How to Evaluate Cybersecurity Providers
A practical guide to evaluating security providers on detection scope, response commitments, reporting, and the fit with your compliance obligations.
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MDR vs. EDR vs. SOC
Three of the most confused terms in security buying, explained with guidance on which combination fits organizations of different sizes.
Key takeaways
EDR is technology; MDR is a service; SOC is the team doing the work.
Most mid-sized organizations benefit from MDR backed by a 24/7 SOC.
Coverage should extend beyond endpoints to identity, email, and cloud.
What to compare
When evaluating cybersecurity options, TEG recommends comparing providers on the following criteria rather than monthly price alone:
- Detection and response scope
- Response time commitments
- Coverage across endpoints, identity, cloud, and email
- Compliance reporting
- Staffing and SOC model
- Integration with existing tools
- Onboarding process
- Pricing per user or per endpoint
- Contract flexibility
- References and stability
Common problems this addresses
- Overlapping tools with coverage gaps
- No 24/7 monitoring or response
- Compliance and cyber insurance requirements
- Phishing and identity attacks
- Limited internal security staff
How TEG helps
TEG documents your requirements, identifies qualified providers, normalizes their proposals, and supports your team through selection and implementation. You receive a clear comparison and an advisor who remains accountable after the contract is signed.
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