What's the real difference between EDR and MDR—is MDR just EDR with extra marketing?

EDR (Endpoint Detection & Response): software you buy, install, and manage yourself. You get alerts, you investigate, you respond. Cost: $8-15/endpoint/month. Requires internal security team. MDR (Managed Detection & Response): EDR software + 24/7 SOC team that monitors, investigates, and responds for you. Cost: $15-30/endpoint/month. No security team needed. Real difference: EDR is a tool, MDR is a service. If you have security analysts (salary $75k-120k/year), EDR makes sense. If you don't, MDR is cheaper than hiring. For 50-endpoint SMB: MDR costs $9,000-18,000/year vs. EDR ($4,800-9,000/year) + analyst ($75,000+/year). MDR wins.

Should I go with CrowdStrike, Microsoft Defender, SentinelOne, or something else?

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint: $5-10/user/month if you have Microsoft 365 E5, best integration with Windows/Office. Good for companies already in Microsoft ecosystem. CrowdStrike Falcon: $12-20/endpoint/month, best detection rates (consistently tops MITRE ATT&CK tests), cloud-native. Good for multi-OS environments. SentinelOne: $10-18/endpoint/month, autonomous response (AI-driven), good for companies wanting 'set and forget'. Choose based on: (1) Existing Microsoft 365? → Defender (simplest/cheapest), (2) Mixed Mac/Linux/Windows + budget? → CrowdStrike (best coverage), (3) Limited security staff? → SentinelOne or MDR service. All three are solid; wrong choice is buying nothing.

How much performance hit do these security tools actually cause on computers?

Modern EDR agents: 2-5% CPU usage average, 100-300MB RAM, 5-10% disk I/O during scans. CrowdStrike: ~2-3% CPU, 150-200MB RAM. SentinelOne: ~3-5% CPU, 200-300MB RAM. Microsoft Defender: ~2-4% CPU, 100-150MB RAM. User experience: imperceptible on modern computers (4+ cores, 8GB+ RAM). Noticeable on older machines (2 cores, 4GB RAM). Real impact: 1-2 seconds slower boot time, occasional brief slowdowns during active scans. Performance tip: schedule full scans outside business hours (lunch, after 6 PM). Avoid: running 2 antivirus solutions simultaneously (causes 10-20% performance hit and conflicts).

If I get MDR, do I still need a firewall and antivirus, or does MDR replace everything?

MDR does NOT replace firewall—you need both. MDR/EDR focuses on endpoints (computers, servers), firewall protects network perimeter. Layered security: (1) Firewall blocks network attacks ($800-3,000 one-time), (2) MDR/EDR stops endpoint attacks ($15-30/endpoint/month), (3) Email security stops phishing ($3-10/user/month). MDR replaces: standalone antivirus (EDR includes next-gen antivirus), security analyst team (MDR does investigation). MDR doesn't replace: firewall, email security, backup, patch management. Full security stack for 25-person SMB: $10,000-20,000 first year (firewall + MDR + email security + backup), $8,000-15,000/year ongoing. MDR is largest ongoing cost but provides most value.

EDR & MDR Comparison Guide 2026

Choosing the right endpoint security solution—whether Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) or Managed Detection and Response (MDR)—can make the difference between proactive threat prevention and costly security breaches. With 73% of small businesses experiencing cyberattacks and limited internal security resources, selecting the right security platform is one of the most critical technology decisions you'll make.

This comprehensive comparison guide analyzes leading EDR and MDR platforms across key factors that matter most to small and medium businesses: detection capabilities, deployment models, pricing structures, and management requirements. Whether you need a self-managed EDR platform, a fully managed MDR service, or something in between, our detailed comparisons help you make an informed decision.

EDR vs MDR: Understanding the Difference

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)

EDR platforms provide the technology and tools to detect, investigate, and respond to threats on endpoints. They require internal expertise to operate effectively.

Self-managed security platform
Real-time threat detection and response tools
Requires internal security expertise
Direct control over security operations
Technology-focused solution
Your team handles all alert triage, including false positives

Best For: Organizations with dedicated security teams who want control over their security operations

Managed Detection and Response (MDR)

MDR services combine EDR technology with human expertise, providing 24/7 monitoring and response as a managed service.

Fully managed security service
24/7 expert monitoring and response
No internal expertise required
Outsourced security operations
Service-wrapped technology
Provider's SOC team triages alerts and filters out false positives before they reach you — so platform-level false positive rates matter less with MDR than with self-managed EDR

Best For: Organizations lacking security staff who need comprehensive managed security

Quick Comparison Matrix

Platform	Type	Service Model	Pricing	Detection Speed	Management Required	Key Strength
CrowdStrike Falcon	EDR Platform	Self-managed or MDR	$5-25+/endpoint/month	~4 minutes	Optional	Platform completeness
Microsoft Defender	EDR Platform	Self-managed	Included with E5	Variable	High	Microsoft integration
Huntress	MDR Service	Managed enhancement	~$5-8/endpoint/month + AV	Real-time	None	Budget-friendly MDR
eSentire	MDR Service	Fully managed	Custom quotes	15-min guarantee	None	Human-led SOC
Cylance (now Arctic Wolf)	EDR Platform	Self-managed	Per-endpoint	Real-time	Medium	Lightweight AI
Arctic Wolf	MDR Service	Fully managed	All-inclusive	Variable	None	Dedicated CST

Comprehensive Platform Comparisons

Explore our detailed comparison guides to find the perfect security solution for your business needs.

CrowdStrike vs Microsoft Defender

EDR Platform Comparison

Best for organizations in Microsoft ecosystems weighing integrated vs. best-of-breed solutions.

CrowdStrike: 4-minute detection, optional MDR
Defender: E5 integration, requires expertise

Winner for SMBs: CrowdStrike for turnkey solution

CrowdStrike vs Huntress

Platform vs Enhancement Layer MDR

Businesses evaluating complete platform replacement vs. affordable MDR enhancement.

CrowdStrike: Complete EDR/MDR platform
Huntress: $99/month for 10 endpoints

Winner for SMBs: Huntress for budget-conscious MDR

CrowdStrike vs eSentire

Hybrid Platform vs Pure MDR Service

Comparing platform with optional MDR vs. dedicated MDR service.

CrowdStrike: 4-minute detection, flexibility
eSentire: 15-minute guarantee, human SOC

Winner for SMBs: eSentire for dedicated service

CrowdStrike vs Cylance

Comprehensive EDR vs Lightweight EDR

Evaluating full-featured EDR platform vs. lightweight AI-based protection.

CrowdStrike: Full EDR, optional MDR
Cylance: Lightweight AI, Arctic Wolf acquisition

Winner for SMBs: CrowdStrike for stability

CrowdStrike vs Arctic Wolf

EDR Platform with Optional MDR vs Pure MDR Service

Choosing between flexible platform approach vs. dedicated MDR partnership.

CrowdStrike: Best-of-breed technology, platform flexibility
Arctic Wolf: Human-led CST model, all-inclusive pricing

Winner for SMBs: Arctic Wolf for complete outsourcing

Decision Framework: EDR vs MDR

When to Choose EDR (Self-Managed)

Ideal Scenarios:

You have 24/7 security staff or can hire them
Your team has security expertise and certifications
You need deep customization and control
Budget is limited but expertise is available
You want to build internal security capabilities

Hidden Costs:

Staff salaries: $150K-250K per analyst
24/7 coverage requires 4-5 staff minimum
Training and certifications: $10K+/person/year

When to Choose MDR (Managed Service)

Ideal Scenarios:

You lack dedicated security staff
24/7 coverage is required but not feasible internally
You need immediate security expertise
Predictable costs are important for budgeting
You want to focus on core business, not security

Value Proposition:

Eliminates $2.5M+ in estimated annual SOC staffing costs (based on 4-5 analysts at $150K-$250K)
Immediate access to security expertise
Guaranteed response times with SLAs

Next Steps

Not sure which approach is right for your organization? Start with our free EDR Needs Assessment to evaluate your risk profile and get a tailored recommendation. For deeper analysis of how leading MDR vendors compare on published metrics, see our MDR Vendor Performance Benchmarks.

Ready to evaluate endpoint security? Explore our MDR services or contact our team for vendor-neutral guidance.

Windows Defender (free consumer version): decent basic antivirus, stops 95-97% of malware, no EDR features (no threat hunting, behavior analysis, or investigation tools). Sufficient for: home users, very small businesses (5-10 employees) with low risk. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (paid business version): $5-10/user/month, adds EDR features, centralized management, threat analytics. This is what you want for business. Don't confuse them—same name, different product. For businesses 10+ employees or handling sensitive data: free Defender is insufficient. Minimum: Defender for Business ($3/user/month). Better: full Defender for Endpoint (part of Microsoft 365 E5 at $57/user/month) or third-party EDR ($8-15/endpoint/month).

EDR & MDR Comparison Guide 2026