Critical Start vs Nuspire (PDI Security): MDR Comparison 2026
Critical Start (MDR provider) and Nuspire (PDI Security) (Services firm) take different approaches to managed detection and response. Critical Start works with your existing tools, while Nuspire (PDI Security) works with your existing tools. Critical Start targets Mid-market and Enterprise organizations; Nuspire (PDI Security) focuses on SMB, Mid-market, and Enterprise.
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
Critical Start vs Nuspire (PDI Security): 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 Nuspire (PDI Security) if:
- •Convenience stores, automotive dealerships, QSRs, and specialty retail (PDI's core verticals)
- •SMB/mid-market organizations wanting technology-agnostic MDR with existing Carbon Black, SentinelOne, or Cybereason EDR
- •Organizations valuing mobile app access for incident management and AI-powered threat hunting
Bottom line: Critical Start (MDR provider) and Nuspire (PDI Security) (Services firm) 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 Nuspire (PDI Security)'s 25+ year mssp veteran now operating as pdi security & network solutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Critical Start and Nuspire (PDI Security)?
Critical Start is a MDR provider that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). Nuspire (PDI Security) is a Services firm that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). SLA commitments differ: Critical Start offers ≤15 minutes, Nuspire (PDI Security) offers Not disclosed.
How do Critical Start and Nuspire (PDI Security) 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. Nuspire (PDI Security) supports 3 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, file quarantine) and approval is configurable.
How does Critical Start pricing compare to Nuspire (PDI Security)?
Critical Start pricing: Custom-quoted pricing. Nuspire (PDI Security) pricing: Not available. 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 Nuspire (PDI Security): Brand transition to PDI Security & Network Solutions completed — Nuspire brand effectively retired; nuspire.com redirects to security.pditechnologies.com — all new branding under PDI.
Should I choose Critical Start or Nuspire (PDI Security)?
Choose Critical Start if: mid-market to large enterprises wanting technology-agnostic MDR that works with their existing security stack. Choose Nuspire (PDI Security) if: convenience stores, automotive dealerships, QSRs, and specialty retail (PDI's core verticals). Critical Start is not ideal for sMBs or budget-conscious organizations — enterprise-focused pricing not publicly disclosed. Nuspire (PDI Security) is not ideal for organizations wanting independently validated detection metrics (no published MTTD/MTTR).