Calculate infrastructure requirements across endpoints, network, cloud, and identity layers. Compare 12 leading XDR vendors with real Q3 2025 pricing. Built from analyzing 300+ XDR deployments.
Extended Detection and Response (XDR) is a unified security platform that integrates and correlates data across multiple security layers—endpoints (EDR), network (NDR), cloud workloads, email, identity, and more. Unlike point solutions, XDR provides holistic threat detection, investigation, and automated response across your entire attack surface.
XDR consolidates telemetry from endpoints, network traffic, cloud workloads, email gateways, and identity systems into a single console. See the complete attack chain across all layers—not just isolated alerts.
XDR platforms use AI/ML to correlate low-fidelity signals into high-confidence incidents, then automatically contain threats across all layers. Stop ransomware on endpoints while blocking C2 at the network and disabling compromised accounts.
Replace 5-7 point products (EDR, NDR, CASB, email security, UEBA) with unified XDR. Reduce licensing costs 30-40%, eliminate integration overhead, and cut analyst time spent pivoting between tools.
Pre-correlated incidents with full attack context. What took 4 hours across 6 tools now takes 15 minutes in XDR. Investigate laterally from endpoint → network → cloud without tool switching.
| Capability | EDR | XDR | SIEM |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scope | Endpoints only | Multi-layer (endpoint, network, cloud, identity) | Everything (requires integration) |
| Data Model | Endpoint telemetry | Unified security telemetry | Raw logs (all types) |
| Detection | Endpoint threats | Cross-layer attack chains | Correlation rules + UEBA |
| Response | Isolate/remediate endpoints | Automated containment across all layers | Alert only (requires SOAR) |
| Analyst Skill | Moderate | Low-Moderate | High (SIEM + correlation rules) |
| Cost (1K endpoints) | $25K-50K/yr | $50K-120K/yr | $80K-300K/yr |
Workstations vs Servers: Servers generate 3-5x more telemetry than workstations. Cloud VMs and containers count as endpoints. Include: physical endpoints, VDI sessions, cloud instances, containers (sometimes per-host licensing).
Native vs Third-Party: XDR vendors charge more for non-native integrations. Microsoft Defender XDR is cheapest with M365/Azure. CrowdStrike integrates broadly but costs more. Palo Alto best for Prisma Cloud + Cortex ecosystem.
Hot vs Archive: Most XDR platforms include 30-90 days hot storage. Extended retention (1+ years) for investigations and compliance requires add-on licenses. Typical: 90 days XDR + 1 year SIEM for compliance.
CWPP Integration: Protecting cloud-native workloads (containers, serverless, PaaS) requires CWPP modules. Pricing varies: per-workload, per-GB scanned, or included. Check if Kubernetes nodes count as single endpoint or per-pod.
NDR Licensing: Network sensors for east-west visibility. Priced per Gbps, per sensor, or included. Some vendors (Microsoft, Cisco) include basic NDR; others (Palo Alto, CrowdStrike) charge extra.
Non-persistent VDI pools and auto-scaling cloud workloads generate far more agent installs than physical endpoints. Most vendors charge by "peak concurrent" or "monthly average" to account for churn.
XDR works best within its ecosystem. Microsoft Defender XDR is cheap IF you're all-in on M365/Azure. Otherwise, integrating third-party security tools costs extra per data source.
Basic XDR includes detection. Automated response actions (isolate endpoint, block IP, disable user) often require "XDR Pro" or "Response" add-on licenses at 1.5-2x base pricing.
XDR replaces EDR + NDR but NOT SIEM for compliance (SOC2, PCI-DSS, HIPAA). You still need 1-year+ searchable logs. Many orgs run XDR for detection + SIEM for compliance = double storage costs.
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Workstations + Servers + Cloud VMs + Containers
Servers generate 3-5x more data than workstations
Hot searchable data (archive storage additional)
Cloud workload protection (CWPP) adds 20-40% to licensing
Network sensors for lateral movement detection
Automated containment actions (may require premium SKU)
Adjust environment parameters and click Calculate to generate your XDR sizing with vendor-specific recommendations and pricing.
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