Comparison
ShadowLock vs ThreatLocker for shadow AI
ThreatLocker blocks the AI tool at the door. ShadowLock inspects what employees actually send to the ones you allow - and scans your M365 tenant for AI OAuth grants ThreatLocker doesn't see. The two layer cleanly; once your AI policy moves past “block everything,” you need both.
ThreatLocker details last verified · sources
ThreatLocker's CEO Danny Jenkins has been explicit: ThreatLocker's AI posture is default-deny application control, not content inspection. If your only question is “is the AI tool installed?”, ThreatLocker is the answer. If your question is “what data is leaving when we do allow AI?”, only an endpoint clipboard classifier - like ShadowLock - can tell you.
of what employees paste into ChatGPT is sensitive dataCyberhaven Labs ↗
ThreatLocker decides which applications and scripts are allowed to run. But once a browser or AI app is on the allowlist, default-deny can't see that roughly one in nine pastes into AI tools contains sensitive data. ShadowLock inspects the content of the paste, not just the binary that's running.
Head to head
Side by side
“Doesn't ThreatLocker already do this?”
It blocks access - and that's a real, valuable control. Default-deny stops the ChatGPT desktop app from installing; Web Control category-blocks AI domains. For shops whose AI policy is "no AI, ever," that combination handles most of the access vector.
What it does not do is read the prompt. If an approved browser, an approved user, and an approved tool are all in play and that user pastes PHI into ChatGPT, ThreatLocker sees normal allowed behavior. ShadowLock's clipboard monitor reads the content, classifies it locally, and blocks or audits per policy. That gap closes the moment your governance team says "we'll allow AI for some workflows."
Fit
Which one fits your situation?
Choose ShadowLock when…
- You already run ThreatLocker (or any zero-trust posture) and need to add prompt-data classification.
- Your shadow AI policy is "allow some AI, block sensitive pastes" - not just "block all AI."
- You need clipboard-level inspection for HIPAA §164.312, SOC 2 CC6/CC7, or GDPR Article 32.
- You want a focused per-device control you can price into a security tier, not a platform bundle.
ThreatLocker still fits if…
- You're replacing your whole endpoint stack with a zero-trust posture and want a single vendor.
- Your shadow AI threat model genuinely is "no AI tools, ever" and Web Control + allowlisting satisfies it.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can ShadowLock and ThreatLocker run on the same endpoint?
Yes - they don't conflict and most mid- to large-MSP shops run both. ThreatLocker handles access; ShadowLock handles paste-time content classification.
Does ThreatLocker classify AI prompt content?
No. ThreatLocker's public AI posture is default-deny application and web control, not content inspection. ShadowLock is the layer that reads what's in the paste.
Will my MSP buyers ask about this comparison?
Constantly. "Doesn't ThreatLocker already block AI?" is the most common objection in shadow AI deals. Answer: it blocks access, ShadowLock inspects content - different jobs.
Sources and verification
Every competitor claim below links to that vendor’s own public documentation. Where a vendor does not publish an answer, we say so rather than presenting silence as proof. Competitor facts on this page were last checked on . Pricing and features change without notice — verify against the vendor before you buy.
- ThreatLocker pricing ↗ — ThreatLocker does not publish a rate card. The pricing page offers "a price quote built around your environment", based on endpoint count, application landscape, and control needs.Not publicly documented
One claim on this page rests on the absence of public documentation rather than on a vendor statement. We have written it as “not publicly documented” for that reason. If you represent one of these vendors and we have it wrong, tell us and we will correct it.
Comparisons
Compare ShadowLock to other shadow AI tools
Researching alternatives? Honest side-by-side comparisons against every MSP-channel shadow AI tool.
AI-native XDR with no M365 scanning. We scan the tenant and publish a price.
Browser-only. We add endpoint and M365 tenant.
Resolver-layer only. Blind to embedded AI and M365 OAuth.
Browser isolation. We are purpose-built for shadow AI.
Governs shadow AI inside the E5 stack. We need no E5 license.