GigaOm Names Check Point Software a Leader and Fast Mover in Application and API Security
Rhea-AI Summary
Check Point (NASDAQ: CHKP) was named a Leader and Fast Mover in GigaOm's April 2, 2026 Application and API Security Radar, marking its third consecutive year in a leadership position. The report highlights Check Point WAF's 99.3% detection rate and 0.81% false positives, plus unified WAAP, API discovery, CI/CD integrations, and hybrid cloud protections that prioritize high accuracy with low disruption.
Positive
- 99.3% detection rate in 2026 WAF comparison testing
- 0.81% false positives, indicating high accuracy with low disruption
- Third consecutive year as a GigaOm Leader in Application and API Security
- Automated API discovery and schema validation for scalable API protection
- CI/CD and Terraform integrations embed security into development pipelines
Negative
- None.
Key Figures
Market Reality Check
Peers on Argus
CHKP gained 2.04% while key peers were mixed: FFIV up 1.66%, but IOT, NTNX, GDDY, and GEN declined between 0.37% and
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 23 | AI security launch | Positive | -1.0% | Introduced unified AI Defense Plane for AI security governance and control. |
| Mar 23 | AI blueprint release | Positive | -1.0% | Released AI Factory Security Architecture Blueprint for private AI infrastructure. |
| Mar 19 | Advisory board launch | Positive | +0.9% | Formed Executive Advisory Board to guide AI-driven cybersecurity innovation. |
| Mar 17 | Product integration | Positive | +0.7% | Enabled email security telemetry integration with CrowdStrike Falcon SIEM. |
| Mar 05 | Service launch | Positive | +4.1% | Launched Secure AI Advisory Service for governance and regulatory compliance. |
Recent AI and product/security launches generally saw modest positive alignment between news and price, with a couple of AI-focused announcements met by small negative moves.
Over the past month, CHKP has focused on AI-driven and platform integrations. On March 5, 2026, a Secure AI Advisory Service launch saw a 4.07% gain. Subsequent integrations and AI security initiatives on March 17–23 brought smaller moves between -0.97% and 0.89%. Today’s GigaOm leadership recognition reinforces the narrative of strong AI-era application and API security capabilities, consistent with the company’s recent emphasis on AI governance, reference architectures, and ecosystem integrations.
Market Pulse Summary
This announcement highlights independent validation of Check Point’s WAF and API security, including a 99.3% detection rate with only 0.81% false positives in 2026 testing. It reinforces the company’s positioning around AI-era application protection and integrated hybrid-cloud security. Recent history shows a steady stream of AI-focused launches and ecosystem integrations. Against a balance sheet with $4,342 million in cash and investments but also tax and note obligations, investors may watch how such recognition translates into adoption across critical infrastructure and AI workloads.
Key Terms
waf technical
api technical
waap technical
ci/cd technical
infrastructure-as-code technical
zero-day exploits technical
microservices technical
AI-generated analysis. Not financial advice.
Check Point WAF recognized for industry‑leading detection and a unified platform that protects modern web and AI‑driven applications with simplicity and speed
"Our evaluation shows that Check Point delivers precise, reliable protection against sophisticated automated attacks, zero-day exploits and emerging API threats," said Kirk Ryan, analyst at GigaOm. "Check Point WAF performs exceptionally well in high security environments where accuracy is critical and false positives must remain low, while still preserving the performance and availability that digital businesses depend on."
GigaOm assessed 17 leading application and API security solutions, and positioned Check Point in the Maturity and Platform Play quadrant. The report highlights Check Point's ability to deliver comprehensive Web Application and API Protection (WAAP) capabilities that protect modern applications across hybrid and multi-cloud environments while simplifying operational management.
Additional key strengths highlighted in the report include:
- Stronger threat protection with fewer disruptions: Check Point WAF's dual AI engine architecture combines pattern recognition with contextual and behavioral analysis to detect sophisticated and unknown zero-day threats with high accuracy, without relying on signatures or manual tuning. This helps organizations block attacks while minimizing false positives that can interrupt legitimate traffic
- Simplified and more reliable API protection: Automated API discovery, schema validation, and built-in protections against common API attacks such as BOLA and BOPA help organizations quickly identify exposed APIs and secure them as environments scale
- Security integrated into modern development workflows: With CI/CD integrations, Terraform infrastructure-as-code support, and an API-first architecture, Check Point WAF enables security teams and developers to embed protection directly into development pipelines, supporting faster releases while maintaining strong security and compliance
The report also highlights Check Point's focus on delivering strong security efficacy. In the 2026 WAF comparison testing, Check Point achieved a
Integrated with Check Point's Hybrid Mesh Network Security architecture, the platform enables unified protection across network, cloud, and application layers, helping organizations reduce complexity while strengthening their overall security posture.
As organizations increasingly rely on APIs, microservices, and AI-driven applications, security teams must protect rapidly expanding attack surfaces without slowing down innovation. Check Point WAF extends protection beyond traditional WAAP capabilities by helping organizations secure emerging AI-enabled applications and services.
"Applications and APIs are the backbone of modern digital businesses," said Paul Barbosa, VP of Cloud Security at Check Point Software Technologies. "GigaOm's recognition highlights how Check Point WAF enables customers to operate in prevention mode from day one, delivering accurate protection with the simplicity needed for modern and AI-driven applications. This approach allows us to stop emerging threats early, as seen when Check Point WAF protected customers from React2Shell before it was exploited in the wild."
Check Point WAF protects the applications behind online banking, government services, retail platforms, critical infrastructure, and emerging AI workloads. The platform helps ensure legitimate users can access services without disruption while automatically blocking zero-day attacks and advanced API abuse.
Download the GigaOm Radar for Application and API Security to see how Check Point leads in prevention-first security, exceptional security efficacy, and cloud‑native innovations.
Follow Check Point on LinkedIn, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, YouTube and our blog.
About Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (www.checkpoint.com) is a global cyber security leader protecting more than 100,000 organizations worldwide. Its mission is to secure enterprises' AI transformation. With a prevention-first approach and an open ecosystem architecture, Check Point helps organizations block advanced threats, prioritize exposures, and automate security operations across complex digital environments. The unified architecture simplifies protection across hybrid networks, multi-cloud environments, digital workspaces, and AI systems. Structured around four strategic pillars, Hybrid Mesh Network Security, Workspace Security, Exposure Management, and AI Security, Check Point delivers consistent protection and visibility across multivendor environments, enabling organizations to reduce risk, improve efficiency, and accelerate innovation without increasing complexity.
Legal Notice Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements related to our expectations regarding our products and solutions, our expectations regarding future growth, the expansion of Check Point's industry leadership, the enhancement of shareholder value and the delivery of an industry-leading cyber security platform to customers worldwide. Our expectations and beliefs regarding these matters may not materialize, and actual results or events in the future are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those projected. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are also subject to other risks and uncertainties, including those more fully described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including our Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 31, 2026. The forward-looking statements in this press release are based on information available to Check Point as of the date hereof, and Check Point disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, except as required by law.
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gigaom-names-check-point-software-a-leader-and-fast-mover-in-application-and-api-security-302732408.html
SOURCE Check Point Software Technologies
FAQ
What did GigaOm say about Check Point WAF in the April 2, 2026 report for CHKP?
How effective is Check Point WAF according to the 2026 GigaOm testing for CHKP?
What API protection features did GigaOm highlight for Check Point (CHKP)?
How does Check Point WAF integrate with development workflows for CHKP customers?
Which environments does the GigaOm report say Check Point WAF protects for CHKP?
What operational benefits for customers did GigaOm attribute to Check Point WAF (CHKP)?