CrowdStrike vs Trustwave: MDR Comparison 2026
CrowdStrike (EDR vendor) and Trustwave (Services firm) take different approaches to managed detection and response. CrowdStrike requires its own security platform, while Trustwave works with your existing tools. CrowdStrike targets Mid-market and Enterprise organizations; Trustwave focuses on Mid-market and Enterprise. CrowdStrike includes 4 attack surfaces in base pricing (Endpoint, Cloud, SaaS, Network), compared to 5 for Trustwave (Endpoint, Cloud, SaaS, Identity, Network).
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
CrowdStrike vs Trustwave: Which Should You Choose?
Choose CrowdStrike if:
- •Enterprise organizations (200+ endpoints) wanting MITRE-validated detection speed
- •Teams comfortable with a single-vendor platform approach
- •Organizations that want fully autonomous remediation without approval workflows
- •Breach warranty matters to you (CrowdStrike offers one, Trustwave does not)
Choose Trustwave if:
- •US government organizations needing the first FedRAMP-authorized pure-play MDR provider
- •Companies needing both MDR and PCI DSS compliance/assessment from a single provider
- •Mid-market and enterprise organizations wanting a co-managed SOC model alongside internal teams
- •You need Identity coverage included in base pricing
Bottom line: CrowdStrike is the choice if you want a single-vendor stack with deep integration. Trustwave is better if you have existing tools and want flexibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between CrowdStrike and Trustwave?
CrowdStrike is an EDR vendor that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). Trustwave is a Services firm that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). SLA commitments differ: CrowdStrike offers Not disclosed, Trustwave offers ≤30 minutes. CrowdStrike covers 4 attack surfaces in base pricing vs. 5 for Trustwave.
How do CrowdStrike and Trustwave differ in response capabilities?
CrowdStrike supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and acts without approval. Trustwave supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable. Incident response is included with CrowdStrike and not included with Trustwave.
How does CrowdStrike pricing compare to Trustwave?
CrowdStrike pricing: $15-25/endpoint/month (estimates vary by deployment size) (200-seat minimum). Trustwave pricing: Starting at ~$43,775/year (SelectHub estimate). Enterprise pricing is custom/quote-based.. Watch for with CrowdStrike: Minimum 200-500 endpoints required — eliminates most SMBs; Requires CrowdStrike Falcon platform — cannot use with competing EDR. Watch for with Trustwave: Ownership instability — 4 ownership events in 10 years (Singtel → Chertoff/MC2 → failed Cybereason merger → LevelBlue); IR not included in base MDR — separate DFIR retainer required.
Should I choose CrowdStrike or Trustwave?
Choose CrowdStrike if: enterprise organizations (200+ endpoints) wanting MITRE-validated detection speed. Choose Trustwave if: uS government organizations needing the first FedRAMP-authorized pure-play MDR provider. CrowdStrike is not ideal for sMBs with fewer than 200 endpoints (minimum requirement). Trustwave is not ideal for organizations concerned about vendor stability — 4 ownership events in 10 years including a failed Cybereason merger.