Ontinue vs Trustwave: MDR Comparison 2026
Ontinue (Microsoft-ecosystem) and Trustwave (Services firm) take different approaches to managed detection and response. Ontinue requires its own security platform, while Trustwave works with your existing tools. Ontinue targets Mid-market and Enterprise organizations; Trustwave focuses on Mid-market and Enterprise.
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
Ontinue vs Trustwave: 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 Trustwave if:
- •US government organizations needing the first FedRAMP-authorized pure-play MDR provider
- •Companies needing both MDR and PCI DSS compliance/assessment from a single provider
- •Mid-market and enterprise organizations wanting a co-managed SOC model alongside internal teams
Bottom line: Ontinue is the choice if you want a single-vendor stack with deep integration. Trustwave is better if you have existing tools and want flexibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Ontinue and Trustwave?
Ontinue is a Microsoft-ecosystem that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). Trustwave is a Services firm that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). SLA commitments differ: Ontinue offers Not disclosed, Trustwave offers ≤30 minutes.
How do Ontinue and Trustwave 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. Trustwave supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable. Incident response is included with Ontinue and not included with Trustwave.
How does Ontinue pricing compare to Trustwave?
Ontinue pricing: Custom-quoted pricing. Trustwave pricing: Starting at ~$43,775/year (SelectHub estimate). Enterprise pricing is custom/quote-based.. Watch for with Ontinue: Requires Microsoft E5 or Defender licenses as prerequisite; Microsoft Sentinel consumption costs are separate. Watch for with Trustwave: Ownership instability — 4 ownership events in 10 years (Singtel → Chertoff/MC2 → failed Cybereason merger → LevelBlue); IR not included in base MDR — separate DFIR retainer required.
Should I choose Ontinue or Trustwave?
Choose Ontinue if: organizations heavily invested in Microsoft E5/Defender ecosystem. Choose Trustwave if: uS government organizations needing the first FedRAMP-authorized pure-play MDR provider. Ontinue is not ideal for organizations using non-Microsoft EDR (CrowdStrike, SentinelOne). Trustwave is not ideal for organizations concerned about vendor stability — 4 ownership events in 10 years including a failed Cybereason merger.