Employee AI visibility
Aona browser pluginAI activity from installed clients; 10,000+ tool catalogue.
Aona native appAI activity from installed clients; 10,000+ tool catalogue.
LayerXVisibility into AI, SaaS and web activity.
Workforce AI Security · Why Aona
Aona
LayerX · Akamai
Aona vs LayerX
Put employee AI protection first, with usable redacted files and control over where Aona runs.
30-day free trialSOC 2 Type II
What you get with Aona
Enforce your data policy
Block restricted content in supported prompts and file uploads.
Keep redacted files useful
Protect sensitive content in supported DOCX, XLSX and PDF uploads while preserving layout.
Choose where Aona runs
Choose hosting and prompt processing separately to fit your requirements.
Decision matrix
When to pick Aona
Choose the result your team needs.
01Keep the document useful after redaction.
Aona
Aona protects sensitive fields in supported DOCX, XLSX and PDF uploads while preserving layout. Check the returned file, its useful content and the recorded policy response in your trial.
02Make your data policy an enforced decision.
Aona
Use Aona to block restricted submissions or redact supported sensitive inputs, with a clear explanation for the employee and reviewable activity for Security.
03Choose where Aona runs and processes prompts.
Aona
Choose backend hosting in your cloud, on-premises or on Aona-managed servers. Choose prompt processing separately: on the device, in your environment or on Aona-managed servers. The destination AI provider retains its own data-handling terms.
04See your policy working on your own devices.
Aona
Start a free 30-day guided Aona trial. Agree the devices and policy, run allowed and restricted synthetic examples, then review the controls and evidence with your team.
Capability matrix
What each tool actually does
Choose a priority. Compare Aona’s browser plugin and native app with the other product.
| Capability | Aona browser plugin | Aona native app | LayerX |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discover | |||
| Employee AI visibility | AI activity from installed clients; 10,000+ tool catalogue. | AI activity from installed clients; 10,000+ tool catalogue. | Visibility into AI, SaaS and web activity. |
| Agent and MCP posture | Use the native app for this scope. | Local inventory and risk findings; deployment-specific availability. | Confirm the named agent or MCP action and control. |
| Govern | |||
| Employee guidance | Explain the policy response during supported AI interactions. | Explain the policy response during supported AI interactions. | Adaptive warnings and user guidance. |
| Policy configuration | Data and usage policies with framework templates. | Data and usage policies with framework templates. | Browser, AI and SaaS policy controls. |
| Reviewable AI activity | Usage, policy events and reports for the security team. | Usage, policy events and reports for the security team. | Management console for activity and policy review. |
| Protect | |||
| Prompt and upload controls | Block or redact on supported app and input paths. | Block or redact on supported app and input paths. | Adaptive controls for text, paste, uploads and downloads. |
| Desktop AI applications | Use the native app for this scope. | Supported desktop apps with the native client. | Documents PWA-enabled desktop apps, including Teams and VS Code. |
| Restricted submissions | Configured hard block with no employee override on supported paths. | Configured hard block with no employee override on supported paths. | Warn, redact, block or guide according to policy. |
| Usable redacted documents | Layout-preserving DOCX, XLSX and PDF redaction on supported uploads. | Layout-preserving DOCX, XLSX and PDF redaction on supported uploads. | Adaptive redaction; test the returned document and layout. |
| Operations | |||
| Hosting and processing | Your cloud, on-premises or Aona-managed hosting; separate prompt-processing choice. | Your cloud, on-premises or Aona-managed hosting; separate prompt-processing choice. | Workforce Protector is named in Akamai’s DPA; agree regional handling. |
| Security operations | Microsoft Sentinel integration via OCSF-aligned events; customer-deployed. | Microsoft Sentinel integration via OCSF-aligned events; customer-deployed. | Confirm event export and integration scope for the selected service. |
| Evaluation | Free 30-day guided trial after scoping. | Free 30-day guided trial after scoping. | Request a demonstration through Akamai. |
| Rollout plan | Agree devices, policy, owners and timing before rollout. | Agree devices, policy, owners and timing before rollout. | Confirm the selected browsers, desktop apps and policy rollout. |
Discover
Agent and MCP posture
Aona browser pluginUse the native app for this scope.
Aona native appLocal inventory and risk findings; deployment-specific availability.
LayerXConfirm the named agent or MCP action and control.
Govern
Employee guidance
Aona browser pluginExplain the policy response during supported AI interactions.
Aona native appExplain the policy response during supported AI interactions.
LayerXAdaptive warnings and user guidance.
Policy configuration
Aona browser pluginData and usage policies with framework templates.
Aona native appData and usage policies with framework templates.
LayerXBrowser, AI and SaaS policy controls.
Reviewable AI activity
Aona browser pluginUsage, policy events and reports for the security team.
Aona native appUsage, policy events and reports for the security team.
LayerXManagement console for activity and policy review.
Protect
Prompt and upload controls
Aona browser pluginBlock or redact on supported app and input paths.
Aona native appBlock or redact on supported app and input paths.
LayerXAdaptive controls for text, paste, uploads and downloads.
Desktop AI applications
Aona browser pluginUse the native app for this scope.
Aona native appSupported desktop apps with the native client.
LayerXDocuments PWA-enabled desktop apps, including Teams and VS Code.
Restricted submissions
Aona browser pluginConfigured hard block with no employee override on supported paths.
Aona native appConfigured hard block with no employee override on supported paths.
LayerXWarn, redact, block or guide according to policy.
Usable redacted documents
Aona browser pluginLayout-preserving DOCX, XLSX and PDF redaction on supported uploads.
Aona native appLayout-preserving DOCX, XLSX and PDF redaction on supported uploads.
LayerXAdaptive redaction; test the returned document and layout.
Operations
Hosting and processing
Aona browser pluginYour cloud, on-premises or Aona-managed hosting; separate prompt-processing choice.
Aona native appYour cloud, on-premises or Aona-managed hosting; separate prompt-processing choice.
LayerXWorkforce Protector is named in Akamai’s DPA; agree regional handling.
Security operations
Aona browser pluginMicrosoft Sentinel integration via OCSF-aligned events; customer-deployed.
Aona native appMicrosoft Sentinel integration via OCSF-aligned events; customer-deployed.
LayerXConfirm event export and integration scope for the selected service.
Evaluation
Aona browser pluginFree 30-day guided trial after scoping.
Aona native appFree 30-day guided trial after scoping.
LayerXRequest a demonstration through Akamai.
Rollout plan
Aona browser pluginAgree devices, policy, owners and timing before rollout.
Aona native appAgree devices, policy, owners and timing before rollout.
LayerXConfirm the selected browsers, desktop apps and policy rollout.
Based on vendor documentation as of November 2026. Email trust@aona.ai if you find a factual error.
Deployment
From evaluation to rollout.
Aona
- Shape
- Browser plugin for Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari, plus native Windows and macOS apps. IT deploys the selected clients with its existing tools.
- Time to first signal
- Agree during scoping
- What IT must change
- Connect identity, configure the data policy and choose the supported client and processing path. Enterprise plans also include Aona Browser and Aona Secure VPN.
- Prerequisites
- An IT owner and devices ready for client deployment.
- The AI apps, accounts, inputs and policy outcomes you want to protect.
LayerX
- Shape
- Browser extension, management console and cloud intelligence, with documented PWA-enabled desktop-app coverage.
- Time to first signal
- Agree during scoping
- What IT must change
- Agree extension deployment and policy configuration, including the specific desktop applications in scope.
- Prerequisites
- Agree product scope, deployment permissions and policy ownership.
Scope, stated plainly
Know the scope. Plan with confidence.
Aona
- Select the installed client, AI application and input action for your rollout. Agent and MCP posture findings are separate from prompt and file enforcement.
- Aona secures employee AI use; application model security is a separate scope.
LayerX
- The published desktop scope includes PWA-enabled apps; confirm the exact app and input action.
- Separate AI submission controls from broader browser, SaaS and identity policies.
- Workforce Protector is named in Akamai’s DPA; agree regional handling.
Security review facts
Ready for your security review.
Certifications, data handling, and residency for both vendors, answered up front so your GRC and legal review can start from this page.
Security assurance
Aona
SOC 2 Type II report covering Security, Confidentiality and Availability; review the trust centre.
LayerX
Akamai publishes SOC 2 and ISO assurance; request the Workforce Protector scope and report.
Evaluation access
Aona
Free for 30 days. Start with a scoping conversation; access is arranged after deployment requirements are confirmed.
LayerX
Request a demonstration through Akamai.
Hosting and processing
Aona
Choose backend hosting in your cloud, on-premises or on Aona-managed servers. Choose prompt processing separately: on the device, in your environment or on Aona-managed servers. The destination AI provider retains its own data-handling terms.
LayerX
Workforce Protector is named in Akamai’s DPA; agree regional handling.
Competitor facts come from public documentation and pricing pages. Where a vendor does not publish a fact, we say so rather than guess. Corrections: trust@aona.ai.
Migrating from LayerX
Make the move to Aona.
Move one employee AI policy to Aona, prove the outcome, then expand. Start with a synthetic prompt and document that represent the work your team needs to do.
What you keep
- Your approved AI accounts, data classification and existing security operations.
What Aona replaces
- The employee AI policy controls you select for migration, backed by an acceptance test.
What you turn off
- Retire overlapping rules only after the Aona test passes and the rollout owner approves the change.
Sources & review notes ↗Page updated:
Aona publishes these comparisons to explain its fit for employee AI use. Competitor facts come from public documentation, are dated, and are stated as mechanisms you can verify. Corrections: trust@aona.ai.
- Akamai Workforce Protector
Primary source reviewed 3 November 2026.
- Akamai data protection addendum
Primary source reviewed 3 November 2026.
- Akamai product licence agreements
Primary source reviewed 3 November 2026.
- Akamai security assurance
Primary source reviewed 3 November 2026.
- Aona file protection
Primary source reviewed 3 November 2026.
- Aona coverage and evidence
Primary source reviewed 3 November 2026.
- Aona deployment and processing
Primary source reviewed 3 November 2026.
- Aona trust centre
Primary source reviewed 3 November 2026.
See your AI policy in action.
Bring one sensitive-data rule and a representative document. See Aona enforce the policy and keep the permitted work moving in your free 30-day guided trial.
FAQ
Common questions from LayerX customers
Why choose Aona over LayerX for employee AI security?
Choose Aona for employee AI security: hard-block DLP on supported prompts and uploads, layout-preserving DOCX, XLSX and PDF redaction, and a free 30-day guided trial. Turn your data policy into a visible result on your own devices, with backend hosting and prompt processing selected separately.
Does LayerX also protect employee AI use?
Akamai Workforce Protector, formerly LayerX, protects AI, SaaS and web use and documents coverage for PWA-enabled desktop applications.
What should I test when comparing Aona and LayerX?
Use a fictional customer record and an allowed example. Check typed prompts, paste and file uploads separately: the configured decision, the file the AI receives and the evidence available to Security. For redaction, include document layout and the information employees still need.
How do I start an Aona trial alongside a LayerX review?
Free for 30 days. Start with a scoping conversation; access is arranged after deployment requirements are confirmed.
How do deployment choices differ between Aona and LayerX?
Choose backend hosting in your cloud, on-premises or on Aona-managed servers. Choose prompt processing separately: on the device, in your environment or on Aona-managed servers. The destination AI provider retains its own data-handling terms. Workforce Protector is named in Akamai’s DPA; agree regional handling.