Palo Alto Networks vs Trustwave: MDR Comparison 2026
Palo Alto Networks (EDR vendor) and Trustwave (Services firm) take different approaches to managed detection and response. Palo Alto Networks requires its own security platform, while Trustwave works with your existing tools. Palo Alto Networks targets Mid-market and Enterprise organizations; Trustwave 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 Trustwave (Endpoint, Cloud, SaaS, Identity, Network).
Key Differences at a Glance
Winner by Category
Palo Alto Networks vs Trustwave: 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, Trustwave does not)
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: Palo Alto Networks 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 Palo Alto Networks and Trustwave?
Palo Alto Networks is an EDR vendor 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: Palo Alto Networks offers Not disclosed, Trustwave offers ≤30 minutes. Palo Alto Networks covers 6 attack surfaces in base pricing vs. 5 for Trustwave.
How do Palo Alto Networks and Trustwave 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. Trustwave supports 6 autonomous actions (endpoint isolation, process termination, network containment, account disable, file quarantine, custom playbooks) and approval is configurable.
How does Palo Alto Networks pricing compare to Trustwave?
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.. Trustwave pricing: Starting at ~$43,775/year (SelectHub estimate). Enterprise pricing is custom/quote-based.. 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 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 Palo Alto Networks or Trustwave?
Choose Palo Alto Networks if: enterprise organizations already invested in the Palo Alto ecosystem (NGFW, Prisma, WildFire) wanting native MDR integration. Choose Trustwave if: uS government organizations needing the first FedRAMP-authorized pure-play MDR provider. Palo Alto Networks is not ideal for sMBs or budget-constrained organizations — significant prerequisite costs (Cortex XDR + Data Lake) plus MDR service fee. Trustwave is not ideal for organizations concerned about vendor stability — 4 ownership events in 10 years including a failed Cybereason merger.