ContraForce vs Huntress: Complete Comparison for MSPs

Compare Microsoft security delivery automation with a managed endpoint security service.

Reviewed by ContraForce team

Executive Summary

Managing security operations across multiple client environments is complex. Two platforms dominate the MSP security landscape: Huntress (managed EDR) and ContraForce (AI-powered security operations platform). This guide cuts through the marketing noise to help you choose the right tool for your organization.

The Bottom Line: Huntress excels at endpoint detection and threat hunting with human-powered analysis. ContraForce delivers broader coverage by automating AI-driven triage, investigation, and response across Microsoft Sentinel (SIEM) and Defender XDR (threat intelligence), enabling MSPs to build comprehensive security operations centers.

Quick Comparison Table

What Is ContraForce?

ContraForce is an Agentic Security Delivery Platform for Microsoft Security Operations. It's a Security Services Delivery Platform (SDP) purpose-built for MSPs and MSSPs.

Key Capabilities:

• AI-Powered Triage & Investigation: Automatically correlates alerts across Microsoft Sentinel and Defender XDR, so correlated incidents reach an analyst as one ticket rather than many
• Gamebook Automation: Pre-built, customizable response workflows that execute security operations without manual intervention
• Multi-Tenant Architecture: Manage multiple clients from a single unified platform
• tenant-specific readiness validation: Minimal infrastructure overhead; connects directly to existing Microsoft security stack
• response performance measured in a buyer-defined proof of value: Reduce mean time to respond (MTTR) from hours to minutes
• Cost Efficiency: a buyer-measured change in analyst-owned ticket volume compared to traditional SOC models
• Microsoft ISV Recognition: Named Microsoft Security ISV of the Year 2024
• Compliance Ready: for enterprise clients

Who It's For:

• MSPs managing Microsoft environments (Sentinel + Defender customers)
• Organizations building automated security operations centers
• Service providers needing to scale security services profitably
• Teams overwhelmed by security alert fatigue

What Is Huntress?

Huntress is a managed EDR platform that combines automated endpoint monitoring with human-powered threat hunting.

Key Capabilities:

• Human Threat Hunting: Expert analysts investigate suspicious activity 24/7
• Ransomware & Malware Focus: Specialized detection for common MSP threats
• Rapid Response: Huntress SOC team responds to detections within service SLA
• RMM/PSA Integration: Native integrations with ConnectWise, Datto, Kaseya
• Neighborhood Watch Program: Community-driven threat intelligence sharing among MSP customers
• Endpoint Detection & Response: Comprehensive EDR with behavioral analysis
• Easy Deployment: Agent-based approach familiar to most MSPs

Who It's For:

• MSPs prioritizing endpoint security
• Organizations wanting managed threat hunting services
• SMBs needing 24/7 security monitoring without internal SOC
• Service providers integrating security into RMM workflows

Key Differences: Platform Architecture

ContraForce: Full Security Operations Platform

ContraForce automates security across an entire Microsoft security ecosystem:

• SIEM Layer: Integrates with Microsoft Sentinel for comprehensive log aggregation, correlation, and detection engineering
• XDR Layer: Automates Defender XDR (endpoints, email, cloud, identity) to correlate detections across multiple attack vectors
• Response Layer: Gamebook automation executes on detections, quarantining files, disabling accounts, or escalating to humans
• Scale Model: One instance manages hundreds or thousands of clients with AI-powered normalization and tuning

Illustrative workflow: A malicious-email alert can trigger evidence collection across Sentinel and Defender, stop at a configured approval before isolation, and write the resulting actions to the service record. Actual elapsed time depends on evidence, integrations, and approval policy.

Huntress: Managed Endpoint Detection & Response

Huntress focuses specifically on endpoint security and threat hunting:

• Endpoint Agent: Deployed to all client devices for behavioral monitoring
• Human Analysis: Huntress analysts review alerts and conduct threat hunts
• EDR Response: Terminate processes, kill connections, retrieve forensic data
• Integration Points: Connects to RMM/PSA for ticket creation and remediation
• Scale Model: Huntress SOC scales with customer base; human capacity limits how many accounts they can monitor

Use Case Example: Huntress agent detects suspicious PowerShell execution → Alert created → Huntress analyst reviews in context of endpoint behavior → Creates ticket in ConnectWise for MSP → MSP remediates. Total resolution time: tenant-specific validation to several hours depending on analyst availability.

Feature-by-Feature Breakdown

Detection Engineering

ContraForce: Gamebook framework lets you build reusable detection logic. Change once, apply to all clients. AI learns and tunes rules automatically per environment. Update detection globally in seconds.

Huntress: Huntress-maintained detection logic. Limited customization. Rules applied uniformly across customer base.

Threat Hunting

ContraForce: AI-powered anomaly detection + analyst-initiated hunts against Sentinel data. Proactive threat research across SIEM + XDR. Faster data context.

Huntress: Human threat hunting as core service. Analysts proactively search for indicators of compromise (IoCs). High-touch, expert-driven.

Compliance & Audit

ContraForce: built for enterprise compliance requirements. Audit logs for every action. Ideal for highly regulated clients.

Huntress: Multiple. Strong compliance posture. Clear audit trails for incident investigation.

Integration Ecosystem

ContraForce:

• Native: Microsoft Sentinel, Defender XDR, Entra ID
• SIEM-first architecture
• Connects to any tool that feeds into Sentinel

Huntress:

• Native: ConnectWise Manage, Datto RMM, Kaseya VSA
• EDR-first architecture
• Integrates with ticketing systems and RMM platforms

User Experience

ContraForce: Console dashboard showing AI confidence scores, Gamebook execution status, and alert context. Learn from AI reasoning. Built for security analysts and SOC managers.

Huntress: Intuitive dashboard showing endpoint status, threat indicators, analyst notes. Built for MSP technicians and security analysts.

Ideal Customer Profiles

Choose ContraForce If You:

• Manage multiple customers on Microsoft Sentinel + Defender XDR
• Want to scale security operations without hiring more analysts
• Need SIEM-level visibility alongside endpoint detection
• Prioritize automated response and MTTR reduction
• Are building a security-as-a-service (SECaaS) offering
• Work with enterprises requiring compliance
• Want to reduce client security costs by 80%+ (and pass savings or upsell value)
• Serve customers globally (GEO-diverse) with Microsoft-centric stacks

Choose Huntress If You:

• Focus primarily on endpoint security
• Want human threat hunting as a differentiator
• Prefer to integrate with your existing RMM/PSA stack
• Have a smaller client base (under 50 customers)
• Need rapid deployment with minimal change management
• Want a managed service partner to handle 24/7 SOC duties
• Serve SMB/mid-market customers who don't have mature SIEM programs
• Prioritize simplicity over customization

Head-to-Head Scenarios

Scenario 1: Ransomware Attack (Behavioral)

Huntress Win: Detects unusual file encryption patterns. Analyst immediately recognizes ransomware behavior. Advises MSP to isolate network segment. Fast containment.

ContraForce Position: Detects encryption behavior + correlates with lateral movement in Sentinel + mail exfiltration in Defender. Gamebook isolates affected systems and disables user accounts automatically. Faster overall response.

Scenario 2: Data Exfiltration via Cloud

ContraForce Win: Detects unusual cloud upload behavior (Defender XDR) + correlates with VPN logs (Sentinel) + identifies compromised credentials. Gamebook resets password and disables legacy auth. Prevention-focused.

Huntress Position: May not detect cloud exfiltration unless additional tools (like cloud DLP) are integrated. Endpoint-level view is incomplete.

Scenario 3: 24/7 Support & Escalation

Huntress Win: Guaranteed human analyst on-call 24/7. Knows your environment. Escalates intelligently. Familiar face.

ContraForce Position: AI runs 24/7. Escalates to humans (if available) only when needed. No waiting for analyst; decisions made in seconds.

Pricing & ROI Analysis

ContraForce Pricing Model

ContraForce uses a published monthly plan plus a flat rate per incident processed by a Security Delivery Agent. Plans step up by workspace allowance. Model the monthly plan, expected incident volume, Microsoft licensing, and internal analyst cost. Do not assume a margin or payback period without using the provider's own service baseline.

Huntress Pricing Model

Huntress packaging and partner terms can change. Request a current written quote that includes endpoint scope, managed services, minimums, implementation, and contract term. Compare it with ContraForce using the same customer portfolio and desired service boundary.

• Payback Period: 6–12 months

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can ContraForce replace Huntress?

Short Answer: For most MSPs managing Microsoft environments, yes, ContraForce provides broader coverage. However, if your MSP specializes in non-Microsoft endpoints (Macs, Linux, third-party EDR), Huntress remains the better endpoint-focused choice.

Technical Detail: ContraForce automates SIEM + XDR across Microsoft's stack. Huntress excels at behavioral endpoint detection. If your clients use both, you might deploy both (ContraForce for server/cloud/email, Huntress for sensitive endpoints).

2. Does ContraForce require Microsoft Sentinel?

Short Answer: Yes. ContraForce is purpose-built for Sentinel + Defender XDR environments. If a client doesn't have Sentinel, ContraForce isn't the right fit.

Implication for MSPs: Recommend Sentinel to prospects. Sentinel licensing ($50–$400/GB ingested per month) is lower than traditional SIEM but required.

3. How quickly can we deploy ContraForce?

Answer: after tenant-specific access and signal validation. ContraForce connects to existing Sentinel and Defender instances with no endpoint agents to install. ContraForce hosts the platform by default, and a self-hosted option is available.

Why It Matters: Huntress typically requires 1–2 weeks to deploy agents across an environment. ContraForce is plug-and-play.

4. Is Huntress better for ransomware detection than ContraForce?

Nuanced Answer: Both detect ransomware, but differently:

• Huntress: Behavioral anomalies (file creation patterns, encryption activity). Human analysts confirm. Slower but high-confidence.
• ContraForce: Combines endpoint behavior (Defender) + network signals (Sentinel) + threat intelligence (XDR). Faster escalation to containment. Automated response.

For MSPs: ContraForce contains ransomware faster (automated response). Huntress provides human validation.

5. Can we use ContraForce with non-Microsoft endpoints?

Answer: Not directly. ContraForce automates Defender XDR (Microsoft endpoints) and Sentinel. If you have non-Microsoft endpoints, integrate their logs into Sentinel, and ContraForce can correlate.

Alternative: Use ContraForce for Microsoft stack + Huntress for heterogeneous endpoints. Both together = comprehensive coverage.

6. How does ContraForce handle false positives?

Answer: AI correlation dramatically reduces noise. Typical false positive reduction: 85 to 90%. Remaining alerts are genuine threats or require tuning (ContraForce suggests tuning via feedback).

Example: Instead of 10 alerts/day per client, reduce to 1–2 high-confidence alerts. Analysts focus on real threats.

7. Is Huntress cheaper than ContraForce?

Depends on Scenario:

• Small MSP (100 clients, 2K endpoints total): Huntress ~$70K/year. ContraForce: a monthly plan plus per-incident processing, with no per-endpoint charges. Model both at your volume.
• Large MSP (1,000 clients, 50K endpoints total): Huntress ~$2M/year. ContraForce: plan fee plus per-incident processing, unaffected by endpoint count. Compare at your incident volume.

Key Difference: Huntress scales with endpoint count. ContraForce scales with workspaces and incidents processed, not endpoints.

8. What's ContraForce's incident response workflow?

Answer: Gamebook-driven automation:

1. Alert detected in Sentinel/Defender
2. ContraForce AI correlates context
3. If confidence > threshold: Execute Gamebook (isolate system, reset credentials, notify analyst)
4. If confidence borderline: Escalate with full context for analyst review
5. Analyst confirms or overrides automation

Result: response performance measured in a buyer-defined proof of value for eligible incidents, based on ContraForce product telemetry.

9. Does Huntress integrate with Sentinel?

Answer: Not natively. Huntress data doesn't feed into Sentinel. However, you can ingest Huntress logs into Sentinel (via API or log forwarding) and use ContraForce to correlate.

Implication: Using both requires extra configuration but can provide endpoint + SIEM visibility.

10. How do we choose between them for our MSP?

Decision Tree:

Start Here: Does your client base use Microsoft Sentinel + Defender XDR?

• Yes → ContraForce is the primary choice. Add Huntress for non-Microsoft endpoints.
• No → Huntress is better. Recommend Sentinel to prospects.

Next Question: Do you want to automate security operations or outsource threat hunting?

• Automate → ContraForce. Build SECaaS offerings with higher margins.
• Outsource → Huntress. Leverage their SOC; focus on sales/support.

Final Question: What's your team's capacity and expertise?

• Limited analysts, need scale → ContraForce. AI does the work.
• Experienced analysts, want human-powered → Huntress. Enhance your team.

11. Can we use both ContraForce and Huntress together?

Answer: Yes, and recommended for comprehensive coverage:

• ContraForce: Automates SIEM + XDR, automates response across Microsoft stack
• Huntress: Provides human threat hunting, EDR expertise, 24/7 SOC backup

Typical Deployment: Large MSPs using both for redundancy and specialization. Cost: Huntress per endpoint + ContraForce monthly plan plus per-incident processing. Total cost still lower than building 24/7 SOC in-house.

12. What's the learning curve for ContraForce?

Answer: Minimal for Sentinel users. If your team knows KQL (Kusto Query Language) and Sentinel, ContraForce is intuitive.

For New Users: 1–2 weeks of training. ContraForce provides workflows and documentation.

Huntress Learning Curve: Also minimal. Intuitive interface for RMM-familiar MSP technicians.

The Verdict: Which Should You Choose?

Choose ContraForce If:

You manage primarily Microsoft environments (Sentinel + Defender) You want to scale security operations without hiring more analysts You prioritize automation, MTTR reduction, and cost efficiency You're building a security-as-a-service (SECaaS) offering Your clients span geographies (U.S., Europe, APAC) and need 24/7 automated response You want to differentiate with AI-powered threat intelligence

Bottom Line: ContraForce is the future of MSP security operations. It automates what Huntress requires humans to do, enabling you to scale profitably.

Choose Huntress If:

You specialize in endpoint security Your clients value human threat hunting and expert analysis You work primarily with SMBs (not enterprises) You want a managed service partner to handle 24/7 SOC duties Your infrastructure is RMM/PSA-centric, not Sentinel-centric You prefer simplicity over customization

Bottom Line: Huntress is the proven managed EDR choice. It's familiar, reliable, and works well for endpoint-focused security.

Conclusion

ContraForce and Huntress serve different needs in the MSP security landscape:

• ContraForce is the Agentic Security Delivery Platform for MSPs building comprehensive, automated security operations across the Microsoft stack.
• Huntress is the managed EDR platform for MSPs prioritizing human-powered threat hunting and endpoint security.

The choice depends on your architecture, team, and business model. For MSPs managing Sentinel + Defender XDR environments and looking to scale profitably, ContraForce delivers response performance measured in a buyer-defined proof of value, a buyer-measured change in analyst-owned ticket volume, and the ability to serve hundreds of clients with one team. For MSPs focused on endpoint security and human expertise, Huntress remains the gold standard.

For most forward-looking MSPs: Start with ContraForce (if Sentinel-ready) to automate the bulk of security operations. Add Huntress if you need endpoint-specific threat hunting or non-Microsoft device coverage.

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