Cipher vs LevelBlue
Cipher and LevelBlue are both Services firms that work with your existing tools. Cipher targets Mid-market and Enterprise organizations, while LevelBlue serves SMB, Mid-market, and Enterprise. Cipher includes 0 attack surfaces in base pricing (), compared to 3 for LevelBlue (Endpoint, Cloud, Network).
Buyer brief
Cipher and LevelBlue are both Services firms that work with your existing tools. Cipher targets Mid-market and Enterprise organizations, while LevelBlue serves SMB, Mid-market, and Enterprise. Cipher includes 0 attack surfaces in base pricing (), compared to 3 for LevelBlue (Endpoint, Cloud, Network).
LevelBlue offers broader coverage (3 surfaces vs. 0). Cipher may suit teams that need depth over breadth.
At a glance
| FIELD |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Mid-market and enterprise buyers that want a managed service layered over existing security tools | US federal and state agencies that need FedRAMP/StateRAMP-authorized MDR with deep compliance credentials |
| Price | Custom quote | Third-party starting estimate: ~$43,775/yr |
| Response authority | 0/6 actions · Approval required | 6/6 actions · Configurable |
| Stack | Works with existing stack | Works with existing stack |
| Data access | Dashboards | Full query access |
| 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
- US federal and state agencies that need FedRAMP/StateRAMP-authorized MDR with deep compliance credentials
- Price
- Third-party starting estimate: ~$43,775/yr
- Response authority
- 6/6 actions · Configurable
- Stack
- Works with existing stack
- Data access
- Full query access
- Warranty
- None listed
Detailed comparison
| FIELD | CipherTECH-AGNOSTIC | LevelBlueTECH-AGNOSTIC |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | ||
| Target size | Mid-market, Enterprise | SMB, Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Sentiment | Mixed | Mixed |
| Your stack | ||
| Approach | Works with your tools | Works with your tools |
| EDR integrations | Customer EDR | CrowdStrikeMicrosoft DefenderSentinelOnePalo Alto CortexCarbon Black |
| SIEM integrations | None listed | Microsoft SentinelSplunkDevo |
| Coverage | EPEndpoint: LimitedCloudCloud: LimitedIDIdentity: Not coveredSaaSSaaS: Not coveredNetNetwork: LimitedOTOT/IoT: Not covered | EPEndpoint: CoveredCloudCloud: CoveredIDIdentity: Optional add-onSaaSSaaS: Optional add-onNetNetwork: CoveredOTOT/IoT: Optional add-on |
| Response | ||
| Response type | Guided Response | Active Remediation |
| Approval policy | Approval Required | Configurable |
| Response actions | Alert and notify only | IsolateKill processContainDisable accountsQuarantineCustom playbooks |
| IR included | Separate | Separate |
| Cost | ||
| Price range | Not published | Starting at ~$43,775/year (SelectHub estimate). Enterprise pricing is custom/quote-based. |
| 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 | + Optional |
| Network | ~ Limited | ✓ Included |
| OT/ICS | Not offered | + Optional |
| Threat hunting | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Response SLA | Not disclosed | ≤15 minutes |
| 24/7 coverage | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pricing model | Custom quote. Cipher does not publish xMDR package pricing. | Custom quote-based pricing in two tiers (Trustwave MDR and MDR Elite). Non-EDR sources priced by MEPD (millions of events per day). EDR telemetry is unlimited for contracted endpoints. |
| 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. | Non-EDR telemetry priced by MEPD (millions of events per day), which is hard to estimate upfront and can spike. Service-level scope varies by product and tier. Confirm whether the Trustwave service-level document applies to the quoted MDR service.. MDR, MXDR, Co-Managed SOC, MTDR, and Cybereason XDR are still separate products at different price points. Ask exactly which product you are being quoted.. Five acquisitions and a 15% launch-day layoff. Ask about contract continuity and staff retention. |
| Data portability | Partial | Partial |
| Contract terms | Custom, xMDR Services, xMDR Platform | Annual, Multi-year |
| Channels | Portal | PortalEmailPhone |
| Data access | Dashboards | Full query access |
| Dedicated analyst | – | ✓ |
| SOC regions | North AmericaEuropeLATAM | North AmericaEuropeAsia-Pacific |
| Onboarding | Cipher advertises 20 days for full service activation, but buyers should confirm scope and contract timing. | 10 days or less (Trustwave MDR) |
| Industry focus | HealthcareProfessional ServicesPayments | Financial ServicesHealthcareGovernmentRetailManufacturingEnergy |
| MTTD | Not published | Not published |
| MTTR | Not published | 15-minute Security Incident notification SLA. Sub-30-minute MTTR objective and 15-minute MTTA objective apply under narrower Trustwave service-level scope for MDR Elite and MDR U.S. Government. |
| 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. | G2 4.4/5 (120 reviews, primarily USM Anywhere). Gartner Peer Insights 4.3/5 (Trustwave MDR). Frost & Sullivan MDR Growth Index Leader 2025. Cybereason achieved 100% detection in MITRE ATT&CK 2024. SpiderLabs and FedRAMP authorization are genuine differentiators. Main concern is integration risk from five acquisitions in two years. |
| Compliance | ISO 27001ISO 22301ISO 20000ISO 9001SOC 1SOC 2PCI DSSCREST | FedRAMPStateRAMPSOC 2ISO 27001PCI DSS QSAPCI Forensic InvestigatorHIPAA |
| Certifications | ISO 27001ISO 22301ISO 20000ISO 9001SOC ISOC IIPCI QSAPCI ASVCRESTTF-CSIRTCIPHER-CSIRT RFC2350 | FedRAMP Authorized (first pure-play MDR, Feb 2025, FERC-sponsored)StateRAMP Authorized (Aug 2024)SOC 2ISO 27001PCI DSS QSAPCI Forensic Investigator (PCIF)Microsoft Verified MXDR PartnerFrost & Sullivan MDR Frost Radar Growth Index Leader 2025Gartner Market Guide for MDR Representative Vendor 2024Gartner Market Guide for Outsourced MSS Representative Vendor 2026Gartner Market Guide for DFIR Retainer Services Representative Vendor 2025 |
| Founded | – | 2024 |
| 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. | 1 year (MDR Elite tier). Base MDR tier retention not publicly disclosed. |
| API available | – | ✓ |
| Website | Visit → | Visit → |
FAQ
What is the main difference between Cipher and LevelBlue?
Cipher is a Services firm that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). LevelBlue is a Services firm that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). SLA commitments differ: Cipher offers Not disclosed, LevelBlue offers ≤15 minutes. Cipher covers 0 attack surfaces in base pricing vs. 3 for LevelBlue.
How do Cipher and LevelBlue differ in response capabilities?
Cipher supports 0 autonomous actions (none) and requires approval before acting. LevelBlue supports 6 autonomous actions (account disable, custom playbooks, endpoint isolation, file quarantine, network containment, process termination) and approval is configurable.
How does Cipher pricing compare to LevelBlue?
Cipher pricing: Not published. LevelBlue pricing: Starting at ~$43,775/year (SelectHub estimate). Enterprise pricing is custom/quote-based.. 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 LevelBlue: Non-EDR telemetry priced by MEPD (millions of events per day), which is hard to estimate upfront and can spike; Service-level scope varies by product and tier. Confirm whether the Trustwave service-level document applies to the quoted MDR service..
Should I choose Cipher or LevelBlue?
Choose Cipher if: mid-market and enterprise buyers that want a managed service layered over existing security tools. Choose LevelBlue if: uS federal and state agencies that need FedRAMP/StateRAMP-authorized MDR with deep compliance credentials. Cipher is not ideal for buyers that need public MDR pricing before sales. LevelBlue is not ideal for organizations that prioritize vendor stability. Five ownership changes and a 15% launch-day layoff are red flags..
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.