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Head-to-head · AI SOC Agents

Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSIAM vs Exabeam Nova

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSIAM #2 in AI SOC Agents 9.0/10 Pricing on request ✓ 2 of 4 features Contact Palo Alto
Exabeam Nova #3 in AI SOC Agents 8.9/10 Pricing on request ✓ 4 of 4 features Visit Exabeam Nova

Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSIAM leads on 0 checks, Exabeam Nova on 0, and 5 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scorePalo Alto Networks Cortex XSIAM · 9.0/10
  • Most featuresExabeam Nova · 4 of 4

Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSIAM scores higher on our rubric for ai soc agents: 9.0 against 8.9 out of 10; our editors rank them #2 and #3.

On investigation autonomy, Exabeam Nova gives you Automated where Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSIAM offers Assisted.

Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSIAM is the better fit for established mid-market and enterprise SOCs. Exabeam Nova is the better fit for mid-market and enterprise Exabeam users.

  • Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSIAM fits best

    Established mid-market and enterprise SOCs

  • Exabeam Nova fits best

    Mid-market and enterprise Exabeam users

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSIAM 9.0/10 Visit ↗ Exabeam Nova 8.9/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 9.0 8.9
Ranking #2 in AI SOC Agents #3 in AI SOC Agents
Best for Established mid-market and enterprise SOCs Mid-market and enterprise Exabeam users
Pricing model Paid Paid
Starting price Pricing on request Pricing on request
Free plan — Not checked yet
Free trial — —
Deployment Cloud Cloud
Platforms Web Web
Built for Mid-market, Enterprise Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSIAM 2/4 · Exabeam Nova 4/4
Alert triage ✓ ✓
Response actions ✓ ✓
Human approval controls Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Incident case management Not checked yet ✓ (best)
Specs
Investigation autonomy Assisted Automated
Deployment Cloud Cloud
Our review
Pros
  • AI-assisted alert triage supports security operations workflows.
  • Combines security data analytics with threat detection and investigation.
  • Automates incident response within a consolidated cloud workflow.
  • Specialized agents cover scoring, investigation, search, visualization and rule creation
  • Automated evidence collection, attack timelines and response playbooks
  • 650 integrations plus SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA and PCI DSS coverage
Cons
  • Cloud deployment may not fit teams requiring another deployment model.
  • No free plan; pricing is handled through contact with sales.
  • Investigation is assisted, and case features are less detailed.
  • Contact-sales pricing limits upfront budget comparison
  • Cloud-only deployment excludes teams requiring on-premises options
  • Embedded New-Scale positioning may not suit standalone-agent buyers
Our verdict

Cortex XSIAM is Palo Alto Networks’ security operations platform for security operations centers. It brings security data and analytics together to help teams detect, investigate and respond to threats, with AI and automation applied to…

Read the review →

Exabeam Nova is a coordinated set of AI agents embedded in Exabeam’s New-Scale Security Operations Platform. It is designed for mid-market and enterprise security operations teams, particularly organizations already working with Exabeam.…

Read the review →
  1. Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSIAMAI SOC Agents 9.0Pricing on request
  2. Exabeam NovaAI SOC Agents 8.9Pricing on request

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSIAM — where it wins

    • AI-assisted alert triage supports security operations workflows.
    • Combines security data analytics with threat detection and investigation.
    • Automates incident response within a consolidated cloud workflow.

    Where it doesn't

    • Cloud deployment may not fit teams requiring another deployment model.
    • No free plan; pricing is handled through contact with sales.
    • Investigation is assisted, and case features are less detailed.

  • Exabeam Nova — where it wins

    • Specialized agents cover scoring, investigation, search, visualization and rule creation
    • Automated evidence collection, attack timelines and response playbooks
    • 650 integrations plus SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA and PCI DSS coverage

    Where it doesn't

    • Contact-sales pricing limits upfront budget comparison
    • Cloud-only deployment excludes teams requiring on-premises options
    • Embedded New-Scale positioning may not suit standalone-agent buyers
  • Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSIAM9.0/10 · Pricing on request

    A cloud SOC platform that brings AI-assisted triage, analytics and response together.

    Contact Palo AltoFull verdict →
  • Exabeam Nova8.9/10 · Pricing on request

    A coordinated AI-agent layer for Exabeam teams handling detection through response.

    Visit Exabeam NovaFull verdict →

More comparisons

All AI SOC agents comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update