Fortra vs Ontinue: MDR Comparison 2026
Fortra (Services firm) and Ontinue (Microsoft-ecosystem) take different approaches to managed detection and response. Fortra works with your existing tools, while Ontinue requires its own security platform. Fortra targets SMB, Mid-market, and Enterprise organizations; Ontinue focuses on Mid-market and Enterprise.
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
Fortra vs Ontinue: 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 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. Fortra is better if you have existing tools and want flexibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Fortra and Ontinue?
Fortra is a Services firm 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: Fortra offers ≤15 minutes, Ontinue offers Not disclosed.
How do Fortra and Ontinue differ in response capabilities?
Fortra supports 5 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, 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 Fortra pricing compare to Ontinue?
Fortra pricing: Custom-quoted pricing. Ontinue pricing: Custom-quoted pricing. 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 Ontinue: Requires Microsoft E5 or Defender licenses as prerequisite; Microsoft Sentinel consumption costs are separate.
Should I choose Fortra or Ontinue?
Choose Fortra if: mid-market organizations needing strong compliance support. Choose Ontinue if: organizations heavily invested in Microsoft E5/Defender ecosystem. Fortra is not ideal for organizations wanting long-term vendor stability — managed services transferring to LevelBlue (deal pending, no timeline disclosed). Ontinue is not ideal for organizations using non-Microsoft EDR (CrowdStrike, SentinelOne).