Crowdstrike vs. Carbon Black: 4 Key Differences and How to Choose

Crowdstrike vs. Carbon Black: 4 Key Differences

1. Core Offerings and Packages

In terms of core offerings, both CrowdStrike and Carbon Black provide a comparable endpoint security solution. However, there are some key differences in their approaches and features.

CrowdStrike’s Falcon platform offers capabilities including next-generation antivirus (NGAV), endpoint detection and response (EDR), managed threat hunting, and threat intelligence. The platform is lightweight, with a single agent architecture that simplifies management and reduces system impact.

VMware Carbon Black’s Predictive Security Cloud platform provides a unified suite of solutions that includes NGAV, EDR, and cloud-native endpoint protection. It uses analytics and machine learning to predict and prevent threats, with monitoring and recording of endpoint activity.

2. Performance

CrowdStrike’s Falcon platform is known for its speed and accuracy in detecting and preventing threats. It has been recognized in multiple industry reports for its high detection rates.

VMware Carbon Black’s Predictive Security Cloud platform focuses on visibility and analytics, which enable it to detect and respond to threats. It provides context on endpoint activity, supporting threat detection and response.

3. Pricing and Packages

CrowdStrike offers four subscription tiers—Go, Pro, Enterprise, and Complete—with pricing based on the tier and the number of endpoints protected. Each package includes a range of features, with additional options available as add-ons. The entry-level Go package has NGAV and basic device controls.

VMware Carbon Black offers a more straightforward pricing model, with a single price per endpoint that includes all features.

4. User Interface and Experience

Both CrowdStrike and Carbon Black are designed for usability, but there are some differences in their interfaces and user experiences.

CrowdStrike’s Falcon platform has a simple interface. It provides a unified view of security activities, with clear visuals and controls.

VMware Carbon Black’s Predictive Security Cloud platform offers a more detailed, data-driven interface. It provides visibility into various types of endpoint activity, with advanced analytics and customizable dashboards, which can be more difficult for inexperienced users to learn.

Related content: Read our guide to endpoint security management

CrowdStrike Pros and Cons

Pros of CrowdStrike

CrowdStrike has an easy-to-use interface, and its cloud-native architecture means that it can scale and adapt to an organization’s needs.

In addition, CrowdStrike has AI-driven threat detection, which enables real-time protection, rapid identification and response to advanced threats. It provides threat intelligence reports to help teams understand the nature of attacks and devise effective countermeasures.

Cons of CrowdStrike

CrowdStrike is not without its downsides. One notable issue is the cost. The platform’s features and capabilities come with a high price tag, which may not be feasible for smaller organizations with limited budgets.

Moreover, the platform’s AI-driven threat detection can sometimes result in false positives. This means that harmless activities can occasionally be flagged as potential threats, leading to unnecessary investigations.

VMware Carbon Black Pros and Cons

Pros of VMware Carbon Black

VMware Carbon Black offers the Predictive Security Cloud, which ingests unfiltered data from an environment, analyzes them, and can identify patterns and predict threats before they occur. This can help prevent sophisticated attacks.

Additionally, VMware Carbon Black provides customization capabilities. It allows teams to create tailored policies and rules.

Cons of VMware Carbon Black

However, VMware Carbon Black also has its cons. The platform can be complex to navigate, particularly for those unfamiliar with endpoint security. Some users note that Carbon Black’s interface can seem cluttered and confusing.

Also, like CrowdStrike, VMware Carbon Black can be quite expensive. Its features and predictive capabilities come at a cost, which may not be feasible for all businesses.

Crowdstrike vs. Carbon Black: How to Choose?

Here are some factors to consider when choosing between Crowdstrike and Carbon Black:

• Consider your organization’s budget: If cost is a significant concern, neither of these platforms may be the best choice. However, if you have a larger budget, you could consider which platform offers the best value for your money.
• Think about your team’s expertise: If your team is less experienced with endpoint security, CrowdStrike’s user-focused interface may be more suitable. On the other hand, if your team has relevant experience, they might appreciate the greater customization options and predictive capabilities offered by VMware Carbon Black.
• Consider the type of threats your organization faces: If you frequently deal with advanced persistent threats (APTs), CrowdStrike’s real-time protection and AI-driven threat detection might be beneficial. If you face a wider range of threats, especially if you are concerned about zero-day attacks, Carbon Black’s predictive security cloud could be more effective.

Cynet: Ultimate Crowdstrike and Carbon Black Alternative

Cynet is a holistic security solution that protects against threats to endpoint security and across your network. Cynet provides tools you can use to centrally manage endpoint security across the enterprise.

Cynet’s intelligent technologies can help you detect attacks by correlating information from endpoints, network analytics and behavioral analytics with almost no false positives. 

With Cynet, you can proactively monitor entire internal environments, including endpoints, network, files, and hosts. This can help you reduce attack surfaces and the likelihood of multiple attacks. 

Cynet provides cutting edge EDR capabilities:

• Advanced endpoint threat detection—full visibility and predicts how an attacker might operate, based on continuous monitoring of endpoints and behavioral analysis.
• Investigation and validation—search and review historic or current incident data on endpoints, investigate threats, and validate alerts. This allows you to confirm the threat before responding to it, reducing dwell-time and performing faster remediation.
• Rapid deployment and response—deploy across thousands of endpoints within two hours. You can then use it to perform automatic or manual remediation of threats on the endpoints, disrupt malicious activity and minimize damage caused by attacks.

Learn more about our EDR security capabilities.

In addition, Cynet provides the following endpoint protection capabilities:

• NGAV—providing automated prevention and termination of malware, exploits, Macros, LOLBins, and malicious scripts with machine learning based analysis.
• User Behavioral Analytics (UBA)—detecting and preventing attacks using compromised credentials through the use of behavioral baselines and signatures.
• Deception technology—planting fake credentials, files and connections to lure and trap attackers, mitigating damage and providing the opportunity to learn from attacker activity.
• Monitoring and control—providing asset management, vulnerability assessments and application control with continuous monitoring and log collection.
• Response orchestration—providing manual and automated remediation for files, users, hosts and networks customized with user-created scripts.

Learn more about the Cynet cybersecurity platform.