Ontinue vs Sophos: MDR Comparison 2026
Ontinue (Microsoft-ecosystem) and Sophos (Services firm) take different approaches to managed detection and response. Ontinue requires its own security platform, while Sophos works with your existing tools. Ontinue targets Mid-market and Enterprise organizations; Sophos focuses on SMB, Mid-market, and Enterprise.
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
Ontinue vs Sophos: Which Should You Choose?
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
Choose Sophos if:
- •SMBs and mid-market organizations seeking an all-in-one MDR with inclusive IR
- •Organizations with diverse, multi-vendor security stacks needing broad integration support
- •Companies wanting straightforward pricing with predictable costs
- •Breach warranty matters to you (Sophos offers one, Ontinue does not)
Bottom line: Ontinue is the choice if you want a single-vendor stack with deep integration. Sophos is better if you have existing tools and want flexibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Ontinue and Sophos?
Ontinue is a Microsoft-ecosystem that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). Sophos is a Services firm that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). SLA commitments differ: Ontinue offers Not disclosed, Sophos offers ≤15 minutes.
How do Ontinue and Sophos differ in response capabilities?
Ontinue supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable. Sophos supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable.
How does Ontinue pricing compare to Sophos?
Ontinue pricing: Custom-quoted pricing. Sophos pricing: Custom quote required; tiered pricing bands (10-24, 25-49, 50-99, etc.) (10-seat minimum). Watch for with Ontinue: Requires Microsoft E5 or Defender licenses as prerequisite; Microsoft Sentinel consumption costs are separate. Watch for with Sophos: MDR Essentials does NOT include breach warranty or full incident response — those require MDR Complete; Linux server protection requires separate Sophos Workload Protection subscription.
Should I choose Ontinue or Sophos?
Choose Ontinue if: organizations heavily invested in Microsoft E5/Defender ecosystem. Choose Sophos if: sMBs and mid-market organizations seeking an all-in-one MDR with inclusive IR. Ontinue is not ideal for organizations using non-Microsoft EDR (CrowdStrike, SentinelOne). Sophos is not ideal for large enterprises needing deep, custom detection engineering.