ESET vs Optiv: MDR Comparison 2026
Detailed comparison of ESET and Optiv managed detection and response services. Compare response capabilities, SLA, coverage, integrations, and compliance.
Winner by Category
Response Level
Tie
Same level
SLA Speed
Tie
Same speed
Coverage Breadth
ESET
5 vs 4 surfaces
Integrations
ESET
More integration options
Criteria
Strong SMB-focused MDR built on 30+ years of threat research, with fast 20-minute response times and accessible 25-device minimum. Best for organizations already in or willing to adopt the ESET ecosystem.
Unique combination of vendor-agnostic MDR and deep consulting expertise, ideal for complex enterprises with diverse security stacks needing both operational security and strategic advisory.
Response Type
Active Remediation
Active Remediation
Approval Policy
Configurable
Configurable
Auto-Isolate
✓
✓
Kill Process
✓
✓
IR Included
✓ Included
✓ Included
Response SLA
20m
Contact for specifics
24/7 Coverage
✓ Yes
✓ Yes
Channels
EmailPortalPhone
EmailPortalPhone
Data Access
Dashboards
Full Query
Model
Per-seat/device, custom-quoted; available as add-on to ESET PROTECT Enterprise or Elite tiers. MSP pricing with daily billing or monthly invoicing.
Data volume-based (amount of data processed, not per-endpoint)
Price Range
Custom-quoted based on environment and device count; volume discounts available
Not published
Minimum Seats
25
None
Threat Hunting
✓ Included
✓ Included
Overall
Positive
Positive
Summary
Recognized as Market Leader and Product Leader in MDR by KuppingerCole 2024. Praised for fast 20-minute response times, strong threat intelligence from 30+ years of research, and good SMB accessibility. Criticized for UI/UX issues and the ESET console interface being unintuitive for US users.
Recognized as Product Leader in KuppingerCole 2024 MDR Leadership Compass. Gartner MDR Market Guide representative vendor. Praised for vendor-agnostic approach and consulting expertise, but limited public user reviews.
ESET vs Optiv: Which Should You Choose?
Choose ESET if:
- You need active remediation
- 20m response time meets your needs
- You prefer platform native solutions
- Your org size: SMB / Mid-market / Enterprise
Choose Optiv if:
- You need active remediation
- Contact for specifics response time meets your needs
- You prefer technology agnostic solutions
- Your org size: Mid-market / Enterprise
FAQ
What's the main difference between ESET and Optiv?
Key differences: response model (Active Remediation vs Active Remediation), SLA (20m vs Contact for specifics), and approach (Platform Native vs Technology Agnostic).