ExtraHop vs Palo Alto Cortex

March 15, 2025 | Author: Michael Stromann
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ExtraHop
ExtraHop provides cloud-native cybersecurity solutions to help enterprises detect and respond to advanced threats—before they compromise your business.
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Palo Alto Cortex
Cortex brings together best-in-class threat detection, prevention, attack surface management and security automation capabilities into one integrated platform.

In the great, chaotic expanse of cyberspace, ExtraHop and Palo Alto Cortex both float serenely, tirelessly monitoring the flow of digital activity. They are united in their shared mission to detect threats, predict disasters and generally keep everything from turning into a dismal mess. Both make extensive use of artificial intelligence, machine learning and fancy algorithms to spot suspicious activity in real-time. They also have a tendency to make security analysts feel a little bit like superhumans—unless, of course, you’re the hacker.

ExtraHop, first introduced in 2007, is like that clever friend who spends most of their time peering at network packets, making sure everything is humming along just as it should. With an uncanny ability to inspect network traffic, it is well-suited to enterprise IT teams who need an eagle eye on their networks. While it doesn't have the breadth of Palo Alto's security offerings, it excels in deep packet inspection and providing thorough visibility into network behavior. All in all, it’s your network’s best friend, provided you don’t mind the occasional cryptic report.

Then there's Palo Alto Cortex, a relatively newer player, launched in 2019, which has taken it upon itself to be the all-knowing, all-seeing security superhero. Cortex combines endpoint detection, AI-driven threat hunting and security orchestration to offer an automated response to threats. It’s more than just a fancy detection system; it’s practically a whole security ecosystem. Designed for Security Operations Centers and incident response teams, it integrates seamlessly with the broader Palo Alto security suite, proving once and for all that sometimes, you need a sledgehammer to crack a nut—especially when that nut is a highly sophisticated cyberattack.

See also: Top 10 XDR software
Author: Michael Stromann
Michael is an expert in IT Service Management, IT Security and software development. With his extensive experience as a software developer and active involvement in multiple ERP implementation projects, Michael brings a wealth of practical knowledge to his writings. Having previously worked at SAP, he has honed his expertise and gained a deep understanding of software development and implementation processes. Currently, as a freelance developer, Michael continues to contribute to the IT community by sharing his insights through guest articles published on several IT portals. You can contact Michael by email stromann@liventerprise.com