Cipher vs Optiv
Cipher and Optiv are both Services firms that work with your existing tools. Cipher targets Mid-market and Enterprise organizations, while Optiv serves Mid-market and Enterprise. Cipher includes 0 attack surfaces in base pricing (), compared to 5 for Optiv (Endpoint, Cloud, SaaS, Identity, Network).
Buyer brief
Cipher and Optiv are both Services firms that work with your existing tools. Cipher targets Mid-market and Enterprise organizations, while Optiv serves Mid-market and Enterprise. Cipher includes 0 attack surfaces in base pricing (), compared to 5 for Optiv (Endpoint, Cloud, SaaS, Identity, Network).
Optiv offers broader coverage (5 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 | Enterprises with a multi-vendor security stack that want a managed layer without replacing core tools |
| Price | Custom quote | Custom quote |
| Response authority | 0/6 actions · Approval required | 4/6 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
- Enterprises with a multi-vendor security stack that want a managed layer without replacing core tools
- Price
- Custom quote
- Response authority
- 4/6 actions · Configurable
- Stack
- Works with existing stack
- Data access
- Full query access
- Warranty
- None listed
Detailed comparison
| FIELD | CipherTECH-AGNOSTIC | OptivTECH-AGNOSTIC |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | ||
| Target size | Mid-market, Enterprise | Mid-market, Enterprise |
| Sentiment | Mixed | Mixed |
| Your stack | ||
| Approach | Works with your tools | Works with your tools |
| EDR integrations | Customer EDR | Multi-vendor EDRMicrosoft DefenderCrowdStrikeSentinelOne |
| SIEM integrations | None listed | Google Security Operations |
| Coverage | EPEndpoint: LimitedCloudCloud: LimitedIDIdentity: Not coveredSaaSSaaS: Not coveredNetNetwork: LimitedOTOT/IoT: Not covered | EPEndpoint: CoveredCloudCloud: CoveredIDIdentity: CoveredSaaSSaaS: CoveredNetNetwork: CoveredOTOT/IoT: Optional add-on |
| Response | ||
| Response type | Guided Response | Active Remediation |
| Approval policy | Approval Required | Configurable |
| Response actions | Alert and notify only | IsolateContainDisable accountsCustom playbooks |
| IR included | Separate | Separate |
| Cost | ||
| Price range | Not published | Not published |
| Minimum seats | None | None |
| Breach warranty | – | – |
| More details | ||
| Requires own agent | No | No |
| Endpoints | ~ Limited | ✓ Included |
| Cloud workloads | ~ Limited | ✓ Included |
| Identity | Not offered | ✓ Included |
| SaaS apps | Not offered | ✓ Included |
| Network | ~ Limited | ✓ Included |
| OT/ICS | Not offered | + Optional |
| Threat hunting | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Response SLA | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| 24/7 coverage | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pricing model | Custom quote. Cipher does not publish xMDR package pricing. | Custom enterprise pricing, with analyst coverage, Google Security Operations data processing, log management, data retention, active-defense hours and optional TAM/manual hunting scoped by environment. Optiv/KuppingerCole materials describe a data-processed pricing model. |
| 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. | Optiv MDR is built for complex environments; buyers should model Google Security Operations ingestion and retention volume before comparing it with per-endpoint MDR quotes.. The service can manage many existing tools, but those EDR, identity, cloud and network tools remain separate licensing costs.. Active defense is described as 40 hours per year. Clarify the hourly rate and escalation path once that allocation is consumed.. TAM and custom manual threat hunting are optional components, not baseline inclusions.. No public price floor, public SLA or breach warranty was found. |
| Data portability | Partial | Partial |
| Contract terms | Custom, xMDR Services, xMDR Platform | Annual, Multi-year, Custom |
| Channels | Portal | PortalEmailPhone |
| Data access | Dashboards | Full query access |
| Dedicated analyst | – | ✓ |
| SOC regions | North AmericaEuropeLATAM | North America |
| Onboarding | Cipher advertises 20 days for full service activation, but buyers should confirm scope and contract timing. | Not published. Scope depends on data sources, Google Security Operations setup, detection content and SOAR playbook integration. |
| Industry focus | HealthcareProfessional ServicesPayments | Financial ServicesHealthcareManufacturingRetailTechnologyPublic Sector |
| MTTD | Not published | Not published |
| MTTR | Not published | 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. | Optiv has strong brand recognition as a large cyber advisory and technology-services firm, but MDR-specific peer review volume is thinner than for MDR-first vendors. Gartner Peer Insights lists Optiv reviews in managed security services rather than a separate high-volume MDR product page. Reddit discussion is mostly about Optiv as a reseller and services firm, not day-to-day MDR operations. |
| Compliance | ISO 27001ISO 22301ISO 20000ISO 9001SOC 1SOC 2PCI DSSCREST | SOC 2ISO 27001PCI DSSHIPAAHITRUSTNIST CSFCMMC |
| Certifications | ISO 27001ISO 22301ISO 20000ISO 9001SOC ISOC IIPCI QSAPCI ASVCRESTTF-CSIRTCIPHER-CSIRT RFC2350 | Optiv publishes support for compliance programs including SOC 2, ISO 27001, PCI DSS, HIPAA, HITRUST, NIST CSF and CMMC. Specific MDR service audit-scope documents require buyer validation. |
| Founded | – | 2015 |
| 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. | Optiv states 12 months of hot storage is available for on-demand access. Longer retention terms are not publicly described. |
| API available | – | ✓ |
| Website | Visit → | Visit → |
FAQ
What is the main difference between Cipher and Optiv?
Cipher is a Services firm that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). Optiv is a Services firm that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). Cipher covers 0 attack surfaces in base pricing vs. 5 for Optiv.
How do Cipher and Optiv differ in response capabilities?
Cipher supports 0 autonomous actions (none) and requires approval before acting. Optiv supports 4 autonomous actions (account disable, custom playbooks, endpoint isolation, network containment) and approval is configurable.
How does Cipher pricing compare to Optiv?
Cipher pricing: Not published. Optiv pricing: Not published. 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 Optiv: Optiv MDR is built for complex environments; buyers should model Google Security Operations ingestion and retention volume before comparing it with per-endpoint MDR quotes.; The service can manage many existing tools, but those EDR, identity, cloud and network tools remain separate licensing costs..
Should I choose Cipher or Optiv?
Choose Cipher if: mid-market and enterprise buyers that want a managed service layered over existing security tools. Choose Optiv if: enterprises with a multi-vendor security stack that want a managed layer without replacing core tools. Cipher is not ideal for buyers that need public MDR pricing before sales. Optiv is not ideal for sMBs wanting simple per-endpoint MDR pricing.
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.