Binary Defense
Human-driven MDR and SOC-as-a-Service rooted in offensive security expertise
- Service
- SOCaaS
- Response
- Full SOC
Best for
Mid-market organizations with 200-5,000 employeesUsually replaces
Understaffed internal SOC teamCheck first
Smaller team compared to market leaders like Arctic Wolf or CrowdStrike may limit scalabilityCoverage
Covers
- Open XDR strategy integrating existing EDR, SIEM, and network tools without vendor lock-in
- Proactive human-led threat hunting by dedicated counterintelligence team
- ARC Labs threat research unit publishing actionable intelligence on emerging threats
Pros and limits
Works well
- Founded by David Kennedy, a respected offensive security researcher — deep attacker-mindset DNA across the organization
- Strong Performer in Forrester Wave MDR Services Q1 2025 and recognized on Inc. 5000 list
- Open XDR approach works with existing security investments rather than forcing platform replacement
Watch out for
- Analyst turnover noted in reviews, with inconsistencies in triage quality across shifts
- Reporting and metrics capabilities could be more robust according to customer feedback
- Cloud platform support is narrower than competitors with full AWS, Azure, and GCP coverage
Pricing
- Billing model
- Per-endpoint, Tiered, Custom
- Minimum contract
- 12 months
- Proof of concept
- Available
- Onboarding
- 14-30 days
Custom pricing based on environment size; not publicly listed. Mid-market focus keeps costs competitive relative to large-enterprise MDR providers.
Connects with
- SIEM
- Microsoft Sentinel, Devo, Splunk
- EDR / Endpoint
- CrowdStrike Falcon, SentinelOne, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Cloud
- AWS, Azure
- Other
- ExtraHop (NDR), Microsoft 365, Okta, Binary Defense SOAR (proprietary)
Questions
What is the difference between Binary Defense MDR and SOC-as-a-Service?
Binary Defense MDR provides 24/7 threat detection and active response across endpoints, networks, and cloud infrastructure using an Open XDR strategy. SOC-as-a-Service extends this with full security operations center capabilities including Co-Managed SIEM, log management, compliance reporting, and ongoing security posture assessments. Many customers combine both services for comprehensive coverage.
Does Binary Defense require you to replace your existing SIEM or EDR?
No. Binary Defense follows an Open XDR approach that integrates with your existing security tools. The service supports leading SIEM platforms like Microsoft Sentinel, Devo, and Splunk, and works with major EDR solutions including CrowdStrike Falcon, SentinelOne, and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. Binary Defense can also assist with SIEM migrations if a transition is needed.
Who founded Binary Defense?
Binary Defense was founded in 2014 by David Kennedy, a well-known figure in the cybersecurity community who also founded TrustedSec. Kennedy is a former U.S. Marine Corps cyber warfare operator, creator of the Social-Engineer Toolkit (SET) and other widely used open-source security tools, and a frequent keynote speaker at DEF CON, Black Hat, and other major conferences.