Binary Defense vs Critical Start: MDR Comparison 2026
Binary Defense (Pure-play MDR) and Critical Start (MDR provider) take different approaches to managed detection and response. Binary Defense works with your existing tools, while Critical Start works with your existing tools. Binary Defense targets Mid-market and Enterprise organizations; Critical Start focuses on Mid-market and Enterprise.
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
Binary Defense vs Critical Start: Which Should You Choose?
Choose Binary Defense if:
- •Mid-market and enterprise organizations wanting technology-agnostic MDR
- •Companies with existing security investments (EDR, SIEM) they want to keep
- •Manufacturing, healthcare, financial services, and energy sectors
- •You want direct Slack integration with your SOC
Choose Critical Start if:
- •Mid-market to large enterprises wanting technology-agnostic MDR that works with their existing security stack
- •Organizations suffering from alert fatigue wanting TBR's deterministic auto-resolution to reduce noise
- •Companies needing OT/ICS monitoring alongside IT MDR (Claroty, Dragos, Nozomi integrations)
Bottom line: Binary Defense (Pure-play MDR) and Critical Start (MDR provider) serve different buyer profiles. Your decision depends on whether you prioritize Binary Defense's binary defense stands out for its open xdr approach that works with your existing stack rather th... or Critical Start's technology-agnostic mdr with tbr deterministic alert auto-resolution, 100+ integrations, ot/ics s....
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Binary Defense and Critical Start?
Binary Defense is a Pure-play MDR that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). Critical Start is a MDR provider that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). SLA commitments differ: Binary Defense offers Not disclosed, Critical Start offers ≤15 minutes.
How do Binary Defense and Critical Start differ in response capabilities?
Binary Defense supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable. Critical Start supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable.
How does Binary Defense pricing compare to Critical Start?
Binary Defense pricing: Custom-quoted pricing. Critical Start pricing: Custom-quoted pricing. Watch for with Binary Defense: MDR Plus features (deception, malware disruption) are add-ons beyond base MDR; Co-Managed SIEM is a separate service. Watch for with Critical Start: No public pricing at all — requires sales call for any ballpark; OT/ICS monitoring and vulnerability management are separate purchases on top of base MDR.
Should I choose Binary Defense or Critical Start?
Choose Binary Defense if: mid-market and enterprise organizations wanting technology-agnostic MDR. Choose Critical Start if: mid-market to large enterprises wanting technology-agnostic MDR that works with their existing security stack. Binary Defense is not ideal for organizations needing included IR in the base MDR package. Critical Start is not ideal for sMBs or budget-conscious organizations — enterprise-focused pricing not publicly disclosed.