Huntress and Fortress are not direct competitors — they operate on fundamentally different models. Huntress is an endpoint MDR product sold through MSPs. Fortress is a full-service MSSP that engages directly with clients across network infrastructure, penetration testing, and compliance. Understanding the distinction helps you build the right coverage.
This comparison is based on publicly available information about Huntress’s service offerings. For the most current details, consult Huntress’s official documentation.
Two different delivery models with different scopes
A NYC-based full-service MSSP that engages directly with clients. Fortress handles managed network infrastructure, manual penetration testing, and compliance advisory under one engagement — no MSP intermediary.
An endpoint MDR product designed to be sold through MSPs to their SMB clients. Huntress excels at endpoint threat detection, ransomware canaries, and managed AV/EDR on Windows systems — all delivered through the MSP channel.
Different models, different buyers. Huntress is primarily a tool for MSPs to strengthen their endpoint service stack. If you are an organization evaluating direct security providers, Huntress is not typically a direct-to-client option. Fortress engages directly with organizations as their MSSP.
What each provider includes in their core service
| Capability | Fortress | Huntress | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct Client Engagement | Huntress is sold through MSP intermediaries, not directly to end clients | ||
| Managed Network Infrastructure | Huntress covers endpoints only; no network device management | ||
| Penetration Testing | Conducted hands-on by senior Fortress practitioners; not a Huntress capability, requires a separate provider | ||
| Compliance Advisory (SOC 2, PCI, NYDFS) | Huntress provides no compliance advisory or audit support | ||
| Endpoint Detection & Response | Core Huntress capability: managed AV/EDR on Windows endpoints | ||
| Ransomware Canaries | Huntress deploys canary files to detect ransomware activity early | ||
| Endpoint Threat Hunting | Huntress analysts actively hunt for threats on monitored endpoints | ||
| Web Application Security | Fortress conducts web app penetration tests; Huntress covers only endpoints | ||
| Network-Level Threat Detection | Huntress does not monitor network traffic or network device logs |
Huntress is sold through MSP intermediaries, not directly to end clients
Huntress covers endpoints only; no network device management
Conducted hands-on by senior Fortress practitioners; not a Huntress capability, requires a separate provider
Huntress provides no compliance advisory or audit support
Core Huntress capability: managed AV/EDR on Windows endpoints
Huntress deploys canary files to detect ransomware activity early
Huntress analysts actively hunt for threats on monitored endpoints
Fortress conducts web app penetration tests; Huntress covers only endpoints
Huntress does not monitor network traffic or network device logs
Detailed differences across key service dimensions
| Category | Fortress MSSP | Huntress |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery Model | Direct engagement with end clients. No MSP intermediary. Senior practitioners work directly with your team. | Sold through MSPs who manage the product on behalf of their SMB clients. End clients do not have a direct Huntress relationship. |
| Scope | Full-service MSSP: managed network infrastructure, penetration testing, compliance advisory, 24/7 monitoring across the network stack. | Endpoint-focused MDR product: managed AV/EDR, ransomware canaries, threat hunting on Windows endpoints. Network and compliance are out of scope. |
| Penetration Testing | Experienced practitioners conduct network and web application penetration tests. Core service, not an add-on. | Not offered. Huntress monitors for active threats; it does not simulate attacks or identify vulnerabilities through testing. |
| Network Coverage | Active management of firewalls, switches, routers, and network architecture. Network-level monitoring and alerting. | Endpoint-only coverage. Network device management, firewall rules, and network-level detection are outside Huntress's scope. |
| Compliance Support | Hands-on advisory for SOC 2, PCI DSS, NYDFS, and related frameworks. Gap assessments, control mapping, and audit preparation. | No compliance advisory. Huntress data may appear as evidence in certain controls but does not include advisory, gap analysis, or audit support. |
| Pricing Model | $3,000–$8,500/mo for managed services; pentests from $8,000. Direct client pricing. | Managed EDR lists at $8.99/endpoint/month with a 50-endpoint minimum (huntress.com/pricing, June 2026). MSPs receive unpublished partner discounts and bundle the cost into their own billing, so end clients do not see a separate Huntress line item. |
| Target Customer | Mid-market organizations with 50–2,000 employees needing full-scope security operations, particularly in the NYC metro area. | SMBs served by MSPs. Designed for environments where an MSP manages all IT and security on behalf of small clients. |
| Practitioner Access | Direct access to senior practitioners. Clients communicate with the people doing the work. | Threat hunting analysts operate within the Huntress platform. Client interaction typically flows through the MSP account manager, not Huntress directly. |
Direct engagement with end clients. No MSP intermediary. Senior practitioners work directly with your team.
Sold through MSPs who manage the product on behalf of their SMB clients. End clients do not have a direct Huntress relationship.
Full-service MSSP: managed network infrastructure, penetration testing, compliance advisory, 24/7 monitoring across the network stack.
Endpoint-focused MDR product: managed AV/EDR, ransomware canaries, threat hunting on Windows endpoints. Network and compliance are out of scope.
Experienced practitioners conduct network and web application penetration tests. Core service, not an add-on.
Not offered. Huntress monitors for active threats; it does not simulate attacks or identify vulnerabilities through testing.
Active management of firewalls, switches, routers, and network architecture. Network-level monitoring and alerting.
Endpoint-only coverage. Network device management, firewall rules, and network-level detection are outside Huntress's scope.
Hands-on advisory for SOC 2, PCI DSS, NYDFS, and related frameworks. Gap assessments, control mapping, and audit preparation.
No compliance advisory. Huntress data may appear as evidence in certain controls but does not include advisory, gap analysis, or audit support.
$3,000–$8,500/mo for managed services; pentests from $8,000. Direct client pricing.
Managed EDR lists at $8.99/endpoint/month with a 50-endpoint minimum (huntress.com/pricing, June 2026). MSPs receive unpublished partner discounts and bundle the cost into their own billing, so end clients do not see a separate Huntress line item.
Mid-market organizations with 50–2,000 employees needing full-scope security operations, particularly in the NYC metro area.
SMBs served by MSPs. Designed for environments where an MSP manages all IT and security on behalf of small clients.
Direct access to senior practitioners. Clients communicate with the people doing the work.
Threat hunting analysts operate within the Huntress platform. Client interaction typically flows through the MSP account manager, not Huntress directly.
These services can coexist. An MSP that uses Huntress for endpoint coverage can still engage Fortress for network infrastructure management, penetration testing, and compliance advisory on behalf of their clients. The two address different layers of the security stack.
Organizations that rely solely on an endpoint MDR product often find gaps when network-level threats, compliance audits, or penetration testing requirements emerge.
Endpoint MDR does not monitor network traffic, lateral movement at the network layer, or threats targeting network devices (switches, routers, firewalls). Network-level attacks can bypass endpoint detection entirely.
Huntress monitors for active threats but does not proactively test for vulnerabilities. Compliance frameworks require periodic pen tests, and organizations using Huntress still need a separate provider for this.
PCI DSS, SOC 2, NYDFS, and other frameworks require gap assessments, control mapping, policy development, and audit preparation. Endpoint MDR data alone does not satisfy compliance advisory requirements.
Huntress covers Windows endpoints. Web application vulnerabilities — SQL injection, XSS, authentication flaws — are not detected by endpoint MDR and require dedicated web application security testing.
Firewall rule sprawl, misconfigured network segmentation, and insecure cloud configurations are not detected by endpoint MDR. These require dedicated infrastructure review and management.
Organizations using Huntress through an MSP do not have a direct relationship with Huntress. If the MSP relationship changes, endpoint coverage continuity depends on the MSP's actions.
Huntress is an endpoint MDR product focused on managed antivirus/EDR, ransomware canaries, and threat hunting on Windows endpoints. It is sold through Managed Service Providers (MSPs) who bundle it into their own service offerings. A full-service MSSP like Fortress provides a broader scope: managed network infrastructure, penetration testing, compliance advisory, and security operations — delivered directly to the end client with no intermediary MSP layer.
No. Huntress is an endpoint-focused product that covers managed AV/EDR, ransomware detection, and threat hunting on endpoints. It does not provide managed network infrastructure, active penetration testing, compliance advisory, or broad security operations management. An MSSP provides a wider range of services that Huntress does not attempt to replicate. Many MSPs that resell Huntress still engage an MSSP for network-level and compliance work.
Yes. Huntress does not conduct penetration tests. It monitors endpoints for signs of compromise. Many compliance frameworks — PCI DSS, SOC 2, NYDFS — require periodic penetration tests as a separate engagement. Having Huntress deployed does not satisfy a penetration testing requirement. Organizations using Huntress for endpoint coverage still need to separately source penetration testing from a qualified provider.
Huntress is primarily sold through MSPs (Managed Service Providers), not directly to end customers. MSPs deploy Huntress as part of their managed service stack and manage it on behalf of their SMB clients. If you are an end-customer evaluating security providers, you would typically encounter Huntress as a component of an MSP's offering rather than as a standalone direct vendor relationship. Fortress MSSP engages directly with end clients.
Huntress focuses exclusively on endpoint security: managed AV/EDR, ransomware canaries, threat hunting on Windows endpoints. It does not cover network infrastructure management, firewall or switch configuration, web application security, penetration testing, compliance advisory, network-level threat detection, or cloud infrastructure monitoring. Organizations with needs in these areas require additional services beyond what Huntress provides.
If your organization needs managed network infrastructure, penetration testing, or compliance advisory — services that endpoint MDR products do not provide — our complimentary risk assessment maps exactly what your environment needs.