Cipher vs ConnectWise
Cipher is a Services firm that works with your existing tools. ConnectWise is a MSP-channel that requires its own security platform. Cipher targets Mid-market and Enterprise organizations; ConnectWise serves SMB and Mid-market. Cipher includes 0 attack surfaces in base pricing (), compared to 4 for ConnectWise (Endpoint, Cloud, SaaS, Network).
Buyer brief
Cipher is a Services firm that works with your existing tools. ConnectWise is a MSP-channel that requires its own security platform. Cipher targets Mid-market and Enterprise organizations; ConnectWise serves SMB and Mid-market. Cipher includes 0 attack surfaces in base pricing (), compared to 4 for ConnectWise (Endpoint, Cloud, SaaS, Network).
ConnectWise is the choice if you want a single-vendor stack with deep integration. Cipher is better if you have existing tools and want flexibility.
At a glance
| FIELD |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Mid-market and enterprise buyers that want a managed service layered over existing security tools | MSPs already in the ConnectWise ecosystem (PSA, RMM) who want MDR without a separate vendor relationship |
| Price | Custom quote | Custom quote |
| Response authority | 0/6 actions · Approval required | 5/6 actions · Configurable |
| Stack | Works with existing stack | Requires own platform |
| Data access | Dashboards | Dashboards |
| Warranty | None listed | None listed |
- Best fit
- Mid-market and enterprise buyers that want a managed service layered over existing security tools
- Price
- Custom quote
- Response authority
- 0/6 actions · Approval required
- Stack
- Works with existing stack
- Data access
- Dashboards
- Warranty
- None listed
- Best fit
- MSPs already in the ConnectWise ecosystem (PSA, RMM) who want MDR without a separate vendor relationship
- Price
- Custom quote
- Response authority
- 5/6 actions · Configurable
- Stack
- Requires own platform
- Data access
- Dashboards
- Warranty
- None listed
Detailed comparison
| FIELD | CipherTECH-AGNOSTIC | ConnectWisePLATFORM |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | ||
| Target size | Mid-market, Enterprise | SMB, Mid-market |
| Sentiment | Mixed | Mixed |
| Your stack | ||
| Approach | Works with your tools | Requires their platform |
| EDR integrations | Customer EDR | BitdefenderSentinelOneMicrosoft Defender |
| SIEM integrations | None listed | ConnectWise SIEM |
| Coverage | EPEndpoint: LimitedCloudCloud: LimitedIDIdentity: Not coveredSaaSSaaS: Not coveredNetNetwork: LimitedOTOT/IoT: Not covered | EPEndpoint: CoveredCloudCloud: CoveredIDIdentity: Optional add-onSaaSSaaS: CoveredNetNetwork: CoveredOTOT/IoT: Not covered |
| Response | ||
| Response type | Guided Response | Active Remediation |
| Approval policy | Approval Required | Configurable |
| Response actions | Alert and notify only | IsolateKill processContainQuarantineCustom playbooks |
| IR included | Separate | Separate |
| Cost | ||
| Price range | Not published | Not publicly disclosed. Requires custom quote through MSP channel. |
| Minimum seats | None | None |
| Breach warranty | – | – |
| More details | ||
| Requires own agent | No | No |
| Endpoints | ~ Limited | ✓ Included |
| Cloud workloads | ~ Limited | ✓ Included |
| Identity | Not offered | + Optional |
| SaaS apps | Not offered | ✓ Included |
| Network | ~ Limited | ✓ Included |
| OT/ICS | Not offered | Not offered |
| Threat hunting | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Response SLA | Not disclosed | ≤15 minutes |
| 24/7 coverage | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pricing model | Custom quote. Cipher does not publish xMDR package pricing. | Per-endpoint, MSP subscription. Not publicly listed. |
| Hidden cost warnings | Cipher says xMDR works with the existing technology stack, so buyers should confirm which tools are included in the quote and what integration work is extra.. Public pages do not publish response SLAs, contract minimums or service-credit language.. The site names EDR and IPS/IDS integration but does not publish named vendor integrations.. Response wording is broad, so buyers should document pre-approved actions before go-live. | Pricing requires sales engagement, no self-serve. Ecosystem lock-in through ConnectWise RMM and PSA bundling. 12-36 month agreements typical. Data export is difficult when switching providers |
| Data portability | Partial | Limited |
| Contract terms | Custom, xMDR Services, xMDR Platform | Annual, Multi-year |
| Channels | Portal | EmailPortalPhone |
| Data access | Dashboards | Dashboards |
| Dedicated analyst | – | ✓ |
| SOC regions | North AmericaEuropeLATAM | North AmericaAPAC |
| Onboarding | Cipher advertises 20 days for full service activation, but buyers should confirm scope and contract timing. | Not publicly documented for full MDR. SIEM component described as agent-based, deployable in minutes. |
| Industry focus | HealthcareProfessional ServicesPayments | Managed Service Providers |
| MTTD | Not published | Not published |
| MTTR | Not published | Under 14 minutes average ransomware response time (vendor-published). Asio platform claims 30-50% faster detection through unified alerts. Specific MTTD not published. |
| Community view | No meaningful MDR-specific buyer-review signal was found in major English-language review communities during this pass. The public buyer case rests on Cipher's Prosegur ownership, xMDR Platform, 24/7 SOC claim, six-SOC footprint, portal access and existing-stack positioning. Buyers should validate pricing, response authority, named integrations and SOC delivery details directly. | ConnectWise SIEM has Capterra 4.6/5 from ~50 reviews. ConnectWise MDR has almost no independent reviews. PeerSpot ranks it #57 in MDR with 0.4% mindshare and zero collected reviews. Not included in Gartner or Forrester MDR evaluations. |
| Compliance | ISO 27001ISO 22301ISO 20000ISO 9001SOC 1SOC 2PCI DSSCREST | SOC 2 Type II |
| Certifications | ISO 27001ISO 22301ISO 20000ISO 9001SOC ISOC IIPCI QSAPCI ASVCRESTTF-CSIRTCIPHER-CSIRT RFC2350 | SOC 2 Type II |
| Founded | – | 1982 |
| Data retention | Cipher says all platform information is online 24/7 and available from any device. No public standard MDR data-retention period was found. | SIEM log retention available but specific periods not publicly documented. Capterra reviewers have flagged retention as problematic for audit compliance. |
| API available | – | ✓ |
| Website | Visit → | Visit → |
FAQ
What is the main difference between Cipher and ConnectWise?
Cipher is a Services firm that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). ConnectWise is a MSP-channel that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). SLA commitments differ: Cipher offers Not disclosed, ConnectWise offers ≤15 minutes. Cipher covers 0 attack surfaces in base pricing vs. 4 for ConnectWise.
How do Cipher and ConnectWise differ in response capabilities?
Cipher supports 0 autonomous actions (none) and requires approval before acting. ConnectWise supports 5 autonomous actions (custom playbooks, endpoint isolation, file quarantine, network containment, process termination) and approval is configurable.
How does Cipher pricing compare to ConnectWise?
Cipher pricing: Not published. ConnectWise pricing: Not publicly disclosed. Requires custom quote through MSP channel.. Watch for with Cipher: Cipher says xMDR works with the existing technology stack, so buyers should confirm which tools are included in the quote and what integration work is extra.; Public pages do not publish response SLAs, contract minimums or service-credit language.. Watch for with ConnectWise: Pricing requires sales engagement, no self-serve; Ecosystem lock-in through ConnectWise RMM and PSA bundling.
Should I choose Cipher or ConnectWise?
Choose Cipher if: mid-market and enterprise buyers that want a managed service layered over existing security tools. Choose ConnectWise if: mSPs already in the ConnectWise ecosystem (PSA, RMM) who want MDR without a separate vendor relationship. Cipher is not ideal for buyers that need public MDR pricing before sales. ConnectWise is not ideal for direct enterprise buyers, ConnectWise MDR is sold through MSP partners only.
Daylight Security
AI-native MDR for buyers comparing active remediation across endpoint, cloud, identity, and SaaS. Daylight works with existing EDR/SIEM stacks and uses ChatOps-native collaboration, so it can be a useful third reference point in this comparison.