CISO Tribune

Vendor comparison · 2 companies

Expel vs Guardz

Expel sells managed detection and response (MDR) delivered through its Workbench platform, with 24x7 human analysts working in the security tools a customer already has. Guardz sells an MSP-ready security platform that brings identity, endpoint, email, data, awareness, and exposure protection together. CISO Tribune files both under MDR and managed SOC. This page sets the two records side by side: what each sells, where it is based, who owns and funds it, the customers it names and its recent news, each fact numbered to its source.

Change the companies

Up to four companies side by side.

  • Expel
  • Guardz
Expel vs Guardz: Products, Customers and Funding Compared
ExpelExpel sells managed detection and response (MDR) delivered through its Workbench platform, with 24x7 human analysts working in the security tools a customer already has.expel.comGuardzGuardz sells an MSP-ready security platform that brings identity, endpoint, email, data, awareness, and exposure protection together.guardz.com
What it sells
  • Expel MDR[5][7]A managed detection and response service that works with the security tools a customer already has.
  • Ruxie[3][5]Expel's AI and automation engine used in its MDR service.
  • Email Security[2][8]An API-based and AI-native engine to prevent credential theft, ransomware, and impersonation threats.
  • Security Awareness Training[2][4][10]Pre-scheduled security awareness training that alters behavior.
  • Phishing Simulation[14]AI-generated phishing attacks tailored by tone, industry, and language.
Categories
Headquarters
Not stated on its pagesNot stated on its pages
Founded
Not stated on its pagesNot stated on its pages
Ownership and funding
Not stated on its pagesPrivately held[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]
Named customers
Not stated on its pagesNot stated on its pages
Recent news
Not stated on its pages
  • November 2, 2026Guardz added browser protection from Palo Alto Networks' Prisma Browser for Business to its security platform for managed service providers serving small businesses.[17]
  • March 3, 2026Guardz announced a strategic partnership with FoxPointe Solutions, a cybersecurity advisory firm focused on governance, risk management and virtual CISO services.[18]
G2 and Gartner Peer Insights
  • G2: listed, seen November 3, 2026[4]
  • Gartner Peer Insights: Not stated on its pages
  • G2: listed, seen November 3, 2026[13]
  • Gartner Peer Insights: Not stated on its pages
Who it fits
Not written yetFrom its own pages, Guardz sells mainly to MSPs, and describes its platform as built for them. Guardz says small businesses find it difficult to keep up with their external posture. Guardz says MSPs can use a prospecting tool to attract new clients by showing the extent of SMEs' exposure. Guardz says even non-security experts can respond to cyber events. Guardz says it gives clients visibility and control with configurable admin roles.
Last verified
September 27, 2026September 30, 2026

Where they overlap

  • MDR and managed SOC is the primary category of both Expel and Guardz.

Where they differ, field by field

  • Guardz is also filed under Identity threat detection and response, EDR and XDR and Email security.
  • Expel lists Expel MDR and Ruxie. Guardz lists Email Security, Security Awareness Training and Phishing Simulation.
  • Guardz is privately held.

How they differ

CISO Tribune files both Expel and Guardz under MDR and managed SOC as the primary category. Expel sells Expel MDR, a managed detection and response service that works with the security tools a customer already has, delivered through its Workbench platform with 24x7 analysts. Expel also offers email threat detection and response, and it describes MDR coverage of the AI attack surface. Expel names Microsoft, AWS, Google Cloud, CrowdStrike, Okta and Wiz among its more than 160 technology integrations.

Guardz sells an MSP-ready security platform that brings identity, endpoint, email, data, awareness, and exposure protection together. CISO Tribune also files Guardz under identity threat detection and response, EDR and XDR, and email security. Guardz offers AI-native EDR with SentinelOne embedded, and its email security is powered by Check Point Harmony. It also sells security awareness training and phishing simulation. Guardz builds its platform for MSPs, which it lets manage the security of multiple clients centrally.

Both companies pair automation with human analysts: Expel says its AI engine Ruxie gathers evidence while analysts make the critical calls, and Guardz says AI runs response playbooks while 24/7 MDR experts handle cases needing human investigation. Guardz is privately held. On November 2, 2026, Guardz added browser protection from Palo Alto Networks' Prisma Browser for Business to its platform. On March 3, 2026, Guardz announced a partnership with FoxPointe Solutions, a cybersecurity advisory firm.

What it sells: Expel

What Expel MDR does[5][7]
Expel MDR provides 24x7 SOC monitoring, with analysts who investigate and respond. Expel says it connects to an existing stack and correlates threats across endpoint, identity, cloud, network, SaaS and more. Expel states a 14-minute mean time to remediate.
What Ruxie does[3][5]
Expel says Ruxie gathers evidence, enriches alerts and matches patterns in seconds. Expel analysts then investigate and make the critical calls.

What it sells: Guardz

What Email Security does[2][8]
Guardz email protection uses an API-based and AI-native engine to prevent credential theft, ransomware, and impersonation threats. Check Point Harmony powers Guardz Email Security.
What Security Awareness Training does[2][4][10]
Guardz helps teams plan, launch and track automated training campaigns. Campaign frequency can be set monthly, bi-monthly, or quarterly.
What Phishing Simulation does[14]
Simulations can be generated in English, French, German, Hebrew, Spanish, Portuguese, Dutch, Italian. Failed simulations trigger an awareness issue.

Questions about Expel and Guardz

What do Expel and Guardz sell?
Expel sells Expel MDR and Ruxie. Guardz sells Email Security, Security Awareness Training and Phishing Simulation.
Are Expel and Guardz in the same category?
Yes. MDR and managed SOC is the primary category of both on CISO Tribune.
Who owns Expel and Guardz?
Guardz is privately held.
Who are Expel and Guardz sold to?
From its own pages, Guardz sells mainly to MSPs, and describes its platform as built for them.
What have Expel and Guardz announced recently?
November 2, 2026: Guardz added browser protection from Palo Alto Networks' Prisma Browser for Business to its security platform for managed service providers serving small businesses.

About Expel

Expel sells managed detection and response (MDR) delivered through its Workbench platform, with 24x7 human analysts working in the security tools a customer already has. Expel says its service is built so that technology makes it fast and humans make it accurate.[5]

Expel describes the service as managed detection and response with analysts who can be reached directly over Slack or Teams. Expel says customers connect Workbench to their existing stack, and Expel then correlates threats across endpoint, identity, cloud, network, SaaS and more. Expel says no agents need to be deployed and no rip-and-replace is required.[5]

Ruxie is the name Expel gives its AI and automation engine. Expel says Ruxie gathers evidence, enriches alerts and matches patterns so that Expel analysts can investigate and make the critical calls. Expel states a 14-minute mean time to remediate for its MDR service.[5]

Expel Workbench is the platform through which customers see Expel's work. Expel says customers can see every investigation and response in real time inside Workbench.[5]

Expel says its MDR covers cloud, endpoint, identity, network, SaaS, email and more, across more than 160 technology integrations. Expel names Microsoft, AWS, Google Cloud, CrowdStrike, Okta and Wiz among those integrations.[5][10]

Expel also offers email threat detection and response, in which Expel says it monitors the email environment 24x7. Expel says this works alongside Proofpoint, Mimecast, Abnormal Security and Sublime. Expel also describes MDR coverage of the AI attack surface, covering attacker use of AI, employee misuse of AI tools and attacks on customer-built AI systems, with detections mapped to MITRE ATLAS.[6][7]

Expel was started by practitioners. Dave Merkel is co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Justin Bajko is a co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer, and Yanek Korff is a co-founder and Chief Operating Officer. Greg Notch is Chief Technology Officer.[8]

2. Expel says Workbench infrastructure runs on GCP and AWS in the U.S, and that alert data is retained up to 15 months, configurable per contract.[1][2][5][9]

Expel on the record

Sources

Expel full record

  1. [1]Workbench operations platformExpel · expel.com · published August 5, 2026 · Tier A
  2. [2]Expel announces 20 million in series b fundingExpel · expel.com · undated page, accessed September 27, 2026 · Tier A
  3. [3]Leading managed detection and response (MDR) provider | ExpelExpel · undated page, accessed October 24, 2026 · Tier A
  4. [4]Expel Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features - G2G2 · undated page, accessed October 24, 2026 · Tier C
  5. [5]Managed Detection and Response Services | Expel MDRExpel · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  6. [6]Email threat detection | ExpelExpel · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  7. [7]AI attack surface coverage | ExpelExpel · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  8. [8]Company | ExpelExpel · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  9. [9]Security and compliance support from your MDR | ExpelExpel · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  10. [10]Managed Security Solutions | ExpelExpel · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A

Guardz full record

  1. [1]guardz.comGuardz · guardz.com · undated page, accessed September 30, 2026 · Tier A
  2. [2]Msp business plan the ultimate blueprint for growthGuardz · guardz.com · published June 12, 2026 · Tier A
  3. [3]About usGuardz · guardz.com · undated page, accessed September 30, 2026 · Tier A
  4. [4]AI-Native Security Platform Built for MSPs by GuardzGuardz · undated page, accessed October 31, 2026 · Tier A
  5. [5]Guardz: Unified Cybersecurity Platform Built for MSPGuardz · undated page, accessed October 31, 2026 · Tier A
  6. [6]AI-Native Security Platform Built for MSPs by GuardzGuardz · undated page, accessed October 31, 2026 · Tier A
  7. [7]AI-Native Security Platform Built for MSPs by GuardzGuardz · undated page, accessed October 31, 2026 · Tier A
  8. [8]AI-Native Security Platform Built for MSPs by GuardzGuardz · undated page, accessed October 31, 2026 · Tier A
  9. [9]AI-Native Security Platform Built for MSPs by GuardzGuardz · undated page, accessed October 31, 2026 · Tier A
  10. [10]Security Awareness Training for MSPs and EmployeesGuardz · undated page, accessed October 31, 2026 · Tier A
  11. [11]All-In-One Cloud App Security Solution | GuardzGuardz · undated page, accessed October 31, 2026 · Tier A
  12. [12]Protect Your Business from External Cyber Threats | GuardzGuardz · undated page, accessed October 31, 2026 · Tier A
  13. [13]Guardz Reviews 2026: Details, Pricing, & Features - G2G2 · undated page, accessed October 31, 2026 · Tier C
  14. [14]Adaptive Phishing Simulation Platform for MSP SecurityGuardz · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  15. [15]AI-Native Security Platform Built for MSPs by GuardzGuardz · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  16. [16]Cyber Risk Prospecting report - Thank-you | Guardz.comGuardz · undated page, accessed November 3, 2026 · Tier A
  17. [17]Exclusive: Guardz brings Palo Alto Networks browser protection to MSPs serving small businessesSiliconANGLE · published November 2, 2026 · Tier B
  18. [18]Guardz Partners with Foxpointe Solutions to Deliver Strategic, Scalable Cybersecurity for MSPs and Their ClientsGuardz · published March 3, 2026 · Tier A

Spot a factual error? Request a correction.