Buyer need
Best for Small Business
16 providers
Continuous compromise monitoring from network metadata with incident context, playbooks and buyer-configured response integrations
You still own Deciding which automated response policies and integrations are allowed
24/7 MDR over Alert Logic's own platform, with exposure management, log collection, SOC triage and optional Managed WAF coverage
You still own Remediation and incident-response work unless an automated response workflow or partner service is explicitly configured
24/7 MDR through Arctic Wolf's Aurora platform, Concierge Security Team guidance and supported Active Response containment workflows
You still own Choosing the MDR bundle, Concierge tier, add-ons, warranty eligibility and retention scope
24/7 Managed XDR across selected Barracuda and third-party security controls, with SOC triage and scope-dependent automated response
You still own Confirming which XDR modules are included and which assets, users or devices are covered
24/7 SOC investigation, threat hunting, reporting and pre-approved containment through Bitdefender GravityZone
You still own Choosing the MDR or MDR PLUS scope and enabling the required GravityZone coverage
24/7 managed detection and response through Blackpoint's CompassOne platform, with SOC investigation, endpoint and cloud coverage, active containment, MSP workflow integrations and optional posture, logging and application-control modules.
You still own Deploying and maintaining agents, cloud connectors and supported integrations
Managed detections, cloud SIEM visibility, guided findings and edition-based containment actions in Blumira's own platform
You still own Connecting cloud, identity, endpoint, firewall and SaaS sources and keeping permissions current
24/7 MDR monitoring, threat hunting, alert validation, investigation, multi-signal correlation, containment actions, incident handling and reporting through eSentire Atlas XDR and eSentire's SOC team.
You still own Granting and maintaining access to endpoint, identity, cloud, email, SIEM and network tools that eSentire is expected to monitor or use for response
24/7 MDR over Field Effect's endpoint, cloud and network telemetry, with AROs and policy-bound active response
You still own Choosing the Active Response policy and excluding critical systems where downtime risk matters
Managed endpoint, identity, and SIEM monitoring with human SOC investigation, incident reports, and supported containment actions inside the Huntress platform.
You still own Deploying agents and configuring Microsoft 365, SIEM, PSA, and ticketing integrations
24/7 SOC monitoring, analyst investigation, phone or email escalation and covered containment actions for licensed endpoints, Microsoft 365 and firewall signals
You still own Licensing every endpoint and Microsoft 365 account that needs MDR coverage
24/7 managed detection, investigation, threat hunting and response through Sophos Central and supported integrations
You still own Selecting Collaborate, Authorize or Notify Only response mode
A co-managed security operations platform that combines SIEM-style log collection, UEBA, SOAR automation, compliance reporting and 24/7 MDR support
You still own Connecting the right data sources and validating what each source is used for
Co-managed Open XDR with managed SIEM, 24/7 SOC monitoring, workflow automation, threat hunting, log retention, compliance reporting and package-dependent endpoint, vulnerability and incident-support options.
You still own Choosing which endpoints, cloud services, identity systems, network tools and SaaS sources are in scope
24/7 MXDR over Todyl's managed SIEM and security stack, with transparent cases, live analyst access and a dedicated DRAM
You still own Selecting the Todyl package and deciding which modules, tenants and data sources are in scope
Outsourced SOC coverage with managed SIEM, MDR, threat hunting, triage and scoped containment across existing tools
You still own Approving response authority, escalation contacts and any actions that touch production systems
How to use this list
Use it when
- Use this list when the outcome matters more than the market label.
Do not assume
- Response can mean advice, remote containment, or full incident handling. Confirm the exact handoff before shortlisting.
Ask before shortlisting
- Confirm what the provider owns after an alert and what still stays with your team.
- Ask which response actions are pre-approved and which need your approval.
- Check how incidents are escalated when your team is offline.
Category background
These SOC providers are built for small businesses that need real security but do not have a dedicated security team or a large budget. They offer managed threat detection and response at price points that work for organizations with fewer than 500 employees.
Why Small Businesses Need Managed Security
Small businesses are the fastest-growing target for cyber attacks. Ransomware gangs, business email compromise schemes, and credential theft campaigns increasingly target organizations that lack dedicated security staff. A SOC provider gives you 24/7 protection without the cost of hiring, training, and retaining security analysts — typically at less than the cost of a single part-time hire.
What to Look For
The best small business security providers offer simple deployment (hours, not weeks), transparent per-endpoint or per-user pricing, and automatic response capabilities so threats get handled even when nobody on your team is available. Many are sold through MSP partners, which can be an advantage if you already work with an IT services provider.