Use a Wave to compare vendors in a defined market, a market-mapping report to see who is in it and what they focus on, and a Tech Tide to decide whether and when to invest in a technology category. Forrester's public policy pages describe each one differently, and only the Wave is built around scored evaluation.
Wave: compare vendors
The Wave methodology describes inclusion criteria, an evaluation with weighted criteria, and placement in Leader, Strong Performer and Contender bands. It applies one methodology to all participating vendors. Use it when you already know you want a product in the category and need a structured comparison.
Market map: see who is there
Forrester's methodology page for its market-mapping report, which it names Landscape, says it helps clients identify and explore technology vendors that match their key business technology issues. It defines a market's maturity and dynamics, outlines use cases, and lists notable vendors that clients can prioritize by size, focus and geography.
Vendors get a questionnaire with about three weeks to respond. Forrester uses vendor-reported data in key graphics and may use estimates for unanswered questions. The page does not say that these reports score or rank vendors. Use it when the market is young or crowded and you want to know who exists before you decide what to compare.
Tech Tide: time the investment
The Tech Tide assesses the maturity of a group of related technology categories that support one business function. Each category is placed by business value and maturity, then assigned one of four actions: Experiment, Invest, Maintain or Divest. Use it for portfolio and budget timing, not for choosing between products.
Which question are you asking?
- Your question: Who sells in this market and what is their focus?. Report type: Market map
- Your question: How do the main products compare on weighted criteria?. Report type: Wave
- Your question: Should we fund this category this year or wait?. Report type: Tech Tide
Mixing them well
A common sequence for a newer area such as AI agent security is Tech Tide for timing, a market map for names, Wave for comparison once a Wave exists. Not every category has all three, and some have none. Check Forrester's site for what is currently published in your category rather than assuming.
Whatever the format, none of these replaces your own requirements list and a test on your own code.
A short decision rule
Start with the decision you must make this quarter. If it is a spending decision, begin with timing. If it is a naming decision, begin with the market map. If you already have three or four candidates, go straight to a scored comparison and your own test. Starting with the wrong format wastes weeks, for instance reading a vendor comparison before you know whether the category is worth funding.
Quick check
Does a market map rank vendors?
The methodology page describes mapping the market and listing vendors with attributes, and it does not say these reports score or rank them.
What are the four Tech Tide actions?
Experiment, Invest, Maintain and Divest.
Safeguard covers SBOM and dependency scanning, reachability analysis and policies and gates, so you can test those capability areas whichever report type guided your shortlist.
Sources
- The Forrester Wave Methodology
- Forrester market-mapping report methodology
- Forrester Tech Tide Methodology
Last reviewed: 19 October 2026.
