CGPulse if you manage Azure and AWS and want extensive policy coverage, customizable rules, and remediation that engineers can review and export into infrastructure workflows. Look elsewhere if you need certified audit status, a very generous free tier, or API and MCP capabilities without paying for Business.