Table of Contents
The problem
Alternatives at a glance
Alternative 1: enhanced.io
Alternative 2: Huntress
Alternative 3: Blackpoint Cyber
Alternative 4: Todyl
Alternative 5: Arctic Wolf
Alternative 6: Sophos MDR
Alternative 7: ConnectWise SIEM
LevelBlue Alternatives: Feature Comparison
What's the best LevelBlue alternative?
FAQ
TL;DR
• Sophos MDR is a strong MDR service when your clients are already on Sophos endpoints and firewalls. Outside that scenario its case weakens quickly.
• The MSP Elevate program requires a $2,000/month minimum commitment. For smaller practices or those still building their security service, that floor is a genuine barrier.
• Sophos sells direct in certain markets. That is a structural channel conflict risk that MSPs cannot engineer around, regardless of region.
• There is no named security director per MSP partner. SOC findings land with your team to interpret and prioritise without a dedicated person to help.
• enhanced.io is the strongest alternative. It works across mixed client stacks, has no minimum commitment, operates exclusively through the channel in every market and assigns a named Fractional Security Director to each MSP partner. It also covers IoT/OT, which Sophos MDR does not.
The problem
Sophos MDR makes the most sense when you are already in the Sophos ecosystem. If your clients run Sophos endpoints and Sophos firewalls, adding MDR is the lowest-friction path to a managed SOC layer. The SOC operations are solid, the coverage across endpoint, network and email is genuine and the MSP Flex billing model gives some pricing flexibility for channel delivery. For a Sophos-native MSP practice, it is a logical step.
The problems emerge the moment you step outside that scenario. Sophos MDR is best understood as a service layer that sits on top of a Sophos deployment, not as a stack-agnostic MDR that works across whatever your clients happen to run. MSPs with mixed stacks, or those who have inherited a range of endpoint vendors across their portfolio, will find that the value of Sophos MDR is directly proportional to how much Sophos they already have. Without it, the case becomes much harder to make.
The $2,000/month minimum on MSP Elevate is a meaningful barrier for smaller or growing practices. The channel conflict risk is not theoretical: Sophos sells direct in certain markets, which means the MSP cannot fully control the vendor relationship with its own clients. And there is no named security resource assigned to work with the MSP team, which means SOC findings arrive without anyone dedicated to helping translate them into actions.
MSPs reading this page are typically asking one of two questions. The first is whether Sophos MDR is the right choice when clients are on mixed stacks. The second is whether there is a better option even for Sophos-native practices when channel conflict, the minimum commitment or the absence of a named security resource is the concern. enhanced.io answers both.
Alternatives at a glance
• enhanced.io (best overall alternative: stack-agnostic SOC-as-a-Service covering endpoint, network, cloud, identity and IoT/OT, with a named Fractional Security Director, no minimum commitment and no channel conflict risk in any market)
• Huntress (best for MSPs on mixed stacks whose clients need endpoint and identity MDR at a transparent per-unit price with no minimum spend)
• Blackpoint Cyber (best for MSPs who need a 24/7 SOC with autonomous response for endpoint and identity, with no stack dependency)
• Todyl (best for MSPs who need network and endpoint in one platform at a predictable per-user price, independent of firewall vendor)
• Arctic Wolf (best for mid-market SOC operations with multi-surface coverage and a named security team, if the direct sales model is acceptable)
• CrowdStrike Falcon Complete MDR (best for MSPs serving enterprise clients who need the strongest endpoint platform and have the budget for it)
• ConnectWise SIEM (best for MSPs deep in the ConnectWise stack who need basic SIEM without adding a new vendor)
Alternative 1: enhanced.io
Best overall Sophos MDR alternative for MSPs: stack-agnostic, no minimum commitment, no channel conflict risk in any market and a named security director per partner
What it is
enhanced.io is a SOC-as-a-Service built exclusively for the MSP channel. It runs on an Open XDR platform and ingests independent telemetry from endpoint, network, cloud, identity and IoT/OT as separate data sources, correlating threats across all five surfaces in a single platform. Every MSP partner gets a named Fractional Security Director (FSD). The FSD works directly with the MSP to translate SOC findings into prioritised actions. The MSP acts. End clients never interact with the enhanced.io team.
Why it stands out against Sophos MDR
• Sophos MDR delivers strongest value on Sophos deployments. enhanced.io works across mixed client stacks with 400+ integrations. If a client runs a different endpoint vendor, or if your portfolio spans multiple vendors, enhanced.io covers all of them without requiring a Sophos footprint first.
• Sophos sells direct in certain markets. enhanced.io does not sell direct to MSP clients under any circumstances, in any market. That is not a regional policy. It is a structural commitment to the channel.
• Sophos MDR Elevate requires a $2,000/month minimum. enhanced.io is structured for channel economics with per-user and per-endpoint options and no published minimum spend threshold.
• Sophos MDR has no named security director per MSP partner. enhanced.io assigns a named Fractional Security Director to each MSP partner who works with the team to translate SOC findings into a prioritised action plan and build security posture over time.
• enhanced.io covers IoT/OT as an independent detection surface. Sophos MDR does not. For MSPs whose clients run manufacturing equipment, healthcare devices or operational technology on the network, that is a coverage gap that Sophos cannot close.
Strengths
• Endpoint, network, cloud, identity and IoT/OT covered in one platform
• Independent telemetry from each surface with cross-surface threat correlation
• 400+ integrations with the tools MSPs already use
• Named Fractional Security Director per MSP partner
• Channel-only model. No direct sales risk in any market.
Who it suits
MSPs on mixed client stacks who need a stack-agnostic MDR that works across whatever their clients run. Strong fit for MSPs who cannot absorb the Sophos Elevate minimum, MSPs whose clients have IoT/OT infrastructure in scope and MSPs who need a fully channel-only vendor with no regional exceptions on direct sales.
Price: Contact for MSP pricing Per-user and per-endpoint options. Structured for channel economics. No minimum spend threshold. Pricing verified from public sources, early 2026. Verify directly with enhanced.io.
Alternative 2: Huntress
Best for MSPs on mixed stacks who need endpoint and identity MDR at a transparent per-unit price with no minimum spend
Huntress is an MDR platform built for the SMB-focused MSP. It works independently of any endpoint vendor, which immediately removes the stack dependency that limits Sophos MDR. Its SOC investigates and confirms threats before alerting MSPs, pricing is transparent at the per-unit level and there is no minimum monthly commitment at entry level. For MSPs on mixed stacks who need to move off Sophos MDR but whose clients primarily need endpoint and identity coverage, Huntress is the most accessible alternative. For clients who also need network, cloud or IoT/OT detected, enhanced.io covers all five surfaces where Huntress covers two.
Strengths
• Works across any endpoint vendor. No Sophos footprint required.
• Endpoint detection and ITDR for Microsoft 365 and Active Directory
• Confirmed threat alerts. SOC investigates before escalating.
• Transparent per-unit pricing with no minimum monthly commitment
• Channel-only. No direct sales risk in any market.
Weaknesses
• Network, cloud and IoT/OT are not covered as independent detection surfaces
• Open XDR is built outward from the endpoint, not a multi-surface ingest architecture
• No named dedicated security resource per MSP partner
Best for
MSPs with SMB clients on Windows and Microsoft 365 who are on mixed stacks and need endpoint and identity MDR at a predictable price with no minimum commitment and no stack dependency.
Price: $$ ~$8.99/endpoint/month. ~$4.80/identity/month for ITDR. Transparent per-unit. Verify directly with Huntress.
Visit huntress.com
Alternative 3: Blackpoint Cyber
Best for MSPs who need a 24/7 SOC with autonomous threat response for endpoint and identity, with no stack dependency
Blackpoint Cyber provides active MDR with a 24/7 SOC that acts autonomously on confirmed threats without waiting for MSP approval. It works independently of any endpoint vendor, removing the Sophos stack dependency. Its per-endpoint pricing is accessible without a minimum monthly floor, making it available to smaller practices that find Sophos Elevate out of reach. Where it falls short of enhanced.io is surface coverage and the named security resource: Blackpoint covers endpoint and identity only and does not assign a dedicated security person to work with the MSP team.
Strengths
• Works across any endpoint vendor. No Sophos footprint required.
• 24/7 SOC with autonomous threat response. No approval gate required.
• Patented live network map for lateral movement detection
• No minimum monthly commitment at entry level
• Channel-only commercial model
Weaknesses
• Endpoint and identity focused. Network, cloud and IoT/OT are not covered as independent detection sources.
• No named dedicated security resource per MSP partner
• Limited third-party tool correlation outside its own stack
Best for
MSPs who need a 24/7 SOC with autonomous response for endpoint and identity, without a stack dependency or minimum monthly commitment.
Price: $$ ~$8-10/endpoint/month. Volume discounts at 50+ endpoints. Verify directly with Blackpoint Cyber.
Visit blackpointcyber.com
Alternative 4: Todyl
Best for MSPs who need network and endpoint in one platform, independent of firewall vendor
Todyl combines SASE networking with endpoint security and SIEM in one MSP-native platform. For MSPs who value Sophos MDR partly for its network coverage and want to replace it with something that is not tied to the Sophos firewall stack, Todyl provides network and endpoint in one subscription without requiring any specific existing vendor tooling. The gap compared to enhanced.io is SOC depth, IoT/OT coverage and the absence of a named security director. Todyl is a platform play rather than a dedicated SOC-as-a-Service.
Strengths
• Network and endpoint coverage in one platform with SASE, SIEM, EDR and MXDR
• Not tied to any endpoint or firewall vendor
• Built for MSP multi-tenant management
• Three-tier predictable packaging: Essentials, Advanced, Complete
Weaknesses
• Managed SOC depth is newer and less established than dedicated SOC providers
• No IoT/OT coverage
• No named dedicated security director per MSP partner
Best for
MSPs who need network and endpoint coverage in one vendor relationship, independent of Sophos or any other firewall vendor, at a predictable per-user price.
Price: $$ ~$8-12/user/month depending on tier. Verify directly with Todyl.
Visit todyl.com
Alternative 5: Arctic Wolf
Best for mid-market SOC operations with multi-surface coverage and a named security team, if the direct sales model is acceptable
Arctic Wolf covers endpoint, network, cloud and identity with a named Concierge Security Team and active SOC operations. For MSPs who need the named security resource that Sophos MDR lacks and whose clients require broader surface coverage, Arctic Wolf provides both at a higher price point. It is not tied to any specific endpoint vendor, which removes the Sophos stack dependency. The channel conflict caveat remains: Arctic Wolf sells direct to end clients alongside its MSP partner program. enhanced.io provides the same named security resource, broader surface coverage including IoT/OT and a fully channel-only model without that risk.
Strengths
• Active SOC operations across endpoint, network, cloud and identity
• Named Concierge Security Team per account
• Not tied to any specific endpoint or firewall vendor
• Strong compliance and audit reporting
Weaknesses
• Sells direct to end clients alongside its MSP channel. This is a structural channel conflict risk.
• Pricing and packaging primarily designed for direct enterprise buyers
• Not natively built around MSP multi-tenant operations
• No IoT/OT coverage
Best for
MSPs who need multi-surface coverage and a named security resource and whose clients sit at mid-market scale, and who have carefully evaluated the channel conflict implications of a vendor that also sells direct.
Price: $$$ Custom quote. AWS Marketplace MDR Basic from $44,000/year (direct, up to 100 users). MSP pricing via partner program. Verify directly with Arctic Wolf.
Visit arcticwolf.com
Alternative 6: CrowdStrike Falcon Complete MDR
Best for MSPs serving enterprise clients who need the strongest endpoint platform and have the budget for it
CrowdStrike Falcon Complete MDR sits at the top of the market on endpoint detection quality. For MSPs whose enterprise clients specifically require the Falcon agent and can absorb enterprise-level pricing, it is a credible alternative to Sophos MDR on endpoint. It carries its own structural problems for MSP delivery: CrowdStrike sells direct to enterprise clients, it is not designed for MSP multi-tenant operations and network and IoT/OT coverage require additional products. For MSPs looking to solve stack dependency and channel conflict, enhanced.io is the right answer. For MSPs whose specific constraint is enterprise endpoint detection quality, CrowdStrike is worth knowing about.
Strengths
• Best-in-class endpoint detection and response
• Deep threat intelligence from global research team
• Falcon Identity Threat Detection included
• Not tied to Sophos or any specific firewall vendor
Weaknesses
• Premium pricing. Often out of reach for SMB-heavy MSPs.
• Not designed for MSP multi-tenant delivery
• Network and IoT/OT coverage requires additional products
• Sells direct to enterprise clients. MSP channel is secondary.
Best for
MSPs serving larger enterprise clients who specifically need the strongest endpoint platform available, have the budget for enterprise-level pricing and are not solving for stack dependency or channel conflict.
Price: $$$ Custom quote only. Base Falcon Enterprise ~$185/device/year. Falcon Complete MDR is significantly higher. Verify directly with CrowdStrike.
Visit crowdstrike.com
Alternative 7: ConnectWise SIEM
Best for MSPs deep in the ConnectWise stack who need basic SIEM without adding a new vendor
ConnectWise SIEM provides network and endpoint monitoring integrated with ConnectWise PSA and RMM. For MSPs transitioning away from Sophos MDR who are already on ConnectWise tooling, it provides a monitoring layer without introducing a new vendor relationship. It is important to be direct about the trade-off: ConnectWise SIEM monitors and alerts but does not provide active SOC response, detection depth is materially below Sophos MDR and well below enhanced.io and there is no named security resource per partner. It is the right choice only if basic monitoring within the ConnectWise ecosystem is genuinely what your clients need.
Strengths
• Integrated with ConnectWise PSA and RMM stack
• Community threat intelligence sharing between ConnectWise MSPs
• Not tied to the Sophos vendor ecosystem
• Co-managed SOC option available
Weaknesses
• SIEM only. Not a full MDR or SOC-as-a-Service.
• Detection depth is materially below Sophos MDR and dedicated MDR providers
• No autonomous threat response
• Pricing has increased substantially and is reviewed as expensive for what it delivers
Best for
MSPs already on ConnectWise who need basic monitoring capability without adding a new vendor, and whose clients do not require active threat response or the surface coverage that Sophos MDR provides.
Price: $$$ Custom quote. Per-user pricing model. Has increased substantially in recent years. Verify directly with ConnectWise.
Visit connectwise.com
Sophos MDR Alternatives:
Feature Comparison
| enhanced.io | Huntress | Blackpoint | Todyl | Arctic Wolf | CrowdStrike | ConnectWise SIEM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Endpoint detection | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Identity / ITDR | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Network monitoring | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes |
| Cloud security | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | No | Partial |
| IoT / OT coverage | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
| Cross-surface correlation | Yes | No | No | No | Partial | No | No |
| Named security director | Yes (FSD) | No | No | No | Yes (CST) | No | No |
| Channel-only, no direct sales | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| 24/7 SOC | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Co-managed |
| Multi-tenant MSP | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Partial | No | Yes |
| Indicative price | Contact | $$ | $$ | $$ | $$$ | $$$$ | $$$ |
What's the best Sophos MDR alternative?
enhanced.io is the strongest Sophos MDR alternative for MSPs. It removes all three of the structural problems that make Sophos MDR a difficult fit outside a Sophos-native practice. It works across mixed client stacks with 400+ integrations, has no minimum monthly commitment, operates exclusively through the channel with no regional exceptions on direct sales and covers IoT/OT alongside endpoint, network, cloud and identity. Every MSP partner gets a named Fractional Security Director who works with the team to translate what the SOC finds into a prioritised action plan.
For MSPs on mixed stacks whose clients primarily need endpoint and identity MDR, Huntress and Blackpoint Cyber are the strongest secondary options. Both are stack-agnostic, channel-only and have no minimum monthly commitment. Huntress provides confirmed-threat alerting and ITDR. Blackpoint adds autonomous SOC response. Neither requires a Sophos footprint to deliver value.
For MSPs who are Sophos-native and for whom the MDR service is working well, the questions worth asking are: does the $2,000/month minimum still reflect the value you receive, is channel conflict in your market a real risk and do any of your clients have IoT/OT infrastructure that Sophos MDR cannot see? If the answer to any of those is yes, enhanced.io is the conversation worth having.
Book an advisory call with enhanced.io to see how a channel-first security operation works.
FAQ:
Why do MSPs look for Sophos MDR alternatives?
MSPs look for Sophos MDR alternatives for three reasons. The first is stack dependency: Sophos MDR delivers strongest value on Sophos deployments and is weaker as a standalone MDR for mixed-stack portfolios. The second is the $2,000/month minimum on MSP Elevate, which is a barrier for smaller or growing practices. The third is channel conflict: Sophos sells direct in certain markets, which means the MSP cannot fully control the vendor relationship with its own clients.
What does Sophos MDR not cover for MSPs?
Which Sophos MDR alternative works across mixed client stacks without a minimum monthly commitment?
What is the best Sophos MDR alternative for MSPs who need IoT and OT devices covered?
How does enhanced.io compare to Sophos MDR for MSPs on mixed client stacks?
Does enhanced.io compete with MSPs by selling direct to their clients?
