Critical Start vs GoSecure: MDR comparison 2026
Critical Start and GoSecure are both Pure-play MDRs. Critical Start works with your existing tools and targets Mid-market and Enterprise organizations, while GoSecure requires its own security platform and serves Mid-market and Enterprise. Critical Start includes 5 attack surfaces in base pricing (Endpoint, Cloud, SaaS, Identity, Network), compared to 3 for GoSecure (Endpoint, Identity, Network).
Key differences at a glance
Full comparison
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 through Claroty, Dragos, and Nozomi integrations
- •You need Cloud and SaaS coverage included in base pricing
Choose GoSecure if:
- •Government and financial services buyers who need DHS CDM APL listing and bilingual (English/French) support
- •Mid-market Microsoft Defender shops wanting to layer MDR on top of existing Defender telemetry
- •Organizations that want endpoint, network, email, and AD identity detection from a single vendor
Bottom line: GoSecure is the choice if you want a single-vendor stack with deep integration. Critical Start is better if you have existing tools and want flexibility.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main difference between Critical Start and GoSecure?
Critical Start is a Pure-play MDR that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). GoSecure is a Pure-play MDR that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). Critical Start covers 5 attack surfaces in base pricing vs. 3 for GoSecure.
How do Critical Start and GoSecure 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. GoSecure 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 GoSecure?
Critical Start pricing: Custom-quoted pricing. GoSecure pricing: MDR Enterprise: from $13.99/endpoint/month. MDR Elite: from $16.99/endpoint/month. Essentials and Complete pricing not disclosed.. 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 GoSecure: Full MXDR requires the Titan EDR agent, so expect additional deployment effort if you are running a different EDR today; IR and DFIR are not included in any MDR tier. You will need a separate retainer for hands-on incident response..
Should I choose Critical Start or GoSecure?
Choose Critical Start if: mid-market to large enterprises wanting technology-agnostic MDR that works with their existing security stack. Choose GoSecure if: government and financial services buyers who need DHS CDM APL listing and bilingual (English/French) support. Critical Start is not ideal for sMBs or budget-conscious organizations, enterprise-focused pricing not published. GoSecure is not ideal for buyers who need independent peer reviews to validate an MDR provider before purchasing.