42Crunch vs Qualys

42Crunch positions itself as an API security gateway for teams that want enforcement at the edge. It operates as a proxy that inspects requests and responses, which suits environments where runtime blocking is acceptable. middleBrick is a self-service scanner for engineers and security analysts who need to assess API surface from outside the runtime path. It performs black-box testing with no agents, no SDKs, and no runtime instrumentation, making it suitable for ad hoc assessments and scheduled scans without affecting production traffic.

42Crunch provides runtime security features such as policy enforcement, rate limiting, and request transformation, with security checks tied to its gateway deployment. Its testing scope is inherently limited to what the gateway can observe and block. middleBrick covers a broader set of OWASP API Top 10 categories through black-box scanning, including authentication bypass, IDOR, sensitive data exposure, and LLM-specific adversarial probes across tiered scan depths. Its OpenAPI parser resolves recursive $ref definitions and compares the spec against runtime behavior, highlighting undefined security schemes and deprecated operations without requiring access to source code.

Both tools support authenticated scans, but with different operational constraints. 42Crunch integrates authentication at the gateway layer and typically requires credentials to be managed within its policy framework. middleBrick supports Bearer tokens, API keys, Basic auth, and cookies for authenticated assessments. Domain verification is required only when credentials are used, ensuring that scans are performed by the domain owner. middleBrick forwards a restricted set of headers and does not offer runtime remediation; it focuses on detection and reporting with guidance.

42Crunch integrates into deployment pipelines primarily through its gateway, providing enforcement that can block requests based on policy. Its automation is tied to runtime decisions rather than scan scheduling. middleBrick offers broader integration options, including a CLI for on-demand scans, a GitHub Action that can fail builds based on score thresholds, and a programmable API for custom workflows. Pro tier adds scheduled rescans, diff detection across runs, email alerts, HMAC-SHA256 signed webhooks, and SOC 2 Type II aligned audit logging. The MCP Server enables scanning from AI-assisted development tools without requiring code access.

42Crunch typically follows a subscription model tied to gateway capacity or number of protected APIs, with costs aligned to infrastructure scale and policy enforcement features. middleBrick uses a tier-based model with a no-cost option for basic CLI usage. Starter tier provides 15 monitored APIs with dashboard and email alerts. Pro tier scales to 100 APIs with continuous monitoring and CI/CD integration, while Enterprise offers unlimited APIs, custom rules, SSO, and dedicated support. middleBrick does not claim compliance certification; it maps findings to PCI-DSS 4.0, SOC 2 Type II, and OWASP API Top 10 (2023) to help you prepare for audits and validate controls.

Choose 42Crunch if you need runtime enforcement at the edge and want security policies applied directly to incoming traffic. Choose middleBrick if you need an external scanner that covers a wide range of OWASP API Top 10 findings, including LLM-specific probes, without impacting production. middleBrick does not perform active SQL injection or command injection testing, does not detect business logic vulnerabilities, and does not replace a human pentester for high-stakes audits. Both tools have distinct roles: one enforces at runtime, the other assesses surface risk from outside.