Critical Start vs Deepwatch: MDR Comparison 2026
Critical Start (MDR provider) and Deepwatch (Pure-play MDR) take different approaches to managed detection and response. Critical Start works with your existing tools, while Deepwatch works with your existing tools. Critical Start targets Mid-market and Enterprise organizations; Deepwatch focuses on Mid-market and Enterprise.
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
Critical Start vs Deepwatch: Which Should You Choose?
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)
Choose Deepwatch if:
- •Mid-market to enterprise organizations with existing Splunk, Google SecOps, or Microsoft Sentinel SIEM investments
- •Companies wanting a dedicated named team (Squad model) rather than rotating anonymous analysts
- •AWS-heavy environments leveraging Deepwatch's Level 1 MSSP Competency partnership
- •You want direct Slack integration with your SOC
Bottom line: Critical Start (MDR provider) and Deepwatch (Pure-play MDR) serve different buyer profiles. Your decision depends on whether you prioritize Critical Start's technology-agnostic mdr with tbr deterministic alert auto-resolution, 100+ integrations, ot/ics s... or Deepwatch's siem-centric, vendor-agnostic mdr with a patented drs engine (98% fp reduction), dedicated squad ....
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Critical Start and Deepwatch?
Critical Start is a MDR provider that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). Deepwatch is a Pure-play MDR that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). SLA commitments differ: Critical Start offers ≤15 minutes, Deepwatch offers Not disclosed.
How do Critical Start and Deepwatch differ in response capabilities?
Critical Start supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable. Deepwatch supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable.
How does Critical Start pricing compare to Deepwatch?
Critical Start pricing: Custom-quoted pricing. Deepwatch pricing: Average ~$220K/year; maximum ~$315K for large deployments (per Vendr data). 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. Watch for with Deepwatch: Volume-based pricing means unexpected data growth can cause cost spikes; Three platform tiers (Core, Advanced, Enterprise) — critical response capabilities may be gated behind higher tiers.
Should I choose Critical Start or Deepwatch?
Choose Critical Start if: mid-market to large enterprises wanting technology-agnostic MDR that works with their existing security stack. Choose Deepwatch if: mid-market to enterprise organizations with existing Splunk, Google SecOps, or Microsoft Sentinel SIEM investments. Critical Start is not ideal for sMBs or budget-conscious organizations — enterprise-focused pricing not publicly disclosed. Deepwatch is not ideal for sMBs or budget-constrained organizations — average $220K/year pricing is enterprise-oriented.