Data as of Sep 21, 2026 · Based on 321 AI responses from ChatGPT Search and Google AI Mode · See how Parse measures this
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Brands AI recommends here
Named in 49% of answers
Named in 35% of answers
Best if you need fixed‑price MDR plus continuous penetration testing for SOC‑2/ISO needs—ThreatSpike bundles monitoring, pentesting and incident response, though it’s more prescriptive in its packaging.
Named in 32% of answers
Named in 31% of answers
Best when budget predictability and fast deployment matter—Huntress offers flat pricing and rapid onboarding for SMBs, giving practical 24/7 MDR while sacrificing some enterprise compliance depth.
Source | Citation share |
|---|---|
 Top 10 Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs) by Category | Vistradahttps://vistrada.com/resources/insights/managed-security-service-providers-mssps | 4% |
Best MSSP Providers You Can Trusthttps://underdefense.com/blog/best-mssp-providers/ | 3% |
 Top 10 Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPS) in 2026https://www.atlassystems.com/blog/managed-security-service-providers | 3% |
 Top 10 MSSP Companies in USA 2026: Best Providers - Eventus Securityhttps://eventussecurity.com/cybersecurity/usa/mssp-providers/ | 2% |
 Best Managed Security Services Reviews 2026 - Gartnerhttps://www.gartner.com/reviews/market/managed-security-services | 2% |
Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) Pricing - UnderDefensehttps://underdefense.com/blog/managed-security-service-provider-mssp-pricing/ | 2% |
 Top 10 Managed Security Service Providers (MSSP) in 2025https://amasty.com/blog/top-managed-security-service-providers-mssp/ | 2% |
 10 Best Managed Security Services for SMBshttps://www.channelinsider.com/security/managed-services/security-services-smbs/ | 2% |
8 Best MSSPs (Managed Security Service Providers)https://www.channelinsider.com/security/managed-security-service-providers-mssps/ | 2% |
What is an MSSP (Managed Security Service Provider)? Complete Guide 2026 | subrosahttps://subrosacyber.com/en/blog/what-is-an-mssp/ | 2% |
For a **50-employee SaaS startup**, the sweet spot is usually a **managed detection and response (MDR) provider** rather than a traditional enterprise MSSP. You typically need a **24/7 SOC, endpoint + identity monitoring, incident response, and enough compliance support (SOC 2, ISO 27001, customer security reviews)**…
For a 50-employee SaaS startup, the sweet spot is usually a managed detection and response (MDR) provider rather than a traditional enterprise MSSP. You typically need a 24/7 SOC, endpoint + identity monitoring, incident response, and enough compliance support (SOC 2, ISO 27001, customer security reviews) without paying enterprise-scale prices.
A practical shortlist:
| Provider | Approx. fit for 50-person SaaS | Cost profile | 24/7 monitoring | Best when you need |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huntress | ⭐ Strong SMB/startup fit | Lower-cost, per-endpoint model | Yes, human SOC included | Affordable MDR with minimal overhead |
| Sophos MDR | Strong SMB/mid-market fit | Mid-range, quote-based | Yes | Broader security stack and easier all-in-one management |
| Rapid7 MDR | Growing SaaS/security-conscious teams | Higher, quote-based | Yes, 24/7/365 SOC | Vulnerability management + mature security operations |
| Arctic Wolf | Larger-budget startups | Premium | Yes | A more hands-on security operations partnership |
| Microsoft Defender Experts | Microsoft-heavy environments | Often attractive if already on Microsoft 365 | Yes (service dependent) | Azure/M365-centric companies |
Parse Rapid7## My shortlist for a 50-person SaaS company
Huntress is often the first vendor I would evaluate at this size because it targets smaller organizations and includes a 24/7 human SOC with its managed security offerings. Its published pricing shows Managed EDR at about $8.99/endpoint/month at the 50-endpoint tier (pricing varies by volume and purchase channel).
Likely monthly range: roughly $450–$1,000+ depending on whether you add identity, SIEM, training, or partner services.
Good fit if:
Watch-outs:
Sophos MDR is a common choice for SMBs wanting managed monitoring plus a broader security ecosystem. It provides 24/7 expert monitoring and response capabilities, with integrations beyond only endpoint data.
Good fit if:
Watch-outs:
Rapid7 MDR is more oriented toward organizations building a mature security program. Its MDR Essentials offering includes 24×7×365 SOC monitoring, incident response, vulnerability risk scanning, threat hunting, and related capabilities.
Good fit if:
Watch-outs:
Arctic Wolf is known for its managed security operations approach, including a more relationship-oriented model with security guidance.
Good fit if:
Watch-outs:
For a 50-person SaaS startup, I would usually request proposals from:
When comparing quotes, ask each provider:
Is the SOC staffed by humans 24/7?
Do you get response/remediation, or only alerts?
Do they monitor:
Endpoints?
Microsoft 365/Google Workspace identities?
Cloud accounts (AWS/Azure/GCP)?
SaaS application logs?
What happens at 2 a.m. during a confirmed compromise?
Do they help with SOC 2 evidence and reporting?
For many 50-person SaaS companies, the practical target is a $500–$3,000/month MDR budget depending on compliance needs and how much operational responsibility you outsource.
For a **50-employee SaaS startup**, the best balance is usually not a full enterprise MSSP with a large SIEM deployment; it is an **MDR provider with a 24/7 human SOC** that can monitor endpoints, identity, cloud logs, and escalate real incidents. The right choice depends heavily on whether you mainly need affordable…
For a 50-employee SaaS startup, the best balance is usually not a full enterprise MSSP with a large SIEM deployment; it is an MDR provider with a 24/7 human SOC that can monitor endpoints, identity, cloud logs, and escalate real incidents. The right choice depends heavily on whether you mainly need affordable coverage or a more mature security partner for SOC 2, enterprise customers, or cloud complexity.
| Provider | Cost profile | 24/7 monitoring | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntress | Lower | Human SOC included | Lean startups needing affordable MDR |
| Sophos MDR | Mid-range | 24/7 MDR | Companies wanting a broader security stack |
| Rapid7 MDR | Mid-range to higher | 24/7 SOC | SaaS teams needing MDR + vulnerability management |
| Arctic Wolf | Higher | 24/7 SOC + security guidance | Startups with compliance/customer-security pressure |
| Expel | Higher | 24/7 MDR | Cloud-heavy SaaS environments |
huntress.com is often the first vendor I would evaluate for a 50-person company.
Strengths:
Trade-offs:
Good fit: 50 employees, small IT team, limited security staff, cost-sensitive.
sophos.com is worth comparing if you want a broader security platform.
Strengths:
Trade-offs:
Good fit: A startup that wants fewer vendors and a more integrated security stack.
rapid7.com is a strong candidate if you need more than endpoint monitoring.
Strengths:
Trade-offs:
Good fit: SaaS companies preparing for larger customers, SOC 2 maturity, or more formal security operations.
arcticwolf.com provides a more hands-on security operations model.
Strengths:
Trade-offs:
Good fit: B2B SaaS selling to enterprises, regulated customers, or companies needing stronger security assurance.
expel.com is worth considering if your environment is heavily based on:
Trade-off:
For a typical 50-person SaaS startup, I would request quotes from:
Before signing, compare:
For many 50-person SaaS companies, the practical shortlist tends to be Huntress for cost efficiency, Sophos for a balanced security stack, and Rapid7/Expel/Arctic Wolf when compliance and cloud complexity justify more investment.
For a 50-employee SaaS startup, balancing a lean budget with 24/7 security monitoring means avoiding massive enterprise Security Operations Centers (SOCs) that have high minimum-seat commitments or exorbitant onboarding fees. For a team of this size, 24/7 Managed Detection and Response (MDR) or focused SMB-friendly…
For a 50-employee SaaS startup, balancing a lean budget with 24/7 security monitoring means avoiding massive enterprise Security Operations Centers (SOCs) that have high minimum-seat commitments or exorbitant onboarding fees. For a team of this size, 24/7 Managed Detection and Response (MDR) or focused SMB-friendly MSSP options typically scale on a per-endpoint/user basis, landing roughly between$2 5 and$1 0 0 per employee monthly depending on whether you bring your own tools (like Microsoft Defender or SentinelOne) or use an all-in-one managed platform.
The top options offering the best cost-to-coverage balance for a 50-person tech startup break down as follows:
To help narrow down the ideal provider, let me know:
For a 50-employee SaaS startup, building an in-house 24/7 Security Operations Center (SOC) is financially out of reach ($1M+ per year). Instead, you want a specialized **Managed Detection and Response (MDR)** or lightweight **MSSP** that offers round-the-clock protection without enterprise-level lock-in or bloated…
For a 50-employee SaaS startup, building an in-house 24/7 Security Operations Center (SOC) is financially out of reach ($1M+ per year). Instead, you want a specialized Managed Detection and Response (MDR) or lightweight MSSP that offers round-the-clock protection without enterprise-level lock-in or bloated deployment fees.
Typical 24/7 monitoring for a lean organization runs on a per-endpoint/per-user model, averaging roughly$4 0–$1 2 0 per user/endpoint monthly depending on stack inclusions.
Top options striking the best balance of cost, ease of deployment, and 24/7 coverage for a 50-person SaaS team include:
To help narrow this down: Are you primarily trying to satisfy enterprise customer SOC 2 compliance , or are you purely focused on 24/7 threat prevention and alert monitoring?
For a **50-employee SaaS startup**, I’d focus on MDR/MSSP providers that give you a real 24/7 SOC without forcing you into an enterprise-sized contract. Provider | Cost/value | 24/7 monitoring | Best fit --- | --- | --- | ---
For a 50-employee SaaS startup, I’d focus on MDR/MSSP providers that give you a real 24/7 SOC without forcing you into an enterprise-sized contract.
| Provider | Cost/value | 24/7 monitoring | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntress | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Human-led 24/7 SOC | Best overall value |
| Sophos MDR | ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ | 24/7 MDR | Best all-around SMB choice |
| Expel | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 24/7 SOC | Cloud-heavy SaaS environments |
| Red Canary | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 24/7 detection/response | Security-mature startups |
| Arctic Wolf | ⭐⭐⭐ | 24/7 + named security team | Companies wanting a strategic security partner |
Huntress is probably the strongest cost-to-24/7-coverage option at your size.
Its current published Managed EDR price is $8.99/endpoint/month at the 50–99 endpoint tier, including 24/7 human SOC monitoring, threat detection, response, and remediation. That's about $450/month or $5,400/year for 50 endpoints, before optional services.
It also offers Managed ITDR for protecting Microsoft 365/Google identities, which is particularly relevant to a SaaS startup.
Why I'd shortlist it: You get genuine 24/7 human monitoring without paying for a large-enterprise SOC. The main caveat is that buying direct leaves deployment, integrations, and day-to-day portal management to you; an MSP can take that work on.
Sophos is worth getting a quote from if you want broader managed security rather than simply the cheapest MDR.
Sophos provides 24/7 MDR and sells it on a per-user basis, but pricing is quote-based.
I'd pick Sophos over Huntress if you want a more extensive security stack and/or you're already using Sophos products. For a 50-person company, however, I'd make Huntress the price benchmark before negotiating.
Expel is worth considering if your environment is heavily AWS/Azure, Microsoft 365, Okta, and other cloud services. It provides 24/7 managed detection and response and is designed to work across multiple security products rather than requiring you to standardize on one vendor.
The downside is pricing: it's quote-based, so I'd expect it to be less cost-efficient than Huntress at only 50 employees.
Red Canary is attractive if you already have a reasonably mature security program and want sophisticated detection/response rather than simply outsourcing alert monitoring. It specifically positions itself around cloud-first environments and 24/7 cloud and identity coverage.
I'd put it on the RFP if security is business-critical, but not necessarily as the first choice for a budget-conscious startup.
Arctic Wolf provides 24/7 MDR with its distinctive Concierge Security Team model. That human relationship is valuable if you want ongoing security guidance rather than just someone watching alerts.
But the economics are substantially different. Current market data puts its entry offering around $44,000/year for up to 100 users, although actual pricing is customized. MDR Cost For a 50-person startup, I'd only choose it if you have compliance/customer requirements that justify the premium.
For a typical 50-person SaaS company, I'd run a three-vendor quote process:
I'd expect Huntress to win on pure price/value, while Sophos or Expel could win if you need broader cloud, identity, or security-stack management. The important thing is to compare the total managed service, not just the EDR license: 24/7 human investigation, containment/remediation, identity monitoring, cloud logs, onboarding, SIEM, and incident response can otherwise turn a seemingly cheap option into an expensive one.
If your budget is roughly $5k–$15k/year, Huntress and Sophos are where I'd concentrate first.
It also offers Managed ITDR for protecting Microsoft 365/Google identities, which is particularly relevant to a SaaS startup.
Why I'd shortlist it: You get genuine 24/7 human monitoring without paying for a large-enterprise SOC. The main caveat is that buying direct leaves deployment, integrations, and day-to-day portal management to you; an MSP can take that work on.
Sophos is worth getting a quote from if you want broader managed security rather than simply the cheapest MDR.
Sophos provides 24/7 MDR and sells it on a per-user basis, but pricing is quote-based.
I'd pick Sophos over Huntress if you want a more extensive security stack and/or you're already using Sophos products. For a 50-person company, however, I'd make Huntress the price benchmark before negotiating.
Expel is worth considering if your environment is heavily AWS/Azure, Microsoft 365, Okta, and other cloud services. It provides 24/7 managed detection and response and is designed to work across multiple security products rather than requiring you to standardize on one vendor.
The downside is pricing: it's quote-based, so I'd expect it to be less cost-efficient than Huntress at only 50 employees.
Red Canary is attractive if you already have a reasonably mature security program and want sophisticated detection/response rather than simply outsourcing alert monitoring. It specifically positions itself around cloud-first environments and 24/7 cloud and identity coverage.
I'd put it on the RFP if security is business-critical, but not necessarily as the first choice for a budget-conscious startup.
Arctic Wolf provides 24/7 MDR with its distinctive Concierge Security Team model. That human relationship is valuable if you want ongoing security guidance rather than just someone watching alerts.
For a 50-employee SaaS startup, traditional enterprise MSSPs (like `IBM or eSentire` ) will often over-index on cost and bloat you with heavy tooling you don't need yet. Conversely, lightweight tools without 24/7 human oversight leave your infrastructure vulnerable during off-hours. The ideal sweet spot for an…
For a 50-employee SaaS startup, traditional enterprise MSSPs (like IBM or eSentire ) will often over-index on cost and bloat you with heavy tooling you don't need yet. Conversely, lightweight tools without 24/7 human oversight leave your infrastructure vulnerable during off-hours.
The ideal sweet spot for an early-stage SaaS startup is Managed Detection and Response (MDR) providers—often a modern evolution of MSSPs that focus heavily on endpoints, cloud identities (Google Workspace/Microsoft 365), and SaaS guardrails with predictable, transparent pricing.
The top contenders offering the best balance of cost, ease of deployment, and 24/7 monitoring for a 50-person startup include:
To help narrow this down further, let me know:
For a **50-employee SaaS startup**, the best MSSP choice is usually not the biggest security brand—it is the provider that gives you **real 24/7 human monitoring, incident response, and enough compliance support (SOC 2, ISO 27001, customer security reviews)** without paying enterprise SOC prices. Typical SMB MSSP/MDR…
For a 50-employee SaaS startup, the best MSSP choice is usually not the biggest security brand—it is the provider that gives you real 24/7 human monitoring, incident response, and enough compliance support (SOC 2, ISO 27001, customer security reviews) without paying enterprise SOC prices. Typical SMB MSSP/MDR budgets often land around $2,000–$7,000/month, depending on endpoints, cloud footprint, compliance needs, and response scope.
Here are the providers I would shortlist:
| Provider | Best fit for a 50-person SaaS | Approx. cost profile | Strengths | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arctic Wolf Networks | SaaS companies preparing for scale, SOC 2, enterprise customers | Mid-range to premium | Strong 24/7 SOC model, security operations team approach, good reporting | Can be expensive for very small budgets |
| Huntress | Startups wanting affordable MDR | Budget-friendly | Excellent SMB focus, human-led threat monitoring, simple deployment | Less of a full enterprise security program |
| CrowdStrike Falcon Complete | Startups with higher security requirements or enterprise customers | Premium | Strong endpoint protection, managed response capability | Cost can climb with add-ons |
| Rapid7 MDR | SaaS teams needing broader security analytics | Mid-range | Strong detection, vulnerability and compliance ecosystem | May require more internal security maturity |
| Netsurion | Cost-sensitive SMBs needing 24/7 SOC coverage | Lower-cost MSSP tier | Accessible managed SOC model | Less advanced threat hunting than premium providers |
Usmssp Usmssp## My shortlist by startup scenario
Good choice if you:
The downside is cost: it is usually a better fit once security is a business differentiator or customer requirement.
Good choice if you:
For many startups, an MDR-focused provider like Huntress provides more practical value than buying a large SIEM implementation that nobody internally operates.
Consider this if:
It is powerful, but you may be paying for capabilities a 50-person startup does not fully use.
For a SaaS startup, do not buy “24/7 monitoring” unless the agreement clearly answers:
A common mistake is buying a service that only generates alerts. A true MDR/MSSP relationship should include investigation and response actions.
For a typical 50-person SaaS company:
A realistic target budget is roughly $3k–$8k/month for meaningful 24/7 coverage, with higher costs if you need compliance consulting, SIEM engineering, or extensive cloud monitoring.
If you share your stack (AWS/Azure/GCP, Okta/Microsoft 365/Google Workspace, SOC 2 status, and approximate endpoints), I can narrow this to a 2–3 vendor shortlist.
For a 50-employee SaaS startup, the main challenge is balancing a lean budget with the rigorous 24/7 monitoring demanded by enterprise clients and compliance frameworks (like SOC 2 or ISO 27001). Traditional enterprise MSSPs (like IBM or Accenture) are cost-prohibitive and overly complex for your scale. Instead, the…
For a 50-employee SaaS startup, the main challenge is balancing a lean budget with the rigorous 24/7 monitoring demanded by enterprise clients and compliance frameworks (like SOC 2 or ISO 27001). Traditional enterprise MSSPs (like IBM or Accenture) are cost-prohibitive and overly complex for your scale. Instead, the "sweet spot" lies with Managed Detection and Response (MDR) / SOC-as-a-Service providers that offer predictable, per-agent or per-node pricing, lightweight deployment, and true 24/7 coverage.
The top MSSP/MDR options that offer the best balance of cost and 24/7 monitoring for a small SaaS startup include:
To help narrow down the best fit, let me know:
For a **50-employee SaaS startup**, I’d focus on MDR/MSSP providers that give you a real 24/7 SOC without forcing you into an enterprise-sized contract. Provider | Cost/value | 24/7 coverage | Best fit --- | --- | --- | ---
For a 50-employee SaaS startup, I’d focus on MDR/MSSP providers that give you a real 24/7 SOC without forcing you into an enterprise-sized contract.
| Provider | Cost/value | 24/7 coverage | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntress | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Human SOC, 24/7 | Best overall value |
| Sophos MDR | ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ | 24/7 expert monitoring | Best SMB all-rounder |
| Rapid7 MDR | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 24/7/365 | MDR + vulnerability management |
| Arctic Wolf | ⭐⭐⭐½ | 24/7 | More mature security program |
| Microsoft Defender Experts | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 24/7 | Microsoft/Azure-heavy startup |
Huntress is probably the strongest price-to-coverage option for a 50-person company.
Its current published price for 50 endpoints is $449.50/month ($8.99/endpoint), including its 24/7 SOC, detection/response and remediation. Managed ITDR is separately listed at $4.80/identity/month.
That means roughly $450/month for endpoint MDR if you have about 50 endpoints. The important caveat is that direct customers still handle deployment, integrations and acting on SOC recommendations; an MSP can take over that operational layer.
Verdict: Best choice if you're lean and primarily need someone watching endpoints and identities around the clock.
Sophos is worth getting a quote from if you want a broader security platform rather than just inexpensive endpoint MDR. It's particularly attractive if you're already using Sophos products.
Its MDR service provides 24/7 expert monitoring, threat hunting and response, with third-party integrations available.
Verdict: Probably the best alternative to Huntress if you want a more traditional full-service security ecosystem.
Rapid7 is compelling for a SaaS startup that wants MDR plus vulnerability/exposure management rather than simply endpoint monitoring.
Its Essentials package includes 24×7×365 SOC monitoring, remote containment/remediation, incident response, vulnerability scanning, unlimited log ingestion and 13-month retention. Pricing is asset-based rather than dependent on log volume.
Verdict: Spend more here if you're trying to build a more mature security program, particularly for SOC 2/customer-security requirements.
Arctic Wolf offers 24/7 detection and response plus its Concierge Experience, where security experts provide ongoing guidance rather than simply forwarding alerts.
Verdict: Very good if you don't have security personnel internally and want a partner that will take a more hands-on role. I'd compare the quote carefully against Huntress/Sophos because you're likely paying for more service.
For a 50-person SaaS company, I'd solicit three quotes:
I'd expect Huntress to win on raw cost, while Rapid7 or Arctic Wolf may win if you need more extensive cloud, vulnerability, compliance and security-program support. Current market comparisons similarly position Huntress as the value option and Arctic Wolf/Rapid7 toward broader, more mature environments.
One important point: don't compare the monthly license alone. Ask each vendor whether the quote includes 24/7 human investigation, containment/remediation, identity monitoring, cloud/SaaS telemetry, log retention, incident response, onboarding, and an actual human escalation path. Those differences can overwhelm a seemingly cheaper per-user price.
That means roughly $450/month for endpoint MDR if you have about 50 endpoints. The important caveat is that direct customers still handle deployment, integrations and acting on SOC recommendations; an MSP can take over that operational layer.
Verdict: Best choice if you're lean and primarily need someone watching endpoints and identities around the clock.
Sophos is worth getting a quote from if you want a broader security platform rather than just inexpensive endpoint MDR. It's particularly attractive if you're already using Sophos products.
Its MDR service provides 24/7 expert monitoring, threat hunting and response, with third-party integrations available.
Verdict: Probably the best alternative to Huntress if you want a more traditional full-service security ecosystem.
Rapid7 is compelling for a SaaS startup that wants MDR plus vulnerability/exposure management rather than simply endpoint monitoring.
Its Essentials package includes 24×7×365 SOC monitoring, remote containment/remediation, incident response, vulnerability scanning, unlimited log ingestion and 13-month retention. Pricing is asset-based rather than dependent on log volume.
Verdict: Spend more here if you're trying to build a more mature security program, particularly for SOC 2/customer-security requirements.
Arctic Wolf offers 24/7 detection and response plus its Concierge Experience, where security experts provide ongoing guidance rather than simply forwarding alerts.
For a **50-employee SaaS startup**, I’d focus on **MDR (managed detection and response)** rather than a traditional MSSP/SIEM-heavy contract. You mainly want a credible 24/7 SOC that can investigate and contain threats without the cost and complexity of an enterprise SOC. ### My shortlist Provider | Cost/value | 24/7…
For a 50-employee SaaS startup, I’d focus on MDR (managed detection and response) rather than a traditional MSSP/SIEM-heavy contract. You mainly want a credible 24/7 SOC that can investigate and contain threats without the cost and complexity of an enterprise SOC.
| Provider | Cost/value | 24/7 monitoring | Best fit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntress | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Yes, SOC | Best budget choice |
| Sophos MDR | ⭐⭐⭐⭐½ | Yes | Best all-around SMB option |
| Arctic Wolf | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Yes | Best hands-on security partner |
| Expel | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Yes | Best for cloud/SaaS-heavy environments |
| Red Canary | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | Yes | Best for a more security-mature startup |
Huntress is where I'd get the first quote.
Its Managed EDR currently lists $8.99/endpoint/month for 50–99 endpoints, including 24/7 threat detection and response from its SOC. That's roughly $450/month for 50 endpoints before additional services. Huntress also says there are no separate MDR add-ons required for the 24/7 service.
For a 50-person company trying to keep security spend under control, that's unusually attractive.
Sophos is my second quote. It's particularly compelling if you're already using Sophos endpoint/network products. Pricing is quote-based, with per-user/per-server options, and the service supports different response modes.
I'd choose Sophos over Huntress if you want broader security-stack integration and don't mind paying somewhat more for it.
Arctic Wolf provides 24/7 monitoring across endpoints, networks and cloud environments, with its Concierge Security model adding human security expertise.
The tradeoff is price. Its AWS Marketplace listing currently shows $44,000/year for MDR Basic covering up to 100 users, or about $3,667/month.
That's worthwhile if you're facing SOC 2/customer-security requirements, cyber-insurance scrutiny, or don't have anyone internally capable of handling incidents. Otherwise, I'd probably spend less on Huntress or Sophos.
Expel is worth an RFP if your environment is predominantly AWS/Azure/GCP, Okta/Microsoft 365, SaaS applications and cloud workloads rather than a conventional office network. Its model is particularly attractive when you already have security tooling and want someone else to operate it 24/7.
I'd solicit three quotes:
For a startup, I'd aim for roughly $5k–$15k/year for core 24/7 MDR if your environment is relatively straightforward. Once you're approaching $40k+/year, I'd expect substantially more than alert monitoring—cloud coverage, identity monitoring, active containment, vulnerability management, compliance assistance, or a dedicated security team.
One important caveat: 50 employees ≠ 50 endpoints. Get quotes based on your actual laptops, servers, cloud workloads, identities and log sources. Also ask specifically whether 24/7 means a human SOC actually investigates and responds, rather than merely generating alerts overnight.
My ranking for your scenario: Huntress → Sophos MDR → Expel → Arctic Wolf, with Arctic Wolf moving to #1 if compliance/customer requirements are significant.
For a 50-person company trying to keep security spend under control, that's unusually attractive.
Sophos is my second quote. It's particularly compelling if you're already using Sophos endpoint/network products. Pricing is quote-based, with per-user/per-server options, and the service supports different response modes.
I'd choose Sophos over Huntress if you want broader security-stack integration and don't mind paying somewhat more for it.
Arctic Wolf provides 24/7 monitoring across endpoints, networks and cloud environments, with its Concierge Security model adding human security expertise.
The tradeoff is price. Its AWS Marketplace listing currently shows $44,000/year for MDR Basic covering up to 100 users, or about $3,667/month.
That's worthwhile if you're facing SOC 2/customer-security requirements, cyber-insurance scrutiny, or don't have anyone internally capable of handling incidents. Otherwise, I'd probably spend less on Huntress or Sophos.
Expel is worth an RFP if your environment is predominantly AWS/Azure/GCP, Okta/Microsoft 365, SaaS applications and cloud workloads rather than a conventional office network. Its model is particularly attractive when you already have security tooling and want someone else to operate it 24/7.
I'd solicit three quotes:
