Kroll vs Ontinue: MDR Comparison 2026
Kroll (MDR provider) and Ontinue (Microsoft-ecosystem) take different approaches to managed detection and response. Kroll works with your existing tools, while Ontinue requires its own security platform. Kroll targets SMB, Mid-market, and Enterprise organizations; Ontinue focuses on Mid-market and Enterprise.
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
Kroll vs Ontinue: Which Should You Choose?
Choose Kroll if:
- •Organizations wanting IR expertise built into MDR -- 3,000+ annual cases feeding detection, not just monitoring
- •Enterprises needing full threat eradication including forensics and root cause analysis, not just containment
- •Regulated industries needing compliance reporting, IR pedigree, and included $1M breach warranty
- •Breach warranty matters to you (Kroll offers one, Ontinue does not)
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. Kroll is better if you have existing tools and want flexibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Kroll and Ontinue?
Kroll is a MDR provider that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). Ontinue is a Microsoft-ecosystem that is platform-native (requires their own security stack).
How do Kroll and Ontinue differ in response capabilities?
Kroll supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, 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 Kroll pricing compare to Ontinue?
Kroll pricing: Not publicly disclosed. Unverified field estimates suggest $30K-$200K+/year depending on scope.. Ontinue pricing: Custom-quoted pricing. Watch for with Kroll: CrowdStrike Falcon Complete migration (Dec 2025) increases platform dependency -- customers wanting vendor-agnostic EDR lose that flexibility; Named TAM support (vs. Shared TAM) likely incurs additional cost; cost delta not disclosed. Watch for with Ontinue: Requires Microsoft E5 or Defender licenses as prerequisite; Microsoft Sentinel consumption costs are separate.
Should I choose Kroll or Ontinue?
Choose Kroll if: organizations wanting IR expertise built into MDR -- 3,000+ annual cases feeding detection, not just monitoring. Choose Ontinue if: organizations heavily invested in Microsoft E5/Defender ecosystem. Kroll is not ideal for organizations that need vendor-agnostic EDR choice (CrowdStrike migration reduces flexibility). Ontinue is not ideal for organizations using non-Microsoft EDR (CrowdStrike, SentinelOne).