Cynet vs Red Canary: MDR Comparison 2026
Cynet (MDR provider) and Red Canary (Pure-play MDR) take different approaches to managed detection and response. Cynet requires its own security platform, while Red Canary works with your existing tools. Cynet targets SMB and Mid-market organizations; Red Canary focuses on SMB, Mid-market, and Enterprise.
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
Cynet vs Red Canary: Which Should You Choose?
Choose Cynet if:
- •SMB and mid-market organizations with small security teams (1-5 people) wanting maximum coverage from a single platform
- •Budget-conscious buyers wanting published transparent pricing with MDR included at no extra cost
- •Organizations that weight MITRE ATT&CK platform evaluation results heavily (100%/100%/0 FP for 3 consecutive rounds)
Choose Red Canary if:
- •Organizations wanting detection-as-code with all detections mapped to MITRE ATT&CK for transparency
- •Linux-heavy environments needing purpose-built Linux EDR (eBPF/Audit) for containers and Kubernetes
- •Security teams wanting Slack-native SOC communication with configurable automated response playbooks
- •You want direct Slack integration with your SOC
Bottom line: Cynet is the choice if you want a single-vendor stack with deep integration. Red Canary is better if you have existing tools and want flexibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Cynet and Red Canary?
Cynet is a MDR provider that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). Red Canary is a Pure-play MDR that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools).
How do Cynet and Red Canary differ in response capabilities?
Cynet supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable. Red Canary supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable.
How does Cynet pricing compare to Red Canary?
Cynet pricing: Elite: $7/endpoint/month (EPP+EDR+CyOps MDR). All-in-One: $10/endpoint/month (adds NDR, UEBA, Deception, SOAR, SSPM). Verified on cynet.com/packages. (20-seat minimum). Red Canary pricing: Not publicly disclosed. User-reported: ~$100/endpoint/year (2023 PeerSpot data point, may have changed). Available through AWS Marketplace.. Watch for with Cynet: 20-endpoint minimum — $140/month floor for Elite, $200/month for All-in-One; 1-year auto-renewing contracts standard; combined with platform lock-in, exit is disruptive. Watch for with Red Canary: Pricing not publicly disclosed — requires sales engagement for any quote; Resource-based pricing (per-endpoint + per-user + per-cloud) can scale unexpectedly.
Should I choose Cynet or Red Canary?
Choose Cynet if: sMB and mid-market organizations with small security teams (1-5 people) wanting maximum coverage from a single platform. Choose Red Canary if: mid-market organizations wanting vendor-agnostic MDR that works with their existing EDR (CrowdStrike, Microsoft, SentinelOne, Carbon Black, Cortex XDR, Trend Micro, Jamf). Cynet is not ideal for large enterprises with existing security stacks — Cynet requires replacing existing EDR with its own agent. Red Canary is not ideal for global organizations needing follow-the-sun SOC coverage — only Denver SOC confirmed.