What are the main differences?

Security threats are a major concern for businesses as they can lead to a number of undesirable consequences, including customer data breaches or loss of sensitive data. To protect against these threats, many companies are turning to endpoint detection and response, or EDR, software.

SEE: 10 cybersecurity myths you shouldn't believe (TechRepublic Premium)

CrowdStrike and Trellix are two of the best EDR software options on the market. Both tools are experts at identifying and mitigating threats and vulnerabilities to keep your network and data secure. Learn what features each has to offer and how to decide between these two EDR solutions.

CrowdStrike vs Trellix: Feature Comparison

CrowdStrike is a cloud-based EDR tool that protects endpoints from critical vulnerabilities such as malware, phishing, ransomware, and DDoS attacks.

SEE: McAfee vs Kaspersky: Compare EDR software (TechRepublic)

Trellix, on the other hand, is a new offering born from the merger of McAfee and FireEye in 2022. It is a cloud-based solution that helps reduce alert noise by prioritizing threats, thus minimizing workflow disruption .

Below is a feature comparison of both EDR tools:

CrowdStrike Pricing vs Trellix

For pricing, Crowdstrike's EDR solution can be purchased through its Falcon Enterprise and Falcon Elite subscriptions. Below is an overview of pricing and included features for each CrowdStrike Falcon plan.

• Falcon Company: $184.99 per device; includes antivirus, EDR, XDR, and managed threat hunting.
• Elite Falcon: Contact sales to request a quote; includes EDR, XDR, integrated identity and endpoint protection, and threat hunting.

Fortunately, Falcon Enterprise has a free trial for businesses that don't want to spend on an initial subscription to test their service.

SEE: Carbon Black vs. CrowdStrike: EDR Software Comparison (TechRepublic)

Meanwhile, Trellix does not explicitly announce the price of its EDR solution. Right now, you can see your Trellix EDR Data Sheet or Request a Demo of your product.

If you are interested in Trellix, I recommend contacting their sales team for more pricing information.

CrowdStrike vs Trellix: Feature Comparison

Threat detection and mitigation

Trellix's endpoint solution features always-on data collection and a series of analytical engines during the detection stage to ensure that you are only informed about real threats or vulnerabilities. This is opposed to other EDR systems that generate too many alerts about unimportant events, wasting resources without any safety gain.

CrowdStrike also offers detection rates for known threats, and its machine learning-based detection model is well equipped to identify unknown threats and attacks.

Behavioral learning

Trellix provides behavior-based detection that enables a more consistent process for determining the risk of a threat, what stage it is in, and what response could be prioritized. This is in addition to Trellix EDR's AI-guided investigations that can create machine-generated insights into exploits or attacks for analysts within a company.

Meanwhile, CrowdStrike's event-based behavioral detection identifies attack indicators to prevent sophisticated security breaches without files or malware. Review previous threat logs to identify patterns that may indicate suspicious activity.

Single Agent Design

Trellix EDR has a single-agent architecture with built-in advanced defenses such as machine learning and threat containment.

CrowdStrike also features an integrated single agent design for all functions. In addition to this, it features a unique sensor design that makes your system lighter and reduces the CPU usage associated with running CrowdStrike.

Should your organization use CrowdStrike or Trellix?

Both solutions can help you protect your data and network while offering protection against a variety of threats and attacks. If you prefer a security solution that prioritizes saving time and resources in collecting vulnerability data, the alert noise reduction capabilities of Trellix EDR will benefit you most. Its AI-based insights may also be useful to security analysts at smaller companies who want to expand their skills.

On the other hand, CrowdStrike has a more complex system that is ideal for highly regulated industries or companies at higher risk of security attacks. It is an excellent option for companies with complex security needs. Companies operating in the financial, government, and healthcare sectors often rely on CrowdStrike to meet their enhanced security needs. CrowdStrike may also be a better choice if you have multiple endpoints to protect and want more flexibility in deployment.

Pros and cons of CrowdStrike

Advantages

• Easy to navigate user interface.
• Unified and fast investigations.
• Accessible free trial.

Cons

• Installation can be complex.

Pros and cons of Trellix

Advantages

• AI-guided investigations.
• Reliable performance.
• Emphasis on incident response.

Cons

Methodology

My comparison of CrowdStrike and Trellix EDR solutions involved making a direct comparison of their included features, pricing, and overall value.

In particular, I considered important EDR features such as threat detection, malware protection, behavioral learning, incident response, and investigation capabilities.

Our evaluation of both products involved extensive research into the official product documentation, included features, and potential use cases for different types of businesses. We also use third-party reviews and user comments from reputable review sites to supplement our findings.