Fortra vs N-able: MDR Comparison 2026

Fortra (Services firm) and N-able (MSP-channel) take different approaches to managed detection and response. Fortra works with your existing tools, while N-able works with your existing tools. Fortra targets SMB, Mid-market, and Enterprise organizations; N-able focuses on SMB and Mid-market.

Key Differences at a Glance

Business Model

Fortra: Services firm

N-able: MSP-channel

Autonomous Actions

Fortra: 5/6 (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment...)

N-able: 6/6 (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment...)

SLA

Fortra: ≤15 minutes

N-able: Not disclosed

Attack Surfaces Included

Fortra: 5/6 (Endpoint, Cloud, SaaS, Identity, Network)

N-able: 5/6 (Endpoint, Cloud, SaaS, Identity, Network)

Pricing

Fortra: Custom-quoted pricing

N-able: MSPs typically bundle at $90-$275/user/month for full security programs including MDR

Vendor Lock-in

Fortra: Requires own agent

N-able: No proprietary agent

Winner by Category

Response Level

Tie

Same level

SLA Speed

Fortra

Faster response time

Coverage Breadth

Tie

Same coverage

Integrations

N-able

More integration options

Criteria

Fortra

Established MDR with strong cloud/compliance positioning and formalized SLAs. If LevelBlue delivers on its 'nothing changes' promise, customers may gain access to a larger global SOC footprint and broader threat intelligence. But the deal is pending close with no timeline, and LevelBlue is an unproven acquirer. Treat this as a transitional product.

N-able

Unified security operations platform combining XDR, SIEM, SOAR, and UEBA with MDR in one solution. AI automates 70% of threat response. Breach warranty and vendor-agnostic approach make it compelling for MSPs serving SMB/mid-market clients.

Provider Model

Works with your tools

Requires Own Agent

Yes — platform-native

No — works with your EDR

Response Type

Active Remediation

Approval Policy

Configurable

Auto-Isolate

✓

Kill Process

✓

IR Included

✓ Included

Response SLA

≤15 minutes

Not disclosed

24/7 Coverage

✓ Yes

Channels

EmailPortalPhone

Data Access

Dashboards

Model

Subscription-based tiered (Essentials, Professional, Enterprise)

Per-user per-month (tiered packages: MDR Base, MDR Complete, MDR Plus)

Price Range

Not published

MSPs typically bundle at $90-$275/user/month for full security programs including MDR

Minimum Seats

None

Threat Hunting

✓ Included

Overall

Mixed

Positive

Summary

8.0/10 on PeerSpot with 92% willingness to recommend. G2 Grid Leader. Praised for cloud security and compliance coverage. Concerns about UI intuitiveness and limited geographic SOC coverage. LevelBlue acquisition (announced Jan 2026, deal pending close) creates material uncertainty — LevelBlue claims no disruption but has disclosed no timeline, no contract migration details, and no SLA commitments post-transition. LevelBlue itself is a relatively new entity (spun out of AT&T Cybersecurity mid-2024 via WillJam Ventures) that has made four acquisitions in its first year.

Positive reception in MSP community following N-able acquisition. Users praise comprehensive features, compliance reporting, and AI automation. Some concerns about pricing relative to competitors and platform complexity for smaller MSPs.

Fortra vs N-able: Which Should You Choose?

Choose Fortra if:

•Mid-market organizations needing strong compliance support
•Healthcare organizations requiring HIPAA compliance MDR
•Cloud-first companies on AWS, Azure, or hybrid environments

Choose N-able if:

•MSPs wanting a unified security platform with built-in SIEM/SOAR/UEBA
•SMBs and mid-market needing breach warranty protection
•Organizations wanting vendor-agnostic MDR that works with existing EDR
•Breach warranty matters to you (N-able offers one, Fortra does not)

Bottom line: Fortra (Services firm) and N-able (MSP-channel) serve different buyer profiles. Your decision depends on whether you prioritize Fortra's established mdr with strong cloud/compliance positioning and formalized slas or N-able's unified security operations platform combining xdr, siem, soar, and ueba with mdr in one solution.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main difference between Fortra and N-able?

Fortra is a Services firm that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). N-able is a MSP-channel that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). SLA commitments differ: Fortra offers ≤15 minutes, N-able offers Not disclosed.

How do Fortra and N-able differ in response capabilities?

Fortra supports 5 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable. N-able supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable.

How does Fortra pricing compare to N-able?

Fortra pricing: Custom-quoted pricing. N-able pricing: MSPs typically bundle at $90-$275/user/month for full security programs including MDR. Watch for with Fortra: Managed services being acquired by LevelBlue (announced Jan 2026, deal pending close — no timeline disclosed); Post-transition contract terms, SLAs, and pricing under LevelBlue are unconfirmed. Watch for with N-able: Pricing designed for MSP channel; direct pricing may differ; MDR Base is identity-focused only; Complete needed for full coverage.

Should I choose Fortra or N-able?

Choose Fortra if: mid-market organizations needing strong compliance support. Choose N-able if: mSPs wanting a unified security platform with built-in SIEM/SOAR/UEBA. Fortra is not ideal for organizations wanting long-term vendor stability — managed services transferring to LevelBlue (deal pending, no timeline disclosed). N-able is not ideal for large enterprises with existing SOC infrastructure.

View Fortra full profile →View N-able full profile →