Expel vs Sophos MDR comparison

Expel and Sophos are both solutions in the Managed Detection and Response (MDR) category. Expel is ranked #19 with an average rating of 9.0, while Sophos is ranked #5 with an average rating of 8.6. Expel holds a 1.8% mindshare in MDR, compared to Sophos’s 6.1% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Expel users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Sophos users who would recommend it.

Expel

Read 1 Expel review

924 Views
727 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Sophos MDR

Read 30 Sophos MDR reviews

3,726 Views
2,569 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Expel

Sophos MDR

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Expel and Sophos MDR based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out what your peers are saying about CrowdStrike, Huntress, Field Effect and others in Managed Detection and Response (MDR).

To learn more, read our detailed Managed Detection and Response (MDR) Report (Updated: March 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Managed Detection and Response (MDR)

March 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

Expel

Ranking in Managed Detection and Response (MDR)

19th

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

SOC as a Service (4th)

Sophos MDR

Ranking in Managed Detection and Response (MDR)

5th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.2

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Managed Detection and Response (MDR) category, the mindshare of Expel is 1.8%, down from 1.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Sophos MDR is 6.1%, down from 6.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Managed Detection and Response (MDR)

Featured Reviews

reviewer2578461

MDR Specialist at GuidePoint Security

Rapid threat management and diverse technology integration for effective monitoring

Expel has made it easier for companies to monitor and manage various log sources. With its vast integration portfolio, customers can efficiently monitor diverse environments. Time to value is quick, as Expel can turn their service up very rapidly. They have both automated active responses and human processes that quicken threat resolution.

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Shaun Gordon

Chief Security Officer at Duxbury

Extensive data lake, ease of use is great and you can really get started very quickly

Sophos MDR is a service. MDR is managed detection and response. It's a managed security service. So instead of having an anti-malware, which in Sophos' case would be Intercept X, with MDR, they add human-led threat hunting. It's a managed service. So it's not a product that you sell the client per se. You're selling them a service, which is almost like an SLA, and that includes Cloud MDR. MDR is not a product. It's a service. The reality is that when it comes to the likes of SentinelOne, McAfee, CrowdStrike, ESET, and all the other players out there, they're single-product security companies. CrowdStrike is an anti-malware. That's one thing. ESET, same thing. But if you look at the other vendors, within the appliances, you're looking at Fortinet, Palo Alto, and Checkpoint. They only sell firewalls. That's all they do. When you deal with Sophos, they are the entire product suite. They sell firewalls. They sell Intercept X, which is their anti-malware, Intercept X for Server with anti-malware, email protection with ties into Office 365, and Sophos Plus encryption. All of these security products pull telemetry. So every time somebody hits a firewall, it's called, for argument's sake, that goes into their central data lake. All the firewalls around the world add that information to a data lake. Now, when you're dealing with Sophos, because of their exposure, because they've got so many different products, their data lake is a lot more extensive than competing vendors because they're not relying on one threat factor. They're not relying on one area of expertise. They're a global company. So, I can't compare their telemetry, for instance, to the likes of CrowdStrike. If CrowdStrike has probably started doing appliances, then the users will get that benefit as well. Sophos is the only vendor that does do that. It's like hiring a security team. Sophos do things differently in that they've got more telemetry and more insight into a network because they offer a variety of products. The other part about it is Sophos MDR; the service, unlike other vendors like CrowdStrike, is not limited to their products. If you are running CrowdStrike in your company, for instance, you can get their integration packs, in which case Sophos will manage your CrowdStrike system for you. Whereas with CrowdStrike, it's only CrowdStrike. You are locked into that vendor. So Sophos offers that flexibility. It's a multi-vendor service as opposed to SentinelOne or CrowdStrike, which is a single-vendor service. For instance, if I'm running Sophos, I would like to go with CrowdStrike MDR. I would have to remove my entire security investment, in this case, Sophos, and reinstall CrowdStrike in order to use their service. Sophos doesn't have that problem. If you've got CrowdStrike and you've already invested in CrowdStrike, cool. You stay on CrowdStrike. They will still manage it for you.

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Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"Their threat hunting protocol and process with AI and machine learning are strong, allowing for active and rapid responses."

"The solution provides the best security features."

"The automation feature in Sophos MDR provides reports and alerts."

"I like Sophos MDR's inbuilt feature for DLP (Data Loss Prevention)."

"There are lots of benefits because it includes real-time network threat detection (RNT), IP spoofing prevention, and a 24/7 support system. There is also protection against ransomware attacks."

"The product as a whole is truly outstanding and it excels in detecting and responding to various types of cyberattacks."

"Sophos MDR has improved the threat detection process by identifying and addressing the issues before they become severe."

"The automated threat hunting feature and integration capabilities are valuable."

"It is stable and scalable. It has good technical support."

More Sophos MDR pros

Cons

"The one area where Expel may not measure up is if a customer requires a managed SIEM as part of their overall solution. There's a gap there, and solutions might require third-party assistance for management."

"The reports should be more comprehensive and easier to organize."

"Its technical support could be better."

"Once in a great while, an update fails."

"It could be more secure."

"Support could provide a faster response."

"There is room for improvement in performance and upgrades."

"The integration with third-party solutions as an area for slight improvement"

"The product's stability needs improvement."

More Sophos MDR cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available

"It is an expensive platform."

"Sophos MDR is less expensive than other products like Fortinet or Palo Alto."

"MDR is a complete enterprise solution, and compared to other OEMs, it is one of the cheapest."

"Compared to other tools, Sophos has a pretty good price."

"The cost of the solution is based on how many users use it."

"I would rate the price of Sophos MDR as a nine out of ten, with ten being the most expensive."

"Sophos MDR could be more affordable."

"The price falls somewhere in the middle range."

More Sophos MDR pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

19%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Computer Software Company

20%

Manufacturing Company

Educational Organization

Government

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

No data available

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Expel?

Expel's pricing has adapted as the market evolved and has become competitive over the past twelve months.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Expel?

The one area where Expel may not measure up is if a customer requires a managed SIEM as part of their overall solution. There's a gap there, and solutions might require third-party assistance for m...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Expel?

I have experience reselling Expel. Customers often come to me wanting to evaluate multiple providers to make a choice based on their specific use cases, requirements, technology investments, and so...

See all answers

What do you like most about Sophos MDR?

The user doesn't need a technician; it offers 24/7 support to identify and manage your infrastructure and take complete care of any technological incidents.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Sophos MDR?

There could be improvement in features like more detailed reporting for the end customer. For example, reports should be in simple language that is easy to read and understand for management level ...

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering Sophos MDR?

I would absolutely recommend Sophos MDR to other organizations. It is rated ten out of ten overall, with a deduction of one point only due to the commercial cost. I'd rate the solution nine out of ...

See all answers

Comparisons

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Compared 24% of the time

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Compared 18% of the time

ReliaQuest GreyMatter vs Expel

Compared 11% of the time

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Compared 10% of the time

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Compared 16% of the time

SentinelOne Vigilance vs Sophos MDR

Compared 10% of the time

Bitdefender MDR vs Sophos MDR

Compared 8% of the time

Huntress Managed EDR vs Sophos MDR

Compared 8% of the time

Trend Micro Managed XDR vs Sophos MDR

Compared 8% of the time

More Sophos MDR Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Managed Detection and Response (MDR)

March 2025

Download Expel product report

Buyer's Guide

Sophos MDR

March 2025

Download Sophos MDR product report

Also Known As

Workbench, Expel SOC-as-a-Service

Sophos Managed Threat Response

Overview

Expel offers comprehensive security monitoring and incident response, detecting threats efficiently, providing actionable insights, and reducing security risks. It enhances a company's security posture and frees up internal resources by integrating with existing security tools and offering support from experienced analysts.

Expel is designed for real-time monitoring, effective threat detection, and automated response capabilities. Users appreciate its intuitive dashboard, timely alerts, and comprehensive reporting. Integration with existing security systems and minimal maintenance requirements are key advantages. Customer support is noted as exceptional. Some users suggest improvements in alert categorization to reduce noise, a more intuitive dashboard design with better customization, faster response times, more comprehensive threat analysis reports, and enhanced communication with customer support.

What are Expel's key features?

Real-time monitoring: Continuously keeps track of potential threats and network activity.
Effective threat detection: Identifies suspicious behavior and potential security breaches quickly.
Automated response: Responds to threats automatically to mitigate risks efficiently.
Intuitive dashboard: User-friendly interface for navigating security operations.
Timely alerts: Provides immediate notifications about potential security incidents.
Comprehensive reporting: Generates detailed analyses of security events for better decision-making.
Integration capabilities: Works seamlessly with existing security systems.
Minimal maintenance: Requires little upkeep from internal teams.

What benefits should users look for in Expel?

Enhanced security posture: Strengthens overall defenses against cyber threats.
Resource optimization: Allows internal teams to focus on strategic tasks.
Experienced analysts: Provides expert support from seasoned security professionals.
Actionable insights: Delivers data-driven recommendations for security improvements.
Integration ease: Fits smoothly with pre-existing security tools and infrastructures.

Expel is implemented across various industries that require robust security measures. In the financial sector, it helps safeguard sensitive data and ensure compliance. Healthcare organizations use Expel to protect patient records and meet strict regulatory standards. Retail companies leverage its capabilities to secure customer information and transaction data, while manufacturing entities rely on Expel to secure intellectual property and operational technology networks.

Expel

Threat Notification Isn’t the Solution – It’s a Starting Point
Other managed detection and response (MDR) services simply notify you of attacks or suspicious events. Then it’s up to you to manage things from there.

With Sophos MTR, your organization is backed by an elite team of threat hunters and response experts who take targeted actions on your behalf to neutralize even the most sophisticated threats.

Sophos

Sample Customers

Amanda Fennell CSO

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

Managed Detection and Response (MDR)

March 2025

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