Deepwatch vs Palo Alto Networks: MDR Comparison 2026
Deepwatch (Pure-play MDR) and Palo Alto Networks (EDR vendor) take different approaches to managed detection and response. Deepwatch works with your existing tools, while Palo Alto Networks requires its own security platform. Deepwatch targets Mid-market and Enterprise organizations; Palo Alto Networks focuses on Mid-market and Enterprise. Deepwatch includes 5 attack surfaces in base pricing (Endpoint, Cloud, SaaS, Identity, Network), compared to 6 for Palo Alto Networks (Endpoint, Cloud, SaaS, Identity, Network, OT/ICS).
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
Deepwatch vs Palo Alto Networks: 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 Palo Alto Networks if:
- •US government and defense organizations needing FedRAMP Moderate, DoD IL5, StateRAMP compliance
- •Large enterprises wanting co-managed SOC with full visibility into their Cortex XDR/XSIAM tenant
- •Organizations wanting breach response guarantee (MSIAM 2.0 — 250 hours IR included)
- •You need OT/ICS coverage included in base pricing
- •Breach warranty matters to you (Palo Alto Networks offers one, Deepwatch does not)
Bottom line: Palo Alto Networks 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 Palo Alto Networks?
Deepwatch is a Pure-play MDR that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). Palo Alto Networks is an EDR vendor that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). Deepwatch covers 5 attack surfaces in base pricing vs. 6 for Palo Alto Networks.
How do Deepwatch and Palo Alto Networks 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. Palo Alto Networks supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable.
How does Deepwatch pricing compare to Palo Alto Networks?
Deepwatch pricing: Average ~$220K/year; maximum ~$315K for large deployments (per Vendr data). Palo Alto Networks pricing: Cortex XDR Pro: ~$81/endpoint/year starting (platform only). Unit 42 MDR service is additional custom pricing. Total cost depends on endpoints, tier (Pro vs Premium), coverage scope, and contract terms.. 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 Palo Alto Networks: Cortex XDR/XSIAM platform license is a significant prerequisite cost on top of MDR service fee; Cortex Data Lake storage costs are separate and scale with data volume.
Should I choose Deepwatch or Palo Alto Networks?
Choose Deepwatch if: mid-market to enterprise organizations with existing Splunk, Google SecOps, or Microsoft Sentinel SIEM investments. Choose Palo Alto Networks if: enterprise organizations already invested in the Palo Alto ecosystem (NGFW, Prisma, WildFire) wanting native MDR integration. Deepwatch is not ideal for sMBs or budget-constrained organizations — average $220K/year pricing is enterprise-oriented. Palo Alto Networks is not ideal for sMBs or budget-constrained organizations — significant prerequisite costs (Cortex XDR + Data Lake) plus MDR service fee.