Network layer or endpoint layer.
Choose by where AI use happens.
WitnessAI and Aona both govern workforce AI use, but they meet it at different points. WitnessAI watches at the network layer with no endpoint agent. Aona watches at the endpoint across the browser, the native desktop, and the agent. The differences are coverage, deployment model, scale, and how you can evaluate.
Unified AI security and governance platform with network-level visibility, intent-based ML policy, and enterprise audit trails.
The Workforce AI Security platform purpose-built for the regulated mid-market, with broader endpoint coverage than the incumbents, a simpler trial, and hard-block DLP for AI prompts and files.
Pick WitnessAI if you are a large US enterprise that wants network-layer visibility without deploying an endpoint agent, and you value brand recognition and a large install base. Pick Aona if you are in the regulated mid-market, want endpoint coverage that catches native desktop AI apps and unmanaged-device use, need multi-region data residency today, and want a 90-day self-serve trial with hard-block DLP for prompts and files.
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When to pick which
Five scenarios. The honest answer for each one.
You want AI visibility without deploying any endpoint agent.
WitnessAI inspects at the network layer, so it sees AI traffic without a browser plugin or device agent. Aona requires its browser plugin or native endpoint on the device. There is no network-only or IdP-log-only mode in Aona.
You are a large enterprise and brand, funding, and install base are procurement criteria.
WitnessAI is well funded, has stronger brand recognition, and goes wider on large-enterprise scale. If those are gating criteria, that is theirs to win.
You need to catch native desktop AI apps, local AI, and personal or unmanaged-device use.
Aona inspects across three layers: browser plugin, native desktop endpoint app, and AI agent inspection (limited rollout). This reaches native desktop apps like ChatGPT, Copilot, and Claude desktop, plus local AI that a purely network-layer approach can miss.
You are an EU, UK, or APAC regulated buyer that needs in-region data residency.
Aona ships multi-region data residency today across Australia, France, the UK, Germany, the US, Singapore, and Hong Kong. WitnessAI is US-centric, so EU, UK, and APAC residency requirements are stronger on Aona's side.
You want hard-block DLP for files plus layout-preserving redaction, and a self-serve trial.
Aona ships in-production file redaction that preserves DOCX and Excel layout with length-matched, entity-class-aware replacement, plus hard-block DLP for prompts and files, available on a 90-day self-serve trial.
What each tool actually does
Three columns on the Aona side because the browser plugin and the native endpoint app cover different surfaces. Browser-only customers will see fewer green checks than customers with both.
| Capability | Aona browser plugin | Aona native app | WitnessAI |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discover | |||
| Network-level AI traffic visibility (no endpoint agent) | Endpoint-based, not network | Endpoint-based, not network | Core of the platform |
| Shadow AI tool discovery on managed devices | Browser surface | Browser plus native AI apps | Network-level discovery |
| Native desktop AI app interception (ChatGPT, Copilot, Claude desktop) | Plus generic process-signature detection | Network-visible if traffic is in scope | |
| AI agent inspection (process, network, MCP) | Limited rollout: process, network, MCP | Network-level agent visibility | |
| Govern | |||
| Hard-block DLP on AI prompts | Modal pauses, no override | Intent-based ML policy | |
| Hard-block DLP on file uploads | Network-layer file controls | ||
| Intent-based policy from ML classification | Entity-class and rule-based | Entity-class and rule-based | Core differentiator |
| Governance enforcement on top-tier assistants (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Copilot, Bing) | Network-level across services | ||
| Protect | |||
| File redaction with layout preservation (DOCX / Excel) | Length-matched, in production | Length-matched, in production | Network controls, not in-place redaction |
| Multi-region data residency | 7 regions (AU, FR, UK, DE, US, SG, HK) | 7 regions (AU, FR, UK, DE, US, SG, HK) | US-centric |
| Microsoft Sentinel SIEM integration (OCSF) | In production | In production | Audit trails, SIEM via platform |
| Operations | |||
| Deployment model | Endpoint (browser plugin) | Endpoint (native app) | Network layer |
| Trial motion | 90-day self-serve | 90-day self-serve | Sales-led evaluation |
| macOS at enterprise scale (managed via MDM) | Manual install only today | Network layer, no device agent | |
Based on vendor documentation as of April 2026. Email trust@aona.ai if you find a factual error.
What it takes to ship each one
- Microsoft Intune (Windows MDM, only path shipped)
- Microsoft Entra (admin SSO and user / group sync)
- Network routing or proxy integration
- Identity provider for SSO
Where each one falls short
From public docs and customer interviews. If you find a factual error, email trust@aona.ai.
- Less funding, brand recognition, and large-enterprise install base than WitnessAI.
- Requires the browser plugin or native endpoint on the device. No network-only or IdP-log-only mode.
- Focused on the regulated mid-market, so Aona does not go as wide on large-enterprise scale as WitnessAI.
- Network-layer visibility can miss native desktop AI apps, local AI, and personal or unmanaged-device use that an endpoint approach catches.
- US-centric, so EU, UK, and APAC in-region data residency is weaker than Aona's seven-region footprint.
- Sales-led evaluation rather than a self-serve trial.
Migrating from WitnessAI
WitnessAI and Aona are not mutually exclusive at the architecture level: one watches the network, the other watches the endpoint. If you are choosing one, the honest path is a 90-day Aona free trial alongside any WitnessAI evaluation. Pick by where your AI risk actually lives. If most of it is native desktop apps, local AI, and unmanaged devices, the endpoint layer matters more. If it is browser traffic at large scale across a managed network, the network layer may suffice.
- Existing identity provider (Microsoft Entra, or any OIDC / SAML provider)
- Existing MDM (Intune)
- Network controls already routing managed traffic
- Sales-led, paid evaluation for AI DLP
- Network-only visibility that misses native desktop and unmanaged-device AI use
- Block-and-label-only file handling
- Duplicate browser-DLP extensions on the same browser
- Manual incident triage if Aona's policy violation trend reporting covers your board reporting need
Try Aona alongside WitnessAI, on your real traffic
90-day self-serve free trial. Deploys at the endpoint via Intune and Entra in under an hour, so you can see what network-layer visibility misses. No commitment.