Palo Alto Networks vs ReliaQuest: MDR Comparison 2026
Palo Alto Networks (EDR vendor) and ReliaQuest (Pure-play MDR) take different approaches to managed detection and response. Palo Alto Networks requires its own security platform, while ReliaQuest works with your existing tools. Palo Alto Networks targets Mid-market and Enterprise organizations; ReliaQuest focuses on Mid-market and Enterprise.
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
Palo Alto Networks vs ReliaQuest: Which Should You Choose?
Choose Palo Alto Networks if:
- •US government and defense organizations needing FedRAMP Moderate, DoD IL5, StateRAMP compliance
- •Large enterprises wanting co-managed SOC with full visibility into their Cortex XDR/XSIAM tenant
- •Organizations wanting breach response guarantee (MSIAM 2.0 — 250 hours IR included)
- •Breach warranty matters to you (Palo Alto Networks offers one, ReliaQuest does not)
Choose ReliaQuest if:
- •Large enterprises with complex multi-vendor security stacks
- •Organizations wanting to keep existing SIEM/EDR investments
- •Security teams needing AI-driven automation at scale
- •You want direct Slack integration with your SOC
Bottom line: Palo Alto Networks is the choice if you want a single-vendor stack with deep integration. ReliaQuest is better if you have existing tools and want flexibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Palo Alto Networks and ReliaQuest?
Palo Alto Networks is an EDR vendor that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). ReliaQuest is a Pure-play MDR that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). SLA commitments differ: Palo Alto Networks offers Not disclosed, ReliaQuest offers ≤15 minutes.
How do Palo Alto Networks and ReliaQuest differ in response capabilities?
Palo Alto Networks supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable. ReliaQuest supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable. Incident response is not included with Palo Alto Networks and included with ReliaQuest.
How does Palo Alto Networks pricing compare to ReliaQuest?
Palo Alto Networks pricing: Cortex XDR Pro: ~$81/endpoint/year starting (platform only). Unit 42 MDR service is additional custom pricing. Total cost depends on endpoints, tier (Pro vs Premium), coverage scope, and contract terms.. ReliaQuest pricing: $172,500 average annual; up to $1,200,000 for large deployments. $5,000 per additional integrated technology.. Watch for with Palo Alto Networks: Cortex XDR/XSIAM platform license is a significant prerequisite cost on top of MDR service fee; Cortex Data Lake storage costs are separate and scale with data volume. Watch for with ReliaQuest: High minimum contract value (enterprise-focused); Additional technology integrations add cost quickly.
Should I choose Palo Alto Networks or ReliaQuest?
Choose Palo Alto Networks if: enterprise organizations already invested in the Palo Alto ecosystem (NGFW, Prisma, WildFire) wanting native MDR integration. Choose ReliaQuest if: large enterprises with complex multi-vendor security stacks. Palo Alto Networks is not ideal for sMBs or budget-constrained organizations — significant prerequisite costs (Cortex XDR + Data Lake) plus MDR service fee. ReliaQuest is not ideal for sMBs with limited security budgets.