As pioneers in the endpoint discovery and response sector, CrowdStrike and Sophos deliver top-notch EDR services for companies of all scales. Selecting between these two EDR platforms can pose a challenge due to their comparable attributes and status in the field.
SEE: Ten Misconceptions about Cybersecurity You Should Disregard (TechRepublic Premium)
Both CrowdStrike Falcon XDR and Sophos Intercept X elevate their EDR solutions with advanced detection and response capabilities, often referred to as XDR.
In this review, we will delineate which EDR solution suits you and your business the best.
Feature Breakdown: CrowdStrike vs. Sophos
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| Advanced Learning | ||
| Malware Detection | ||
| Behavioral Analysis | ||
| Data Leakage Prevention | ||
| Automated Resolution | ||
| End-point Lockdown | ||
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| Free Evaluation | ||
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Pricing Comparison: CrowdStrike vs. Sophos
Regarding pricing, Crowdstrike’s EDR and XDR can be accessed via its Falcon Enterprise or Falcon Elite subscription models. Even though both tiers provide CrowdStrike’s EDR solution, they vary in the added security components covered in the permit.
Here is a summary of the offerings and costs for each:
- Falcon Enterprise: $184.99 per unit, with features like antivirus, EDR, XDR, and managed threat exploration included.
- Falcon Elite: Request pricing from sales; comprising EDR, XDR, integrated end-point and identity protection, and threat exploration.
Conversely, the pricing for Sophos’ EDR and XDR products can be obtained upon completion of a short online form. It would have been preferable if Sophos provided both this form-based pricing and base prices to give businesses an approximation of the expected costs.
SEE: CrowdStrike vs McAfee: EDR Software Comparison (TechRepublic)
Thankfully, both CrowdStrike and Sophos offer trial versions for their end-point protection solutions. This enables companies to test their software offerings without committing to an initial subscription or license.
Side-by-Side Comparison: CrowdStrike vs. Sophos
APIs and Add-ons
CrowdStrike maintains a wide array of add-ons, alongside a robust API, to further amalgamate its EDR/XDR solution with the current technology stack of an organization. These integrations streamline the process for an organization to create a comprehensive and robust security framework while incorporating critical cloud-based services such as AWS Security Hub and Amazon Workspaces.
Sophos also establishes connections with partners, albeit fewer. The custom integrations by Sophos aim to broaden the functionality of existing systems, enhancing automation and simplifying administrative tasks.
Correctness
CrowdStrike earned the title of “Leader” in the most recent Forrester Wave Endpoint Security, Q4 2023 report. Forrester recognized CrowdStrike as a dominant endpoint solution, highlighting its exceptional vision and minimal impact on endpoint performance.
In the same Forrester report, the performance of Sophos’ Endpoint software was commendable but not as highly rated as CrowdStrike. Specifically, Sophos received a moderate ranking regarding strategy, market presence, and the robustness of its current security offerings. This suggests that, based on Forrester’s evaluations, CrowdStrike outperformed Sophos significantly.
System Reach
CrowdStrike ensures broad systems coverage for all prevalent operating systems on a diverse range of possible endpoints, encompassing Windows, Mac, and Linux. This universal coverage holds true for all of CrowdStrike’s current security products.
SEE: Microsoft Defender vs CrowdStrike: Compare EDR Software (TechRepublic)
Forrester indicates that Sophos has subpar operating system coverage. While Sophos offers complete coverage for Windows and MacOS, its support for Linux, although available, does not extend to all features. Nevertheless, Sophos includes support for mobile platforms like Android and iOS.
Operation
CrowdStrike is crafted to be nimble and straightforward to implement. It not only allows for immediate deployment but also has minimal system impact. In contrast, some users have identified Sophos as resource-demanding, potentially affecting an organization’s efficiency and performance.
Insight
Both CrowdStrike and Sophos are designed to offer 100% visibility into your organization’s network and endpoints. These solutions offer real-time and historical visibility across cloud infrastructure, along with high-quality event data. Users have remarked that CrowdStrike offers extensive and comprehensive logging.
Product Portfolio
Many security products are incorporated in a broader product suite rather than used in isolation. CrowdStrike delivers an extensive range of product selections, spanning from options in endpoint security to managed services. Several Falcon products are combinations of other specialized suites, while some stand alone. The wide array of products from CrowdStrike may be overwhelming for some users.
Sophos products encompass Sophos Firewall, Sophos Managed Threat Response, and the Sophos Central Management Console — which seamlessly integrates with additional products like Sophos Server, Sophos Switch, Sophos Mobile, and Sophos Encryption, among others. These products can create an integrated Sophos security ecosystem, extending even to personal home security.
CrowdStrike advantages and drawbacks
Advantages
- Straightforward deployment and management.
- Precise threat detection and response.
- Lightweight in comparison to other clients.
Drawbacks
- Higher cost.
- Potential for enhancing customer service.
Sophos advantages and drawbacks
Advantages
- Configurable integrations.
- Convenient central management console.
- Effective protection against zero-day threats.
Drawbacks
- Need for contacting Sophos.
for pricing.
Is CrowdStrike or Sophos the right choice for your organization?
When it comes to user experience and product features, based on Gartner‘s user evaluations and rankings, CrowdStrike Falcon XDR slightly surpasses Sophos Intercept X.
Nevertheless, both EDR/XDR solutions offer strong capabilities and similar functionalities. For most businesses, the determining factor will be the pricing. CrowdStrike Falcon XDR is recognized by MITRE testers in 2023 to exhibit complete protection, visibility, and analytical detection in their MITRE Engenuity ATT&CK assessments. Conversely, Sophos Intercept X with XDR achieved a 99% detection rate for adversary behaviors in the same trial.
Although both systems deliver exceptional performance ratings, CrowdStrike maintains a higher overall rating. Nonetheless, it is important to note that CrowdStrike also comes with a relatively higher price tag.
As a result of this trade-off, CrowdStrike Falcon XDR is likely the optimal choice for large corporations that can afford it, while Sophos Intercept X is a great alternative for organizations with budget constraints.
Approach
My assessment comparing CrowdStrike and Sophos’ EDR and XDR solutions involved an in-depth examination of their respective security features, price points, and overall business value.
Specifically, I scrutinized crucial EDR features like threat detection accuracy, performance, extensions, API integration, deployment process, and real-time visibility, among others.
The evaluation for both solutions was conducted through thorough study of each product’s official documentation, feature offerings, and potential applications for different types of enterprises. Furthermore, we considered authentic user feedback and reviews from reputable review platforms to enhance our final evaluation and recommendations.
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