Palo Alto Networks vs Truesec: MDR Comparison 2026
Palo Alto Networks (EDR vendor) and Truesec (MDR provider) take different approaches to managed detection and response. Palo Alto Networks requires its own security platform, while Truesec works with your existing tools. Palo Alto Networks targets Mid-market and Enterprise organizations; Truesec focuses on Mid-market and Enterprise. Palo Alto Networks includes 6 attack surfaces in base pricing (Endpoint, Cloud, SaaS, Identity, Network, OT/ICS), compared to 5 for Truesec (Endpoint, Cloud, SaaS, Identity, Network).
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
Palo Alto Networks vs Truesec: 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)
- •You need OT/ICS coverage included in base pricing
- •Breach warranty matters to you (Palo Alto Networks offers one, Truesec does not)
Choose Truesec if:
- •Companies wanting IR costs covered for breaches on monitored devices (MDR Black tier) — unique offering in market
- •Mid-market organizations wanting 72-hour rapid onboarding (MDR Core) vs. typical 2-4 week industry average
- •Critical infrastructure organizations needing OT/ICS MDR via Nozomi Networks partnership (announced Nov 2025)
- •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. Truesec is better if you have existing tools and want flexibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main difference between Palo Alto Networks and Truesec?
Palo Alto Networks is an EDR vendor that is platform-native (requires their own security stack). Truesec is a MDR provider that is technology-agnostic (works with your existing tools). Palo Alto Networks covers 6 attack surfaces in base pricing vs. 5 for Truesec.
How do Palo Alto Networks and Truesec 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. Truesec supports 5 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable.
How does Palo Alto Networks pricing compare to Truesec?
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.. Truesec pricing: Custom-quoted pricing. 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 Truesec: No public pricing for any tier — requires sales engagement to get any estimate; IR is a separate retainer on Core and Enterprise tiers — only Black includes it.
Should I choose Palo Alto Networks or Truesec?
Choose Palo Alto Networks if: enterprise organizations already invested in the Palo Alto ecosystem (NGFW, Prisma, WildFire) wanting native MDR integration. Choose Truesec if: nordic enterprises (Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland) wanting the largest regional SOC with local language support (Swedish, Danish, Finnish, German, English). Palo Alto Networks is not ideal for sMBs or budget-constrained organizations — significant prerequisite costs (Cortex XDR + Data Lake) plus MDR service fee. Truesec is not ideal for uS-based organizations wanting a fully staffed local SOC (bulk of 330+ specialists in Europe, Stockholm SOC is primary monitoring center).