eSentire Competitors (2026): 13 MDR Options Compared

Evaluating eSentire alternatives? This guide compares 13 options, including CrowdStrike, Microsoft Defender XDR + Sentinel, Palo Alto Cortex, UnderDefense, SentinelOne, and more. Explore and match services to your stack, spot field watchouts, and prove it fast in a PoC.

What You’ll Take Away

• A clear shortlist of 13 eSentire alternatives mapped by services and stack fit
• Field watchouts you should verify before you buy
• A practical PoC plan to prove speed to action and day-two operating fit in your environment

TOP 13 eSentire Alternatives for 2026

1. CrowdStrike Falcon Complete
2. Microsoft Defender XDR + Sentinel
3. UnderDefense MDR
4. Palo Alto Networks Cortex
5. SentinelOne Vigilance MDR
6. Sophos Intercept X + MDR
7. Fortinet (FortiGuard MDR)
8. Cisco Secure Endpoint/XDR + Splunk ES
9. Check Point (Infinity MDR)
10. Rapid7 (Managed Threat Complete MDR)
11. Arctic Wolf (Concierge SOC Model)
12. Red Canary MDR
13. Secureworks Taegis (XDR + MDR)

Let’s unpack each eSentire alternative by services, stack, and field watchouts.

1. CrowdStrike Falcon Complete

Falcon Complete is CrowdStrike’s fully managed MDR that investigates and contains threats directly inside the Falcon platform, pairing its OverWatch human hunters with native endpoint, identity, cloud, and next-gen SIEM telemetry for fast, coordinated action. The draw: host-level actions and hunting without stitching multiple tools together. 

What’s in the Falcon security stack:

• Falcon Complete MDR + Adversary OverWatch (24×7 hunting). Learn how UnderDefense beat OverWatch by two days, stopping lateral movement.
• Falcon EDR/XDR core platform.
• Identity Protection and Cloud/Workload Security Bundles.
• Optional modules often seen in deals: Data Protection, Device Control, Firewall Management, Forensics, Ranger/Discover, Spotlight VM, etc.

Buyer notes:

• OverWatch (24×7 hunting) is frequently praised for speed and depth, though a few voices see it as redundant if you already run a very mature hunt team.
• Some customers note Falcon Complete won’t chase low-severity items by design.

How customers rate CrowdStrike: G2 (Falcon EPP/XDR): ~4.7/5 from recent reviews.

2. Microsoft Defender XDR + Sentinel

Microsoft Defender XDR unifies signals from endpoints, identities, email, SaaS, and apps, while Sentinel brings the cloud-native SIEM layer for analytics, hunting, and retention. Together, you get native prevention + detection + response with tight M365/Entra hooks and optional managed help via Defender Experts for XDR.

What’s in the Microsoft security stack:

• Defender XDR (formerly M365 Defender) across endpoint, identity, email, and apps.
• Defender Experts for XDR (Microsoft-run 24×7 managed investigations).
• Microsoft Sentinel (SIEM/SOAR) with pay-as-you-go or commitment ingestion tiers.
• Defender for Cloud (CNAPP) and related Cloud/Workload protections.

Buyer notes:

• Many admins compare P1 vs P2 and E3/E5/Biz Premium inclusions; consensus: aim for P2 (EDR) if you want full telemetry and automation.
• Threads stress modeling daily GB ingest and using commitment tiers/summarization to control spend.
• Defender Experts for XDR ≠ Falcon Complete. Buyers ask how “managed” it really is and what MS analysts will/won’t do. Clarify scope and authority in the SOW.

How customers rate Microsoft Defender: G2 — 4.4/5 (≈303 reviews); 

3. ​​UnderDefense MDR (Tool-Agnostic)

UnderDefense runs MDR on your existing stack with 24/7 proactive detection, human-led threat hunting, and rapid, pre-approved actions (isolate/disable/revoke) with rollback. Teams get guided response and remediation, seamless integration across endpoint, cloud, SaaS, identity, and network.

What’s in the UnderDefense security stack:

• MDR on your tools (EDR/IdP/SaaS/Cloud/Network).
• 24×7 monitoring and hunt.
• Threat hunting & detection engineering (ATT&CK-mapped) + DFIR surge.
• Adversary emulation / pentesting and readiness exercises.
• UnderDefense MAXI platform: 2-minute incident context, ~15-minute containment guidance, 200+ integrations.

Buyer notes:

• Case studies call out single-digit-minute critical containment (e.g., 9 minutes for priority alerts) and measurable ops savings.
• Transparent entry pricing is published; larger scopes vary by services and authority. Use our MDR pricing calculator for a precise cost estimate.

How customers rate UnderDefense: G2 — UnderDefense: 5.0/5.

4. Palo Alto Networks Cortex (XDR + XSIAM + Unit 42)

Think “platformized SecOps.” Cortex XDR correlates endpoint, network, cloud, and identity telemetry for detection/response, while Cortex XSIAM is Palo Alto’s AI-driven SecOps platform that centralizes data, analytics, automation, and SOC workflows. Add Unit 42 MDR if you want Palo Alto to run investigations and response for you.

What’s in the Palo Alto security stack:

• Cortex XDR (endpoint-first XDR with analytics and correlations).
• Cortex XSIAM (AI-driven SIEM/SecOps platform with data lake, detection, automation).
• Unit 42 MDR (Palo Alto–run 24×7 investigations/response on Cortex XDR).

Buyer notes:

• Cortex XSIAM pricing sparks debate; some clients mention a multi-million-dollar deal and uneven PoC experience. Model ingest/eps and clarify what’s included.
• Practitioners say Cortex XDR is powerful but less intuitive; value improves after training—plan enablement time.

How customers rate Palo Alto Networks: Cortex XDR: ~4.6/5. Cortex XSIAM: ~4.3/5.

5. SentinelOne Singularity XDR + Vigilance MDR

SentinelOne Singularity XDR brings AI-driven prevention/rollback and cross-signal detection, while SentinelOne Vigilance MDR adds 24×7 human monitoring, triage, and response with fast MTTR SLAs. Recent releases expand Purple AI for analyst-style investigations. 

What’s in the SentinelOne security stack:

• Singularity XDR (EDR/XDR with rollback & cross-layer analytics).
• Vigilance MDR (24×7 managed investigation/response).
• Singularity Cloud & Identity (workloads/ITDR).
• Optional: Purple AI assistant; published package pricing pages.

Buyer notes:

• SentinelOne pricing is often lower than CrowdStrike in MSP/SMB deals; discounts vary by reseller and tier, so negotiate.
• Vigilance MDR is valued for after-hours isolation and noise reduction vs. running S1 “without a SOC.”
• Expect variability in per-endpoint/MDR quotes; list SKUs and support scope explicitly.

How customers rate SentinelOne: G2 — Singularity XDR: ~4.9/5.

6. Sophos Intercept X + MDR

Intercept X with XDR covers endpoints/servers with AI prevention and rollback, while Sophos MDR adds 24×7 human-led monitoring, threat hunting, and guided/handled response. Keep existing tools where needed and manage them all in Sophos Central.

What’s in the Sophos security stack:

• Intercept X with XDR (endpoint/server protection + investigations).
• Sophos MDR (Essentials/Complete) for 24×7 monitoring, hunting, and response.
• Add-ons: Email Security, NDR, Cloud/CSPM; all under Sophos Central.

Buyer notes:

• ​​Several admins praise MDR but call standard support “rough” or slow; escalate paths matter. 
• Response/results mixed: one sysadmin thread reports MDR missing/slow on certain detections; verify SLAs and what triggers isolation/cases.
• Buyers mention Sophos MDR price hikes via resellers; confirm renewal terms and escalators.

How customers rate Sophos: G2 — Sophos MDR: ~4.5/5.

7. Fortinet (FortiEDR + FortiXDR + FortiGuard MDR)

Fortinet ties endpoint (FortiEDR) and XDR analytics (FortiXDR) into its broader Fabric — firewalls, SOAR, and SIEM — while FortiGuard MDR adds 24×7 analyst coverage. It’s attractive if you already run FortiGate/Analyzer and want one vendor across network + endpoint + SecOps.

What’s in the Fortinet security stack:

• FortiEDR (behavior-based prevention, post-infection remediation).
• FortiXDR (XDR correlations across Fabric; vendor cites strong peer-review scores).
• FortiGuard MDR (24×7 managed detection/response on top of Fortinet sensors).
• FortiSIEM / FortiSOAR / FortiNDR for data lake, automation, and network detection.

Buyer notes:

• Community feedback is mixed. Some praise FortiEDR’s blocking and 24×7 support; others note upgrade quirks and consider alternatives—validate SOC workflow and PS requirements.
• A few posts are skeptical of FortiXDR versus rivals. Run a PoC with real attack paths and confirm containment authority.

How customers rate Fortinet: G2 — FortiEDR: ~4.5/5 (≈12 reviews).

8. Cisco Secure Endpoint/XDR + Splunk ES

Cisco Secure Endpoint and Cisco XDR tie email/network/endpoint/identity telemetry together; Splunk Enterprise Security now sits in-house after the 2024 acquisition, giving SecOps a Cisco-native XDR with a top-tier SIEM for analytics, hunting, and retention.

What’s in the Cisco security stack:

• Cisco XDR with native sensors (Endpoint, Email, Network Analytics) and third-party ingest.
• Secure Endpoint (ex-AMP) for EDR/XDR on hosts; Orbital for live queries.
• Splunk Enterprise Security as the SIEM/SOAR layer post-deal.

Buyer notes:

• Community sentiment is split: some like Secure Endpoint’s capabilities; others call out UI/friction and false positives. Plan tuning and policy work.
• Expect questions about Cisco–Splunk fit and roadmap; teams debate lock-in vs. stronger native ties. Verify ingestion costs, retention, and playbook authority in the SOW.

How customers rate Cisco: G2 — Cisco Secure Endpoints: ~4.5/5 (≈21 reviews). 

9. Check Point (Harmony Endpoint + Horizon XDR/XPR + Infinity MDR)

Think of Check Point as a “prevention-first SecOps.” Harmony Endpoint covers EPP/EDR on devices, Horizon XDR/XPR correlates signals across endpoint, network, cloud, email, and identity (incl. third-party integrations), and Infinity MDR/MPR adds 24×7 analyst coverage under a unified Infinity platform.

What’s in the Check Point security stack:

• Harmony Endpoint (EPP/EDR/XDR agent).
• Horizon XDR/XPR (SecOps correlation + automated response).
• Infinity MDR/MPR (24×7 managed detection/response on Check Point + third-party signals).
• Harmony Email & Collaboration (ex-Avanan) for API-based email/SaaS protection.

Buyer notes:

• Community feedback is mixed: some admins like Harmony’s blocking; others weigh alternatives. Use a PoC with real attack paths.
• A few threads cite Harmony Endpoint causing slowdowns in some estates. Test policies and exclusions before broad rollout.

How customers rate Check Point: G2 — Harmony Endpoint 4.5/5 sentiment.

10. Rapid7 (InsightIDR + Managed Threat Complete MDR)

Rapid7 is a SIEM-first MDR with vuln+SOAR in one stack. InsightIDR is Rapid7’s cloud SIEM; Managed Threat Complete layers 24×7 MDR on top, with InsightVM (vuln mgmt), InsightConnect (SOAR), and Threat Command (DRP) available for a tightly coupled SecOps loop.

What’s in the Rapid7 security stack:

• InsightIDR (cloud SIEM/XDR).
• Managed Threat Complete (MDR) with 24×7 monitoring/response.
• InsightVM (vulnerability management) and InsightConnect (SOAR).

Buyer notes:

• Some teams call out costly SIEM ingest. Model daily GB, retention, and query volume up front to avoid surprise bills.
  InsightIDR gets called out as faster to value than Splunk in smaller shops.
• Some admins note that the MDR action scope varies. Confirm what Rapid7 is/isn’t authorized to do during incidents.

How customers rate Rapid7: G2 — InsightIDR: 4.4/5

11. Arctic Wolf (Concierge SOC Model)

Arctic Wolf runs MDR as an operating rhythm: a named Concierge Security® Team (CST), 24×7 monitoring, and documented runbooks across endpoint, identity, cloud, email, and network, delivered on its Aurora platform. The draw: predictable operations with humans who know your environment and drive changes, not just close tickets.

What’s in the Arctic Wolf security stack:

• Managed Detection & Response (MDR) with 24×7 monitoring.
• Cloud Detection & Response (IaaS/SaaS).
• Log/Network monitoring via integrations.
• Managed Risk (vulnerability/exposure).
• Incident Response retainers (Tetra Defense heritage).

Buyer notes:

• Arctic Wolf is praised for monitoring & detection; teams have switched to Concierge Security Teams for better outcomes.
• Some admins report “dinosaur-y” processes and noisy scans; plan for tuning and confirm workflow fit.
• A few threads mention unexpected sales experiences (e.g., “no-bid”/fit thresholds) and renewal price increases. Clarify scope and renewal terms early.

How customers rate Arctic Wolf: Gartner Peer Insights — 4.9/5 (≈550+ reviews).

12. Red Canary MDR (Overlay on Your EDR)

Red Canary runs 24×7 MDR on top of tools you already own: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, CrowdStrike, Carbon Black, and SentinelOne. Adding human-led hunting, triage, and handled/guided response without rebuilding your stack. The draw: strong signal quality and fast analyst action

What’s in the Red Canary security stack:

• Managed Detection & Response (24×7 monitoring).
• MDR for Microsoft Defender (Microsoft-listed partner offer).
• Integrations with CrowdStrike, Carbon Black, SentinelOne, + others.
• Threat hunting, intel, and detection engineering services.

Buyer notes:

• Shows up in MDR recommendation threads alongside big names; often shortlisted vs. ReliaQuest/Arctic Wolf.
• Some teams ask for clear SLAs and authority to isolate/contain during incidents. Press for specifics in the SOW.
• A few admins flag pricing as steep and want a tight definition of “handled” vs. “guided” actions.

How customers rate Red Canary: G2 — Red Canary (MDR): 4.7/5 from ~127 reviews.

13. Secureworks Taegis (XDR + MDR)

Secureworks runs 24×7 MDR on its Taegis platform: analysts hunt and respond across endpoint, network, identities, cloud/SaaS, and logs, with DFIR on tap. The appeal: a mature XDR core (Taegis) plus managed operations without rebuilding your estate.

What’s in the Secureworks security stack:

• Taegis XDR (multi-signal analytics & automation).
• Taegis MDR / MDR Elite (24×7 managed detection, hunting, and response).
• Taegis NDR (network detection) + log/third-party integrations.
• Professional services catalog (IR readiness, enhancements).
• MDR Enhanced option (higher-touch investigations & orchestrated response).

Buyer notes:

• Several admins report positive outcomes and quick wins after moving to Taegis MDR; shortlist alongside Arctic Wolf/eSentire.
• Others describe mixed experiences across vendors (including Secureworks), reinforcing the need to validate workflow fit and scope during PoC.

How customers rate Secureworks: G2 — Taegis MDR  — 4.6/5.

How to Pick the Right eSentire Alternative

For each shortlisted MDR option, there are three important rules:

1. POC it
2. POC it
3. POC it

Here is what to test in your environment.

Get 24/7 Proactive Defense That Proves Its Worth

Security should feel controlled, not complex. UnderDefense MDR runs 24/7 protection shaped to your environment. We deliver results on the stack you already use with full visibility across endpoint, identity, SaaS, cloud, and network. 

How we run MDR:

• Faster detection and full-estate visibility
• Built on your tools with two-way ITSM workflows
• Noise is reduced by about 99% as detections and hunts are tuned on your data
• We boost your SOC or act as your SOC
• Preapproved actions in minutes with audited rollback

Proof in practice:

During MDR onboarding, we uncovered Cobalt Strike on 11 servers. Within 24 hours, we contained and cleaned, rolled out EDR, turned on SIEM with 24/7 SOC, and tightened access. A ransomware strike was averted, protecting roughly $650K in revenue. Now they have real-time visibility and faster response.

If this is how you want your eSentire alternative to perform, put us in your bakeoff and let these results play out on your data.

The post eSentire Competitors (2026): 13 MDR Options Compared appeared first on UnderDefense.