Vaikora › Compare › Vaikora vs Cisco Agent Runtime SDK

Vaikora vs Cisco Agent Runtime SDK

An operator-facing drop-in proxy vs a developer SDK you build into agent code.

Cisco's Agent Runtime is a developer SDK integrated into agent code to add identity, policy, and runtime controls. Vaikora is operator-facing: it sits inline as a proxy or a 2-line SDK at the LLM-call boundary, enforces in under 500ms, and signs every decision into a SHA-256 audit chain. No code changes required.

At a glance

Capability	Vaikora	Cisco Agent Runtime SDK
Deployment model	Inline proxy or 2-line SDK	Developer SDK in agent code
Buyer role	Security operator / SOC	Application developer
Quantified latency	Sub-500ms p95	Not published
Cryptographic audit chain	SHA-256, append-only	Not specified
Open-source reference	Yes, MIT gateway	Cisco-managed
Platform dependency	None, standalone	Most natural with Cisco Security Cloud
Compliance presets	SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, PCI DSS, ISO 27001	Inherits Cisco posture
Marketplace distribution	AWS Marketplace + Azure Sentinel	Via Cisco distribution
Pricing	Free OSS + quote-based control plane	Quote-based, Cisco platform context

How they compare

Operator-facing proxy vs developer SDK

Cisco's Agent Runtime is a developer SDK: developers integrate it into agent code to add identity, policy, and runtime controls at the application level. Vaikora is operator-facing: it sits inline as a proxy or a 2-line SDK at the LLM-call boundary and needs no change to agent code. Cisco puts enforcement in the application; Vaikora puts it in the path.

Latency, audit, and open source

Vaikora documents a sub-500ms p95 and an append-only SHA-256 chain, with an MIT-licensed gateway. Cisco's SDK does not publish a latency number or a cryptographic-chain guarantee and is Cisco-managed rather than open source.

Platform dependency

Cisco's Agent Runtime is most natural inside Cisco Security Cloud. Vaikora has no platform dependency and runs standalone in front of any agent stack.

Compliance presets and procurement

Vaikora ships named SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, PCI DSS, and ISO 27001 presets and procures through AWS Marketplace and Azure Sentinel. Cisco inherits its compliance posture from the broader Cisco platform and procures through Cisco distribution.

Who each is best for

Choose Vaikora when

Enforcement is needed without modifying agent code.
The deployment model is proxy-inline or a 2-line SDK at the boundary, not application-embedded.
Audit-grade SHA-256 receipts are required.
The organization is not standardized on Cisco Security Cloud.

Choose Cisco Agent Runtime SDK when

The organization is standardized on Cisco Security Cloud.
The development team owns the agent code and wants application-level enforcement primitives.
A vendor-managed SDK in the developer toolchain matches existing practice.
Cisco platform procurement is the natural path.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Vaikora and Cisco Agent Runtime SDK?

Cisco's Agent Runtime is a developer SDK you build into agent code. Vaikora is an operator-facing proxy or 2-line SDK that enforces at the LLM-call boundary with no code changes, with a sub-500ms p95 and a SHA-256 audit chain.

Do I need to change my agent code for Vaikora?

No. Vaikora runs inline as a proxy or drops in with a 2-line SDK. The Cisco SDK is integrated into the agent application by developers.

Do I need Cisco to run Vaikora?

No. Vaikora is platform-independent. Cisco's Agent Runtime is most natural inside Cisco Security Cloud.

Is Vaikora open source?

Yes. The Vaikora gateway is MIT-licensed and free forever. The Cisco SDK is Cisco-managed.