Per-user shadow AI discovery across 10,000+ AI tools
Aona browser pluginDetection catalog; policy enforcement on the top-tier assistants
Aona native appSupported
OneTrustRegistry-derived inventory, not endpoint usage
Workforce AI Security · Why Aona
Aona
OneTrust
Aona vs OneTrust
Choose Aona for employee AI security.
See what sets Aona apart, compare the details, and try it on your own devices.
30-day free trialSOC 2 Type II
The verdict
The Aona advantage
Aona combines supported employee prompt/file controls, hard blocking without user override, layout-preserving DOCX, XLSX and PDF redaction, coaching and a 30-day guided trial. OneTrust documents runtime monitoring and guardrail enforcement on supported enterprise AI platforms, including AI Guard SDK prompt/response controls, alongside governance records and assessments. That differs from Aona's installed browser/native control path; it is not merely policy documentation.
About this comparison
Aona combines supported employee prompt/file controls, hard blocking without user override, layout-preserving DOCX, XLSX and PDF redaction, coaching and a 30-day guided trial. OneTrust documents runtime monitoring and guardrail enforcement on supported enterprise AI platforms, including AI Guard SDK prompt/response controls, alongside governance records and assessments. That differs from Aona's installed browser/native control path; it is not merely policy documentation.
The Workforce AI Security platform for any company adopting generative AI, with broader endpoint coverage than the incumbents, a simpler trial, and one of the few that ships hard-block DLP for AI prompts and files.
OneTrust: Trust intelligence platform with 200+ modules spanning privacy, GRC, third-party risk, and AI governance.
Decision matrix
When to pick Aona
Five buyer scenarios, answered for employee AI use.
01Your requirement is the GRC system of record: privacy, vendor risk, DPIAs, regulator-mapped assessments.
OneTrust
OneTrust documents runtime monitoring and guardrail enforcement on supported enterprise AI platforms, including AI Guard SDK prompt/response controls, alongside governance records and assessments. That differs from Aona's installed browser/native control path; it is not merely policy documentation.
02You need to stop staff pasting client data into ChatGPT this quarter.
Aona
OneTrust documents runtime monitoring and guardrail enforcement on supported enterprise AI platforms, including AI Guard SDK prompt/response controls, alongside governance records and assessments. That differs from Aona's installed browser/native control path; it is not merely policy documentation.
03Your employee AI data must stay in-country: Australia, the EU or the UK.
Aona
Aona offers managed backend hosting in seven regions, including Australia, France, the UK and Germany, plus customer-cloud and on-premises options, with prompt processing selected separately. OneTrust hosts primarily in the US and EU with AU residency on a custom path, and it never processes the prompt; confirm the supported Aona configuration, storage, retention and telemetry for your rollout.
04You already run OneTrust and are adding workforce AI controls.
Aona
Nothing in OneTrust changes: Aona slots underneath as the runtime control point on managed devices, leaves OneTrust as the record and exports blocked prompts to Microsoft Sentinel via OCSF. A 30-day guided trial, deployed with the tooling IT already runs, puts the control live before the next assessment cycle.
05You need evidence that the AI policy is applied at the prompt, not only documented.
Aona
OneTrust assessments record what should happen. Aona's per-team violation trends and adoption analytics show what employees did at the prompt, with block and coaching events per guardrail, so the ISO 42001 or EU AI Act control has operating evidence within 30 days of rollout.
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 | OneTrust |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discover | |||
| Per-user shadow AI discovery across 10,000+ AI tools | Detection catalog; policy enforcement on the top-tier assistants | Supported | Registry-derived inventory, not endpoint usage |
| Prompt inspection at submit, before the prompt reaches the AI provider | Supported | Supported | AI Guard SDK and platform prompt controls; confirm employee path |
| Native desktop AI app interception (ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude desktop) | The browser plugin covers the browser only | Supported | Native employee-app control path not specified |
| AI agent and MCP inspection on the endpoint | Not included | Limited rollout, not general availability | Enterprise platform agent monitoring and runtime governance |
| Govern | |||
| Real-time employee coaching at the moment of a risky prompt | Supported | Supported | Policy documentation, no employee-facing prompt |
| AI policy templates: EU AI Act, ISO 42001, SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR | Supported | Supported | EU AI Act, ISO 42001 and NIST AI RMF assessments |
| Per-team policy violation trends and AI adoption analytics | Supported | Supported | Assessment and registry reporting, not endpoint usage |
| Protect | |||
| Hard block on prompts and file uploads with no user override | Supported | Supported | SDK/runtime blocking described; no-override employee path not specified |
| Layout-preserving DOCX, XLSX and PDF redaction on upload | Supported | Supported | SDK prompt/response redaction; document-layout preservation not specified |
| Operations | |||
| Choice of seven Aona-managed hosting regions | Supported | Supported | US and EU hosting primarily; AU on a custom path |
| SIEM export: Microsoft Sentinel via OCSF, REST API and webhooks | Supported | Supported | SIEM and SOAR connectors for OneTrust events |
| Free 30-day guided trial | Supported | Supported | No self-serve trial; months to value |
| Time to first signal | Agree during scoping | Agree during scoping | Months |
| Privacy and GRC system of record (DPIA, DSAR, vendor risk) | Not included | Not included | OneTrust core |
| AI agent detection on enterprise AI platforms (Bedrock, SageMaker, Azure OpenAI) | Not included | Not included | OneTrust documents runtime monitoring and guardrail enforcement on supported enterprise AI platforms, including AI Guard SDK prompt/response controls, alongside governance records and assessments. That differs from Aona's installed browser/native control path; it is not merely policy documentation. |
Discover
Prompt inspection at submit, before the prompt reaches the AI provider
Aona browser pluginSupported
Aona native appSupported
OneTrustAI Guard SDK and platform prompt controls; confirm employee path
Native desktop AI app interception (ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude desktop)
Aona browser pluginThe browser plugin covers the browser only
Aona native appSupported
OneTrustNative employee-app control path not specified
AI agent and MCP inspection on the endpoint
Aona browser pluginNot included
Aona native appLimited rollout, not general availability
OneTrustEnterprise platform agent monitoring and runtime governance
Govern
Real-time employee coaching at the moment of a risky prompt
Aona browser pluginSupported
Aona native appSupported
OneTrustPolicy documentation, no employee-facing prompt
AI policy templates: EU AI Act, ISO 42001, SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR
Aona browser pluginSupported
Aona native appSupported
OneTrustEU AI Act, ISO 42001 and NIST AI RMF assessments
Per-team policy violation trends and AI adoption analytics
Aona browser pluginSupported
Aona native appSupported
OneTrustAssessment and registry reporting, not endpoint usage
Protect
Hard block on prompts and file uploads with no user override
Aona browser pluginSupported
Aona native appSupported
OneTrustSDK/runtime blocking described; no-override employee path not specified
Layout-preserving DOCX, XLSX and PDF redaction on upload
Aona browser pluginSupported
Aona native appSupported
OneTrustSDK prompt/response redaction; document-layout preservation not specified
Operations
Choice of seven Aona-managed hosting regions
Aona browser pluginSupported
Aona native appSupported
OneTrustUS and EU hosting primarily; AU on a custom path
SIEM export: Microsoft Sentinel via OCSF, REST API and webhooks
Aona browser pluginSupported
Aona native appSupported
OneTrustSIEM and SOAR connectors for OneTrust events
Free 30-day guided trial
Aona browser pluginSupported
Aona native appSupported
OneTrustNo self-serve trial; months to value
Time to first signal
Aona browser pluginAgree during scoping
Aona native appAgree during scoping
OneTrustMonths
Privacy and GRC system of record (DPIA, DSAR, vendor risk)
Aona browser pluginNot included
Aona native appNot included
OneTrustOneTrust core
AI agent detection on enterprise AI platforms (Bedrock, SageMaker, Azure OpenAI)
Aona browser pluginNot included
Aona native appNot included
OneTrustOneTrust documents runtime monitoring and guardrail enforcement on supported enterprise AI platforms, including AI Guard SDK prompt/response controls, alongside governance records and assessments. That differs from Aona's installed browser/native control path; it is not merely policy documentation.
Based on vendor documentation as of September 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 a native endpoint app for Windows and macOS, deployed by IT with its existing software deployment tools (Intune is one option). No network routing or DNS changes.
- Time to first signal
- Agree during scoping
- What IT must change
- Push the plugin and the endpoint app with your usual deployment tooling and connect Microsoft Entra for admin SSO and user or group sync. Nothing changes on the network, in the SSE or in Microsoft 365.
- Prerequisites
- A software deployment tool for managed devices (Intune, Jamf or equivalent)
- Microsoft Entra for admin SSO and user or group sync; general OIDC or SAML also works
OneTrust
- Shape
- Multi-tenant SaaS GRC platform with deep workflow customisation, partner connectors for ML platforms, and a long professional-services tail.
- Time to first signal
- Months
- What IT must change
- Module configuration, workflow customisation, integrations setup. Often professional services led.
- Prerequisites
- Identity provider for SSO
- Defined GRC programme to operationalise
Scope, stated plainly
Know the scope. Plan with confidence.
Aona
- Aona is not a GRC system of record: DPIAs, DSARs, vendor risk and the regulatory research library stay in OneTrust.
- Microsoft Entra is the production identity path, with general OIDC and SAML. No native Okta connector or SCIM provisioning today.
- Aona has a SOC 2 Type II examination report. No FedRAMP, IRAP or ISO 27001 today.
- Coverage needs the Aona plugin or endpoint app on the device. There is no agentless or network-only mode, so personal and unmanaged devices are out of scope.
OneTrust
- OneTrust documents runtime monitoring and guardrail enforcement on supported enterprise AI platforms, including AI Guard SDK prompt/response controls, alongside governance records and assessments. That differs from Aona's installed browser/native control path; it is not merely policy documentation.
- Time to value is measured in months: module configuration, process customisation and integrations are often professional-services led, and there is no self-serve trial (as of July 2026).
- AI policy templates document controls; nothing in the platform pauses a prompt or redacts a file at submit.
- AU data residency is not standard: hosting is primarily US and EU, with an AU path on custom terms (as of July 2026).
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.
Certifications
Aona
SOC 2 Type II (observation period to January 2026, report issued March 2026; trust center at trust.aona.ai). No FedRAMP or IRAP today.
OneTrust
ISO 27001, ISO 27701, SOC 2 Type II, HITRUST and FedRAMP authorisation. SCIM provisioning and an Okta-native integration are available. As of July 2026.
Trial
Aona
Free for 30 days. Start with a scoping conversation; access is arranged after deployment requirements are confirmed.
OneTrust
No self-serve trial; rollout is often professional-services led and time to value is measured in months. As of July 2026.
Where prompts are processed
Aona
Choose backend hosting separately from Aona prompt processing. Host the backend in your cloud, on your premises or on Aona-managed servers. Process prompts on the user device/on-edge, in your cloud or on-premises, or on Aona-managed servers. Confirm the supported configuration, retention, telemetry and integrations for your rollout; these choices do not change a third-party AI provider's data handling.
OneTrust
OneTrust documents runtime monitoring and guardrail enforcement on supported enterprise AI platforms, including AI Guard SDK prompt/response controls, alongside governance records and assessments. That differs from Aona's installed browser/native control path; it is not merely policy documentation.
Data residency
Aona
Aona-managed backend hosting has seven regions: Australia, France, UK, Germany, US, Singapore and Hong Kong. Select prompt processing separately; confirm storage, retention, telemetry and any cross-region transfers for the supported configuration. Third-party AI providers have their own data handling.
OneTrust
Primarily US and EU hosting; AU residency requires a custom path. As of July 2026.
DPA and security docs
Aona
DPA available on request. Trust center at trust.aona.ai, security overview at aona.ai/security. SOC 2 report under NDA.
OneTrust
Not publicly documented (as of July 2026)
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.
How they layer
How Aona and OneTrust work together
Aona enforces at the moment of action: a modal pauses the prompt before sensitive data reaches the AI service, with hard-block DLP, layout-preserving file redaction and real-time coaching, in Chrome, Edge, Firefox and Safari and in the native ChatGPT, Copilot and Claude apps. OneTrust governs documentation and policy: AI system inventory, risk assessments, regulator-mapped controls and vendor risk. Run both and the policy lives in OneTrust while the prevention, and the evidence that it ran, lives in Aona.
Workforce control layer
Aona intercepts at the browser and native AI apps. Hard-block DLP, file redaction and coaching at submit, first signal during the agreed evaluation.
GRC layer
OneTrust documents AI systems, runs risk assessments, tracks regulators, manages vendor risk.
Policy plus prevention
Aona enforces at the moment of the prompt and keeps the operating evidence; OneTrust records what should happen.
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.
- OneTrust AI Governance
Product reference: Current AI governance, runtime policy and guardrail offer. This overview is not independent test evidence for every granular comparison claim.
- Aona coverage and deployment scope
Aona's client and action boundaries; validate the configuration and actual policy result during your Aona pilot.
Get started
Layer Aona on top of your OneTrust GRC programme
Free for 30 days. Start with a scoping conversation; access is arranged after deployment requirements are confirmed.
FAQ
Common questions from OneTrust customers
We have OneTrust AI Governance. Do we still need Aona?
Validate coexistence on a managed pilot, including browser extensions, endpoint settings, prompt/file policy decisions and recovery. Separate policy engines do not establish conflict-free operation or a fixed rollout time.
Does Aona compete with OneTrust on AI governance frameworks?
Only on the template names. Aona's EU AI Act, ISO 42001, SOC 2, ISO 27001, HIPAA and GDPR templates configure enforcement on the device: which data classes to block, which tools to allow, which user groups get tighter policy, so the control is applied rather than described. OneTrust's templates document controls inside a GRC programme that also covers privacy, vendor risk, DSARs and regulatory research, and that breadth stops at the document layer. Many buyers run both: OneTrust as the programme of record, Aona for workforce AI controls that are live in 30 days.
Will Aona conflict with our OneTrust deployment?
Validate coexistence on a managed pilot, including browser extensions, endpoint settings, prompt/file policy decisions and recovery. Separate policy engines do not establish conflict-free operation or a fixed rollout time.
If we already evidence ISO 42001 in OneTrust, why do we need Aona's templates?
Aona combines supported employee prompt/file controls, hard blocking without user override, layout-preserving DOCX, XLSX and PDF redaction, coaching and a 30-day guided trial. OneTrust documents runtime monitoring and guardrail enforcement on supported enterprise AI platforms, including AI Guard SDK prompt/response controls, alongside governance records and assessments. That differs from Aona's installed browser/native control path; it is not merely policy documentation.
Where does OneTrust cover ground Aona does not?
OneTrust documents runtime monitoring and guardrail enforcement on supported enterprise AI platforms, including AI Guard SDK prompt/response controls, alongside governance records and assessments. That differs from Aona's installed browser/native control path; it is not merely policy documentation.
Does the reported OneTrust sale exploration affect buyers?
Context for diligence, not a verdict. In November 2025 it was reported that OneTrust was exploring a sale, with a rumored valuation above $10 billion; as of July 2026 no completed deal has been announced, and John Heyman took over as CEO in February 2026. Sensible questions to ask in procurement: roadmap commitments for the AI Governance module, contract protections at renewal, and support continuity under any future owner.