ESET vs Mandiant: MDR Comparison 2026
ESET (EDR vendor) and Mandiant (Services firm) take different approaches to managed detection and response. ESET requires its own security platform, while Mandiant works with your existing tools. ESET targets SMB, Mid-market, and Enterprise organizations; Mandiant focuses on Mid-market and Enterprise.
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
ESET vs Mandiant: Which Should You Choose?
Choose ESET if:
- •SMBs with 25-500 devices needing enterprise-grade MDR
- •Organizations already using ESET endpoint protection
- •Companies needing multi-platform support (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android)
Choose Mandiant if:
- •Enterprise organizations wanting elite threat intelligence integrated directly into MDR operations
- •Google Cloud Platform customers wanting native SecOps integration
- •Organizations facing nation-state or advanced persistent threats where Mandiant's frontline IR experience is critical
Bottom line: ESET is the choice if you want a single-vendor stack with deep integration. Mandiant is better if you have existing tools and want flexibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between ESET and Mandiant?
ESET is an EDR vendor that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). Mandiant is a Services firm that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). SLA commitments differ: ESET offers ≤15 minutes, Mandiant offers Not disclosed.
How do ESET and Mandiant differ in response capabilities?
ESET supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable. Mandiant supports 2 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable. Incident response is included with ESET and not included with Mandiant.
How does ESET pricing compare to Mandiant?
ESET pricing: Custom-quoted based on environment and device count; volume discounts available (25-seat minimum). Mandiant pricing: Estimated ~$83,000/year (third-party estimate from Vendr, not officially published).. Watch for with ESET: Requires ESET PROTECT Enterprise or Elite subscription as base; MDR Ultimate is a significant step up in price from standard MDR. Watch for with Mandiant: ~$83K+/year estimated — premium enterprise pricing; IR retainer is separate — must be purchased independently for full incident response.
Should I choose ESET or Mandiant?
Choose ESET if: sMBs with 25-500 devices needing enterprise-grade MDR. Choose Mandiant if: enterprise organizations wanting elite threat intelligence integrated directly into MDR operations. ESET is not ideal for enterprises requiring vendor-agnostic SIEM/EDR integration. Mandiant is not ideal for sMBs or budget-constrained organizations — ~$83K+/year estimated pricing.