MAD Security vs Thales (S21sec)
MAD Security and Thales (S21sec) are both Services firms that work with your existing tools. MAD Security targets Mid-market and Enterprise organizations, while Thales (S21sec) serves Enterprise. MAD Security includes 1 attack surfaces in base pricing (Endpoint), compared to 2 for Thales (S21sec) (Network, OT/ICS).
Buyer brief
MAD Security and Thales (S21sec) are both Services firms that work with your existing tools. MAD Security targets Mid-market and Enterprise organizations, while Thales (S21sec) serves Enterprise. MAD Security includes 1 attack surfaces in base pricing (Endpoint), compared to 2 for Thales (S21sec) (Network, OT/ICS).
Thales (S21sec) offers broader coverage (2 surfaces vs. 1). MAD Security may suit teams that need depth over breadth.
At a glance
| FIELD |  |  |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Defense contractors and government contractors that need MDR evidence aligned to DFARS, CMMC and NIST requirements | Critical infrastructure and public-sector buyers that need Thales/S21sec regional cyber detection and response |
| Price | MSS example: $24K-$90K/yr; not MDR-only | Custom quote |
| Response authority | 1/6 actions · Configurable | 2/6 actions · Configurable |
| Stack | Works with existing stack | Works with existing stack |
| Data access | Reports only | Reports only |
| Warranty | None listed | None listed |
- Best fit
- Defense contractors and government contractors that need MDR evidence aligned to DFARS, CMMC and NIST requirements
- Price
- MSS example: $24K-$90K/yr; not MDR-only
- Response authority
- 1/6 actions · Configurable
- Stack
- Works with existing stack
- Data access
- Reports only
- Warranty
- None listed
- Best fit
- Critical infrastructure and public-sector buyers that need Thales/S21sec regional cyber detection and response
- Price
- Custom quote
- Response authority
- 2/6 actions · Configurable
- Stack
- Works with existing stack
- Data access
- Reports only
- Warranty
- None listed
Detailed comparison
| FIELD | MAD SecurityTECH-AGNOSTIC | Thales (S21sec)TECH-AGNOSTIC |
|---|---|---|
| Fit | ||
| Target size | Mid-market, Enterprise | Enterprise |
| Sentiment | Mixed | Mixed |
| Your stack | ||
| Approach | Works with your tools | Works with your tools |
| EDR integrations | None listed | Customer endpoint security tools |
| SIEM integrations | None listed | Customer SIEM platformsThales SOC tooling |
| Coverage | EPEndpoint: CoveredCloudCloud: LimitedIDIdentity: LimitedSaaSSaaS: LimitedNetNetwork: Optional add-onOTOT/IoT: Optional add-on | EPEndpoint: LimitedCloudCloud: LimitedIDIdentity: LimitedSaaSSaaS: LimitedNetNetwork: CoveredOTOT/IoT: Covered |
| Response | ||
| Response type | Active Remediation | Active Remediation |
| Approval policy | Configurable | Configurable |
| Response actions | Custom playbooks | ContainCustom playbooks |
| IR included | Separate | ✓ Included |
| Cost | ||
| Price range | Custom pricing. A vendor-published MAD Security cost-comparison PDF gives $24,000-$90,000 per year as an example average for SMB managed security services, but it is not an MDR-specific quote and says pricing varies. | Not published |
| Minimum seats | None | None |
| Breach warranty | – | – |
| More details | ||
| Requires own agent | No | No |
| Endpoints | ✓ Included | ~ Limited |
| Cloud workloads | ~ Limited | ~ Limited |
| Identity | ~ Limited | ~ Limited |
| SaaS apps | ~ Limited | ~ Limited |
| Network | + Optional | ✓ Included |
| OT/ICS | + Optional | ✓ Included |
| Threat hunting | ✓ Included | ✓ Included |
| Response SLA | Not disclosed | Not disclosed |
| 24/7 coverage | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pricing model | Custom pricing. MAD Security publishes a broad managed security services cost comparison, but does not publish MDR-specific price bands, minimums, per-endpoint pricing or log-volume pricing. | Custom quote for Thales Cyber Detection and Response, Managed Security Services, SOC and MDR. Public prices are not published. |
| Hidden cost warnings | Confirm whether MDR is quoted as a standalone endpoint service or bundled into SOC-as-a-Service.. Confirm whether NDR, cloud telemetry, identity correlation and OT/IT monitoring are included or separate services.. Ask which tools are included in the MDR fee, since public pages do not name a standard EDR or SIEM platform.. The public $24,000-$90,000 annual example is for managed security services broadly, not a scoped MDR quote.. No public MDR SLA table, service-credit terms or breach warranty were found. | The current S21sec domain routes to Thales-branded services, so buyers wanting legacy S21sec-specific delivery should confirm contracting entity, SOC location and delivery team.. Public pages do not publish prices, minimum terms, service credits, MTTD/MTTR or formal MDR SLAs.. Thales offers a broad cybersecurity services portfolio; buyers should separate base MDR scope from CTI, DRPS, DFIR, CERT, ICS monitoring and advisory services.. Named endpoint, identity and cloud containment actions are not public and should be confirmed tool by tool.. Data retention, raw log access, offboarding and detection-content export rights are not described publicly. |
| Data portability | Partial | Partial |
| Contract terms | Custom | Custom cyber detection and response engagement, Managed Security Services, SOC and MDR, Critical-infrastructure cybersecurity services |
| Channels | EmailPortalPhone | EmailPhonePortal |
| Data access | Reports only | Reports only |
| Dedicated analyst | – | – |
| SOC regions | North America | EuropeMEAAPAC |
| Onboarding | Not published as a standard MDR onboarding timeline. | Not published. Thales describes customer-centric service roadmaps and selecting/deploying detection and response technologies, but no standard MDR onboarding timeline. |
| Industry focus | Defense Industrial BaseGovernmentMaritimeState and Local GovernmentFinancial ServicesTechnologyHigher EducationManufacturing | Critical InfrastructureGovernmentDefenseEnergyManufacturingAviationSpaceFinancial ServicesTelecommunicationsHealthcareTransportationAutomotiveUtilitiesMaritime |
| MTTD | Not published | Not published |
| MTTR | Not published | Not published |
| Community view | MAD Security has clear regulated-sector positioning and public MSSP Alert recognition, but independent MDR buyer-review signal is thin. No meaningful G2, Gartner Peer Insights or PeerSpot MDR review profile was found in this pass. | The current public evidence is strong for Thales-branded global SOC, MDR, CTI, DFIR and critical-infrastructure detection and response, but weak for S21sec as a standalone public MDR brand. Buyers should validate current delivery model, SOC location, response authority, pricing and whether the contract is with Thales/S21sec in the relevant country. |
| Compliance | CMMCDFARSNIST SP 800-171NIST 800-53FISMAFedRAMPMTSACJISHIPAA | DORATIBER-EUPCI DSSEASA Part-ISEASAICAOUNECE |
| Certifications | CMMC Level 2 CertifiedCMMC Registered Provider OrganizationService-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business | 8 threat intelligence and AI-driven SOCs around the worldSOCs in France, Morocco, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain, and New Zealand and Australia |
| Founded | 2010 | – |
| Data retention | Not published | Not published. Public pages do not describe default log retention, raw log access, storage tiers or export terms for Thales SOC and MDR. |
| API available | – | – |
| Website | Visit → | Visit → |
FAQ
What is the main difference between MAD Security and Thales (S21sec)?
MAD Security is a Services firm that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). Thales (S21sec) is a Services firm that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). MAD Security covers 1 attack surfaces in base pricing vs. 2 for Thales (S21sec).
How do MAD Security and Thales (S21sec) differ in response capabilities?
MAD Security supports 1 autonomous actions (custom playbooks) and approval is configurable. Thales (S21sec) supports 2 autonomous actions (custom playbooks, network containment) and approval is configurable. Incident response is not included with MAD Security and included with Thales (S21sec).
How does MAD Security pricing compare to Thales (S21sec)?
MAD Security pricing: Custom pricing. A vendor-published MAD Security cost-comparison PDF gives $24,000-$90,000 per year as an example average for SMB managed security services, but it is not an MDR-specific quote and says pricing varies.. Thales (S21sec) pricing: Not published. Watch for with MAD Security: Confirm whether MDR is quoted as a standalone endpoint service or bundled into SOC-as-a-Service.; Confirm whether NDR, cloud telemetry, identity correlation and OT/IT monitoring are included or separate services.. Watch for with Thales (S21sec): The current S21sec domain routes to Thales-branded services, so buyers wanting legacy S21sec-specific delivery should confirm contracting entity, SOC location and delivery team.; Public pages do not publish prices, minimum terms, service credits, MTTD/MTTR or formal MDR SLAs..
Should I choose MAD Security or Thales (S21sec)?
Choose MAD Security if: defense contractors and government contractors that need MDR evidence aligned to DFARS, CMMC and NIST requirements. Choose Thales (S21sec) if: critical infrastructure and public-sector buyers that need Thales/S21sec regional cyber detection and response. MAD Security is not ideal for buyers that need MDR-specific pricing, minimums and packaged tiers before talking to sales. Thales (S21sec) is not ideal for buyers that need a standalone legacy S21sec-branded MDR package.
Daylight Security
AI-native MDR for buyers comparing active remediation across endpoint, cloud, identity, and SaaS. Daylight works with existing EDR/SIEM stacks and uses ChatOps-native collaboration, so it can be a useful third reference point in this comparison.