Cybersecurity · head to head
Baffle vs OnBase

Baffle
Cybersecurity
Transparent proxy that encrypts, tokenises and masks database fields without application code changes
- From
- On request
- Free plan
- No
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Baffle the proxy sits in the production data path, so it becomes a latency contributor and a failure domain, and any deployment needs load and failover testing that customers routinely underestimate.; OnBase pricing starts at 2,000 USD per month, making it expensive for small agencies
- They diverge on capability: Baffle covers Transparent proxy deployment, OnBase covers Content Management.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Baffle and OnBase actually diverge.
Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in Baffle
- Transparent proxy deployment
- Field-level encryption
- Tokenisation
- Format-preserving de-identification
- Dynamic data masking
- Bring your own key
- Analytics and pipeline support
- AI pipeline protection
Only in OnBase
- Content Management
- Workflow Automation
- Case Management
- Records Management
- Intelligent Capture
- Microsoft 365
- Salesforce
- Epic
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Baffle
- A bank with a legacy application it cannot safely refactor that has an audit finding requiring field-level encryption of account datanot OnBase
- A company wanting to take a reporting database out of PCI scope by tokenising card fields before they landnot OnBase
- A healthcare organisation that must ensure database administrators and cloud operators cannot read patient identifiers in the tables they administernot OnBase
- A team moving regulated data into a warehouse or an AI retrieval pipeline that needs identifiers de-identified in transit without rewriting the ingest jobsnot OnBase
OnBase
- Citizen Servicesnot Baffle
- Records Managementnot Baffle
- Public Safetynot Baffle
- Civic Engagementnot Baffle
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Baffle
- The proxy sits in the production data path, so it becomes a latency contributor and a failure domain, and any deployment needs load and failover testing that customers routinely underestimate.
- What you can still do in SQL depends on the protection mode chosen, and stronger modes restrict comparisons, joins and aggregations on protected columns, which can quietly break existing reports and analytics.
- Database and driver coverage is finite, so an organisation with an unusual engine, an old driver or heavy use of stored procedures may find its most important system is exactly the one not supported.
- Pricing is unpublished and scales with protected data stores, which means an enterprise trying to protect a long tail of small databases pays disproportionately compared with protecting a handful of large ones.
- Key management is your responsibility under bring your own key, and while that is the correct security posture, it moves a real operational burden and a genuine data-loss risk onto the customer.
OnBase
- Pricing starts at 2,000 USD per month, making it expensive for small agencies
- Complex implementation and configuration required for government-specific workflows
- Requires significant IT resources for deployment and ongoing management
Pricing, plan by plan
Baffle
On request- Baffle Data Protection Services$undefined/year
- Quoted by protected data stores and deployment scale
- Self-managed and cloud marketplace deployment options
- Annual subscription
OnBase
$400/month- Government$400/month
- Content Management
- Process Automation
- Case Management
Which should you pick?
Choose Baffle if
- You need transparent proxy deployment.
- You work on Linux, Web.
- You also want field-level encryption.
Choose OnBase if
- You need content management.
- You work on Web, Mobile.
- You also want workflow automation.
Questions people ask
- Is Baffle or OnBase better?
- Neither clearly leads. Baffle starts at On request and OnBase at $400/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Baffle or OnBase?
- Baffle starts at On request and OnBase at $400/month.
- Does Baffle or OnBase run on more platforms?
- Baffle runs on Linux, Web. OnBase runs on Web, Mobile.
- What is Baffle best used for?
- Baffle is most often used for a bank with a legacy application it cannot safely refactor that has an audit finding requiring field-level encryption of account data, a company wanting to take a reporting database out of pci scope by tokenising card fields before they land, a healthcare organisation that must ensure database administrators and cloud operators cannot read patient identifiers in the tables they administer, a team moving regulated data into a warehouse or an ai retrieval pipeline that needs identifiers de-identified in transit without rewriting the ingest jobs. Of those, a bank with a legacy application it cannot safely refactor that has an audit finding requiring field-level encryption of account data and a company wanting to take a reporting database out of pci scope by tokenising card fields before they land are not what OnBase is typically brought in for.
- What can Baffle do that OnBase cannot?
- Baffle covers Transparent proxy deployment, Field-level encryption, Tokenisation, Format-preserving de-identification. OnBase covers Content Management, Workflow Automation, Case Management, Records Management.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Baffle: Do applications need code changes?
No. That is the central design choice. Baffle intercepts traffic as a proxy rather than requiring an SDK call at every read and write.
OnBase: What is OnBase used for in government?
OnBase is used for digital permitting, inspections, and plan review processes. Government agencies use it to streamline workflows, enable online forms, automate approvals, and provide citizen access to application status.
SourceBaffle: Can you still query encrypted columns?
Partly, and it depends on the protection mode. Some modes preserve equality matching and format, stronger modes restrict what SQL operations remain possible, so this must be tested against your actual queries.
OnBase: Does OnBase support mobile access?
Yes. Mobile access is a key feature of OnBase, allowing users to manage documents and cases on the go.
SourceBaffle: Does it take systems out of PCI scope?
Tokenisation can reduce scope by ensuring card data never lands in the protected system, but scope reduction is an assessor judgement, not a product setting.
OnBase: What document management capabilities does OnBase provide?
OnBase provides centralized document storage with version control, search and retrieval tools, records management across physical and electronic lifecycles, and compliance with policies and regulations.
SourceBaffle: Who holds the encryption keys?
You do, through your own key management service. Baffle supports bring your own key rather than holding customer keys itself.
OnBase: Can OnBase workflows be customized?
Yes. OnBase is flexible and configurable with user-defined workflows for case management, streamlining processes like accounts payable, employee onboarding, and contract management.
SourceRelated pages
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- OnBase vs Granicus
- OnBase vs CKAN
- OnBase vs Clariti
- OnBase vs DataSF
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