eSentire vs Ontinue: MDR Comparison 2026
eSentire (Pure-play MDR) and Ontinue (Microsoft-ecosystem) take different approaches to managed detection and response. eSentire works with your existing tools, while Ontinue requires its own security platform. eSentire targets SMB, Mid-market, and Enterprise organizations; Ontinue focuses on Mid-market and Enterprise.
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
eSentire vs Ontinue: Which Should You Choose?
Choose eSentire if:
- •Mid-market and enterprise organizations needing active remediation, not just alerts
- •Critical infrastructure sectors
- •Organizations with complex multi-vendor security stacks requiring 300+ integrations
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. eSentire is better if you have existing tools and want flexibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between eSentire and Ontinue?
eSentire 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). SLA commitments differ: eSentire offers ≤15 minutes, Ontinue offers Not disclosed.
How do eSentire and Ontinue differ in response capabilities?
eSentire 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.
How does eSentire pricing compare to Ontinue?
eSentire pricing: Custom-quoted pricing. Ontinue pricing: Custom-quoted pricing. Watch for with eSentire: Tier differences significant — Essentials may lack key response capabilities; BYOL pricing differs from bundled Atlas Agent pricing. Watch for with Ontinue: Requires Microsoft E5 or Defender licenses as prerequisite; Microsoft Sentinel consumption costs are separate.
Should I choose eSentire or Ontinue?
Choose eSentire if: mid-market and enterprise organizations needing active remediation, not just alerts. Choose Ontinue if: organizations heavily invested in Microsoft E5/Defender ecosystem. eSentire is not ideal for budget-constrained SMBs seeking the lowest-cost MDR option. Ontinue is not ideal for organizations using non-Microsoft EDR (CrowdStrike, SentinelOne).