Aikido Security icon

Aikido Security

Belgian AI-powered application security platform for development teams

vs
IBM watsonx icon

IBM watsonx

Enterprise AI platform with built-in governance, trust, and transparency

Aikido Security
84%Strong
21/25
IBM watsonx
96%Excellent
24/25

Score Breakdown

DimensionAikido SecurityIBM watsonx
Data Residency
Where is your data stored and processed?
Aikido Security: Hosted on AWS infrastructure. Source code is not retained after scanning. Belgian company but AWS hosting means data may traverse US infrastructure. Code non-retention is a strong architectural decision.
IBM watsonx: Comprehensive multi-region data hosting across US, EU, Asia Pacific, and support for on-premise deployment. FedRAMP High authorization for US government data. Exceptional data residency flexibility.
3/5
5/5
Legal Jurisdiction
Which laws govern the company and your data?
Aikido Security: Belgian NV incorporation under EU law. Full GDPR coverage. No US parent company. AWS hosting introduces some considerations but code non-retention mitigates risks.
IBM watsonx: Incorporated in New York, US. FedRAMP authorization and long-standing government contracts demonstrate compliance with stringent US regulatory frameworks. DPA and SCCs available for EU data transfers.
4/5
4/5
Data Retention & Training
Is your data used for model training?
Aikido Security: Source code is explicitly not retained after scanning—only results are stored. This is a best-in-class approach for security scanning tools. No training on customer code.
IBM watsonx: Granular data retention controls with configurable lifecycle management. Comprehensive data processing agreements and audit-ready documentation available for enterprise customers.
5/5
5/5
Certifications
ISO 27001, SOC 2, Cyber Essentials, etc.
Aikido Security: ISO 27001:2022 and SOC 2 Type II certified. Exceptional for a security company. FedRAMP certification in progress. Strong independent verification of security controls.
IBM watsonx: Industry-leading certification portfolio including FedRAMP High, SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001/27017/27018, PCI-DSS, CSA STAR, and HIPAA. Among the most comprehensively certified AI platforms available.
5/5
5/5
Regulatory Fit
Suitability for regulated industries and professional services
Aikido Security: Strong certifications and EU jurisdiction. Code non-retention architecture is highly suitable for regulated industries. Belgian incorporation and ISO/SOC certifications support enterprise procurement.
IBM watsonx: Exceptional regulatory fit across all major regulated industries. Dedicated watsonx.governance toolkit aligns with EU AI Act requirements, NIST AI RMF, and sector-specific financial and healthcare regulations.
4/5
5/5
Total Score
21/25
24/25

Best For

Aikido Security iconAikido Security

Best for teams prioritising European legal jurisdiction; privacy-conscious teams who need strong data retention controls; teams on a tight budget.

IBM watsonx iconIBM watsonx

Best for organisations requiring broad certification coverage (SOC 2 Type II, SOC 3, ISO 27001); regulated industries (FedRAMP, BaFin); privacy-conscious teams who need strong data retention controls; organisations that need self-hosted or on-premise deployment.

Detailed Comparison

Aikido Security vs IBM watsonx: Trust & Compliance Comparison

Aikido Security (Aikido Security, BE) scores 21/25 overall with a Silver (Strong) trust badge. Belgian AI-powered application security platform for development teams. IBM watsonx (IBM, US) scores 24/25 with a Gold (Excellent) trust badge. Enterprise AI platform with built-in governance, trust, and transparency.

Dimension-by-Dimension Breakdown

#### Data Residency

IBM watsonx leads with 5/5 vs 3/5.

Aikido Security (3/5): Hosted on AWS infrastructure. Source code is not retained after scanning. Belgian company but AWS hosting means data may traverse US infrastructure. Code non-retention is a strong architectural decision.
IBM watsonx (5/5): Comprehensive multi-region data hosting across US, EU, Asia Pacific, and support for on-premise deployment. FedRAMP High authorization for US government data. Exceptional data residency flexibility.

#### Legal Jurisdiction

Both score equally at 4/5.

Aikido Security (4/5): Belgian NV incorporation under EU law. Full GDPR coverage. No US parent company. AWS hosting introduces some considerations but code non-retention mitigates risks.
IBM watsonx (4/5): Incorporated in New York, US. FedRAMP authorization and long-standing government contracts demonstrate compliance with stringent US regulatory frameworks. DPA and SCCs available for EU data transfers.

#### Data Retention & Training

Both score equally at 5/5.

Aikido Security (5/5): Source code is explicitly not retained after scanning—only results are stored. This is a best-in-class approach for security scanning tools. No training on customer code.
IBM watsonx (5/5): Granular data retention controls with configurable lifecycle management. Comprehensive data processing agreements and audit-ready documentation available for enterprise customers.

#### Certifications

Both score equally at 5/5.

Aikido Security (5/5): ISO 27001:2022 and SOC 2 Type II certified. Exceptional for a security company. FedRAMP certification in progress. Strong independent verification of security controls.
IBM watsonx (5/5): Industry-leading certification portfolio including FedRAMP High, SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001/27017/27018, PCI-DSS, CSA STAR, and HIPAA. Among the most comprehensively certified AI platforms available.

#### Regulatory Fit

IBM watsonx leads with 5/5 vs 4/5.

Aikido Security (4/5): Strong certifications and EU jurisdiction. Code non-retention architecture is highly suitable for regulated industries. Belgian incorporation and ISO/SOC certifications support enterprise procurement.
IBM watsonx (5/5): Exceptional regulatory fit across all major regulated industries. Dedicated watsonx.governance toolkit aligns with EU AI Act requirements, NIST AI RMF, and sector-specific financial and healthcare regulations.

Certifications at a Glance

CertificationAikido SecurityIBM watsonx
CSA STARNoYes
FedRAMP HighNoYes
ISO 27001YesYes
ISO 27017NoYes
ISO 27018NoYes
PCI-DSSNoYes
SOC 2 Type IIYesYes
SOC 3NoYes

Overall Verdict

IBM watsonx has a clear trust advantage, scoring 24/25 compared to Aikido Security's 21/25. IBM watsonx particularly excels in data residency, regulatory fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is better for EU compliance, Aikido Security or IBM watsonx?

Aikido Security has a TrustKit score of 21/25 while IBM watsonx scores 24/25. IBM watsonx currently rates higher across data residency, legal jurisdiction, data retention, certifications, and regulatory fit.

How do Aikido Security and IBM watsonx compare on data residency?

Aikido Security scores 3/5 for data residency (Hosted on AWS infrastructure. Source code is not retained after scanning. Belgian company but AWS hosting means data may traverse US infrastructure. Code non-retention is a strong architectural decision.), while IBM watsonx scores 5/5 (Comprehensive multi-region data hosting across US, EU, Asia Pacific, and support for on-premise deployment. FedRAMP High authorization for US government data. Exceptional data residency flexibility.).

Are Aikido Security and IBM watsonx GDPR compliant?

Both tools are assessed across five compliance dimensions. Aikido Security has a regulatory fit score of 4/5 and IBM watsonx scores 5/5. Check the full comparison above for a detailed breakdown.

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