IDC MarketScape 2026: Rapid7 is the MDR market leader; Softprom vendors rank among the top solutions

International analytical firm IDC has published the report IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Managed Detection and Response Service for Midmarket 2026 Vendor Assessment. The study evaluates global providers of Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services for midmarket organizations.

The report results confirm the high value of the Softprom distribution portfolio: Rapid7 was named a Leader, while vendors ESET, OpenText, and Barracuda Networks secured strong positions in the Major Players category.

The MDR market is entering a new phase of maturity, where artificial intelligence architecture, financial accountability, and the depth of proprietary threat intelligence have become the primary axes of differentiation.

Rapid7 — a leader in the global MDR market

Rapid7 achieved Leader status due to its implementation of the Preemptive MDR concept within its flagship Managed Threat Complete service. The primary advantage of this approach is the native integration of vulnerability context, asset criticality, and attack path data directly into the analyst investigation workflow.

IDC highlighted key capabilities and strengths of Rapid7:

• Proprietary threat intelligence: Utilization of unique intelligence collection infrastructure, including the global honeypot network Project Lorelei and internet-wide exposure surveying through Project Sonar.
• Open platform Velociraptor: Providing customers with access to a shared forensic workbench, eliminating the visibility gap between customer and SOC analysts.
• Unlimited incident response (Unlimited IR): All service tiers include unlimited incident response hours through to complete eradication and root cause analysis.
• Financial breach protection warranty: The Ultimate tier includes up to a $1 million Breach Protection Warranty, backed by Rapid7's corporate balance sheet and an insurance tower.
• Agentic AI (Agentic SOC): Deployment of autonomous AI agents to perform initial forensic evidence collection and data correlation before analyst case handover.

Strong positions of ESET, OpenText, and Barracuda Networks

IDC analysts also recognized vendors in the Softprom portfolio positioned in the Major Players category for their contribution to securing midmarket businesses:

• ESET: Recognized for multi-layered endpoint protection, deep local threat context, and an efficient ESET MDR service combining automated prevention with SOC expertise.
• OpenText: Delivers a comprehensive cybersecurity and data management ecosystem, integrating MDR with digital forensics and information protection capabilities.
• Barracuda Networks: Demonstrates strong results in protecting cloud environments, email, and network infrastructure, offering accessible and scalable MDR services.

Key MDR market trends according to IDC

The IDC MarketScape 2026 report highlights several fundamental shifts in the managed security segment:

Agentic AI

• Functionality: Shifting from AI-generated suggestions to autonomous AI agents that conduct evidence collection and initial analysis.
• Effect: Executing investigations at machine speed and significantly reducing response time.

Continuous Threat Exposure Management and MDR (CTEM)

• Functionality: Integrating vulnerability intelligence and attack surface data directly into detection operations.
• Effect: Understanding risk context prior to investigation and proactively closing attack paths.

Financial accountability

• Functionality: Evolving from standard contractual response SLAs to financial breach protection warranties.
• Effect: Quantifiable financial and cyber risk reduction for businesses.

Softprom is an official distributor of Rapid7, ESET, OpenText, and Barracuda Networks solutions. We offer a full range of services to build an effective cybersecurity system:

• Professional consultations and selection of the optimal MDR solution tailored to your company's tasks and budget.
• Pilot projects, testing, and assistance with integration into existing IT infrastructure.
• Qualified technical and expert support at all stages of deployment and operation.