Expel vs Secureworks: MDR Comparison 2026
Expel (Pure-play MDR) and Secureworks (Services firm) take different approaches to managed detection and response. Expel works with your existing tools, while Secureworks works with your existing tools. Expel targets Mid-market and Enterprise organizations; Secureworks focuses on Mid-market and Enterprise. Expel includes 5 attack surfaces in base pricing (Endpoint, Cloud, SaaS, Identity, Network), compared to 4 for Secureworks (Endpoint, Cloud, Identity, Network).
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
Expel vs Secureworks: Which Should You Choose?
Choose Expel if:
- •Mid-market and enterprise organizations with existing security tool investments wanting to maximize ROI
- •Tech-forward security teams that value transparency and want to see every SOC action
- •Multi-cloud and hybrid environments needing broad integration coverage
- •You need SaaS coverage included in base pricing
- •You want direct Slack integration with your SOC
Choose Secureworks if:
- •Organizations valuing deep threat intelligence (CTU now part of Sophos X-Ops, still actively publishing)
- •Companies needing OT/ICS MDR coverage (Dragos, Claroty, Nozomi, SCADAfence integrations)
- •Financial services organizations needing FFIEC-examined technology service provider
- •Threat hunting included in base pricing (it's an add-on with Expel)
Bottom line: Expel (Pure-play MDR) and Secureworks (Services firm) serve different buyer profiles. Your decision depends on whether you prioritize Expel's strong transparency and integration breadth or Secureworks's enterprise-grade open xdr mdr with broad integration, ctu threat intelligence (now sophos x-ops),....
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Expel and Secureworks?
Expel is a Pure-play MDR that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). Secureworks is a Services firm that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). SLA commitments differ: Expel offers Not disclosed, Secureworks offers ≤1 hour. Expel covers 5 attack surfaces in base pricing vs. 4 for Secureworks.
How do Expel and Secureworks differ in response capabilities?
Expel supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable. Secureworks supports 4 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, network containment, account disable, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable. Incident response is not included with Expel and included with Secureworks.
How does Expel pricing compare to Secureworks?
Expel pricing: Starting at $11,640/year; custom quotes based on environment. Secureworks pricing: PeerSpot community reports: ~$60K-$320K+/year depending on environment. One user: initial $160-170/endpoint negotiated to $110/endpoint. Another: ~$70 USD/agent/year with volume discounts. Available on AWS and Azure Marketplaces.. Watch for with Expel: Threat hunting is NOT included in base MDR -- it is an add-on service; Price increases announced for 2025. Watch for with Secureworks: Sophos acquisition completed Feb 2025 — Taegis integration into Sophos Central underway, long-term platform consolidation likely; ~6% workforce reduction (~380 roles) in Feb 2025 post-acquisition — analyst continuity should be verified.
Should I choose Expel or Secureworks?
Choose Expel if: mid-market and enterprise organizations with existing security tool investments wanting to maximize ROI. Choose Secureworks if: enterprise organizations wanting open XDR with existing CrowdStrike, Microsoft Defender, SentinelOne, or Carbon Black EDR investments. Expel is not ideal for organizations wanting a single-vendor platform-native MDR (Expel requires existing security tools). Secureworks is not ideal for enterprise organizations concerned about Sophos's SMB/mid-market heritage and whether Taegis enterprise investment continues.