Choosing an NDR solution isn’t as simple as picking the one with the most features. Most vendors say their products can detect threats, identify suspicious network activity, and help security teams respond faster. So, what actually makes one platform different from another?
The answer often comes down to what happens after an alert appears.
Can your team trace the attack, check if sensitive data was transferred, and identify affected systems? And can they do all this without jumping between multiple tools?
These are the things worth looking at when comparing network detection and response (NDR) solutions.
In this guide, we’ll look at 10 NDR platforms, what each one does well, and where it might fit into your security environment. We’ll also cover a few things you should check before making a decision.
How We Compared These NDR Solutions
We compared each tool’s detection, visibility, investigation, response, and integration features. The ranking is based on our assessment, not customer ratings.
Top 10 NDR Solutions at a Glance
| Rank | NDR solution | What it does best |
| 1 | Fidelis Network® | Deep investigation and sensitive-data visibility |
| 2 | ExtraHop RevealX | Real-time network visibility |
| 3 | NetWitness NDR | Network forensics |
| 4 | Vectra AI | Prioritizing suspicious activity |
| 5 | Corelight Open NDR | Threat hunting and custom detections |
| 6 | Darktrace / NETWORK | Adaptive behavioral detection |
| 7 | Fortinet FortiNDR | Fortinet ecosystem integration |
| 8 | Cisco Secure Network Analytics | Cisco network visibility |
| 9 | Stellar Cyber NDR | Security operations consolidation |
| 10 | Arista NDR | Visibility into unmanaged devices |
1. Fidelis Network®: Best for Investigating Attacks
Finding a suspicious connection is just the start. Additionally, you must ascertain what the attacker was able to access and whether any confidential information was taken.
Fidelis Network® helps you dig deeper. It uses Deep Session Inspection® (DSI) to analyze network sessions and extract 300+ metadata attributes. It can also detect unauthorized data transfers and connect network findings with endpoint, deception, threat intelligence, and response tools through Fidelis Elevate®.
Best for: Teams that need detailed investigations and sensitive-data visibility.
What to check: Traffic capacity, data retention, and extra costs.
2. ExtraHop RevealX: Best for Real-Time Visibility
Want to know what’s happening across your network quickly? ExtraHop RevealX helps teams spot suspicious activity by analyzing network traffic and behavior. It also offers encrypted-traffic visibility and optional packet forensics.
This can help large organizations spot issues and investigate them faster.
Best for: Teams that need quick network insights.
What to check: Packet forensics costs and how long data is stored.
3. NetWitness NDR: Best for Digging Deeper
An alert indicates that there may be a problem, but what actually transpired? NetWitness NDR provides an answer to that.
It combines network data, packet capture, and session reconstruction to investigate attacks.
Best for: Teams that investigate complex attacks.
What to check: How easily analysts can search traffic and examine evidence.
4. Vectra AI: Best for Prioritizing Alerts
It can be challenging to identify actual threats when there are too many alerts. Vectra AI helps teams identify and prioritize suspicious activity across supported network, identity, and cloud environments.
This helps analysts focus on the activity that needs attention first.
Best for: Teams that need help sorting important alerts from the rest.
What to check: How clearly it explains alerts and supports investigations.
5. Corelight Open NDR: Best for Threat Hunting
Some teams want to investigate threats their own way. Corelight Open NDR uses Zeek to provide network data and integrates with SIEM, EDR, and SOAR tools.
It gives experienced analysts more control, but making the most of it may require technical skills.
Best for: Teams with experienced threat hunters.
What to check: How much setup and custom work is needed.
6. Darktrace / NETWORK: Best for Detecting Unusual Activity
What’s normal on your network today might look different tomorrow. Darktrace and NETWORK identify typical behavior and flag anomalous activity that might be dangerous.
It can also help investigate alerts and automatically respond to suspicious activity.
Best for: Teams that want adaptive detection and automated investigation.
What to check: How it handles normal changes and controls automated responses.
7. Fortinet FortiNDR: Best for Fortinet Users
Already using Fortinet security products? FortiNDR could be a good fit.
To identify questionable activity, it employs behavioral analysis and machine learning. It can also work with other Fortinet tools to help coordinate responses.
Best for: Organizations already using Fortinet.
What to check: How well it works with tools from other vendors.
8. Cisco Secure Network Analytics: Best for Cisco Users
Cisco Secure Network Analytics looks for unusual network activity using network data and analytics. Without decrypting the encrypted data, it can identify threats.
It fits well with existing Cisco setups.
Best for: Cisco-based organizations.
What to check: Hardware support, setup requirements, and third-party integrations.
9. Stellar Cyber NDR: Best for Bringing Tools Together
Switching between security tools can slow investigations. Stellar Cyber integrates security data, analytics, and response tools by combining NDR with a more comprehensive Open XDR platform.
This helps teams investigate activity from different sources in one place.
Best for: Teams looking to bring their security tools together.
What to check: Whether its network investigation features meet your needs.
10. Arista NDR: Best for Unmanaged Devices
Some devices, such as IoT and OT systems, can’t run endpoint security software. Arista NDR helps teams monitor activity across users, devices, and applications to spot suspicious behavior, including activity involving these devices.
Best for: Organizations with large networks and many unmanaged devices.
What to check: Sensor setup, response integrations, and investigation tools.
Which NDR Solution Makes the Most Sense for Your Team?
It depends on your needs.
| If you need… | Consider… |
| Detailed investigations and network forensics | Fidelis Network®, NetWitness, ExtraHop |
| Visibility into sensitive-data transfers | Fidelis Network® |
| Better alert prioritization | Vectra AI, Darktrace |
| Flexible threat hunting | Corelight |
| Integration with existing Fortinet products | FortiNDR |
| Integration with Cisco infrastructure | Cisco Secure Network Analytics |
| A broader security operations platform | Stellar Cyber |
| Visibility into unmanaged and IoT devices | Arista NDR, Fidelis Network® |
Make use of this as a reference. Your infrastructure, team skills, needs, and budget will all influence your decision.
Conclusion
Choosing an NDR tool is about more than detection. It’s about what your team can do with it. Can analysts investigate alerts, find evidence, and respond without switching between tools?
Fidelis Network® suits teams needing detailed investigations and sensitive-data visibility. For threat hunting, alert prioritization, or current integrations, other tools might be more appropriate.
To determine which of the shortlisted products best suits your SOC, test them using actual attack scenarios.