Deepwatch vs Ontinue: MDR Comparison 2026
Deepwatch (Pure-play MDR) and Ontinue (Microsoft-ecosystem) take different approaches to managed detection and response. Deepwatch works with your existing tools, while Ontinue requires its own security platform. Deepwatch targets Mid-market and Enterprise organizations; Ontinue focuses on Mid-market and Enterprise.
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
Deepwatch vs Ontinue: Which Should You Choose?
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
Choose Ontinue if:
- •Organizations heavily invested in Microsoft E5/Defender ecosystem
- •Teams wanting Microsoft Teams as primary SOC communication channel
- •Mid-market and enterprise needing fast onboarding on Microsoft stack
Bottom line: Ontinue is the choice if you want a single-vendor stack with deep integration. Deepwatch is better if you have existing tools and want flexibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Deepwatch and Ontinue?
Deepwatch is a Pure-play MDR that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). Ontinue is a Microsoft-ecosystem that is platform-native (requires their own security stack).
How do Deepwatch and Ontinue differ in response capabilities?
Deepwatch supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable. Ontinue supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable. Incident response is not included with Deepwatch and included with Ontinue.
How does Deepwatch pricing compare to Ontinue?
Deepwatch pricing: Average ~$220K/year; maximum ~$315K for large deployments (per Vendr data). Ontinue pricing: Custom-quoted pricing. 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. Watch for with Ontinue: Requires Microsoft E5 or Defender licenses as prerequisite; Microsoft Sentinel consumption costs are separate.
Should I choose Deepwatch or Ontinue?
Choose Deepwatch if: mid-market to enterprise organizations with existing Splunk, Google SecOps, or Microsoft Sentinel SIEM investments. Choose Ontinue if: organizations heavily invested in Microsoft E5/Defender ecosystem. Deepwatch is not ideal for sMBs or budget-constrained organizations — average $220K/year pricing is enterprise-oriented. Ontinue is not ideal for organizations using non-Microsoft EDR (CrowdStrike, SentinelOne).