Head to head · Checked against vendor sites, September 2026
Neo vs Ent: AI agent security compared
The verdict
Neo scores higher overall on our weights (7.5 vs 6.7 out of 10). Neo scores higher on visibility, tool-call control and identity and audit; Ent leads on no criterion. They tie on policy, footprint, maturity and breadth. Neither publishes list prices.
How do Neo and Ent compare on each criterion?
| Criterion | Weight | Neo | Ent | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 22% | 9 | 7 | Neo |
Why these scoresNeo: Live inventory of agents, models, skills, MCP servers and extensions on every endpoint, with risk scores from its Neoverse knowledge base. Ent: A live view of OpenAI Codex, Claude Code, Claude Cowork, GitHub Copilot, Cursor and other AI tools and agents; MCP server and credential inventory is not itemized. | ||||
| Tool-call control | 20% | 8 | 7 | Neo |
Why these scoresNeo: Intercepts agent actions at the endpoint and allows, blocks or holds them for approval before they run. Ent: Steps in at the moment of risk and blocks risky agent behavior; per-tool-call mechanics are not described on the pages we read. | ||||
| Policy | 15% | 8 | 8 | Tie |
Why these scoresNeo: Policies built with a built-in LLM, such as Block secret reads or Hold exports over 10 MB; actions are allow, block, redirect or hold for verified human approval, with an audit mode before enforcement. Ent: One programmable, intent-aware policy for people and AI agents, with responses from a soft nudge to a hard block, and app control that can allow, block, deny or restrict usage; an on-device small language model classifies sensitive data. | ||||
| Identity and audit | 12% | 8 | 7 | Neo |
Why these scoresNeo: Ties every action to the human or agent that caused it, in what Neo calls an immutable audit chain, with alerts to a SIEM. Ent: Applies the same policy to people and agents and builds investigation timelines annotated in plain language as events happen. | ||||
| Footprint | 13% | 6 | 6 | Tie |
Why these scoresNeo: A lightweight endpoint sensor with no kernel module, no reboot and no OS hooks; analysis stays on the device. It is a new sensor rather than a rollout through existing EDR, and OS support is not listed on the pages we read. Ent: A single lightweight agent across Windows, macOS, Linux and modern browsers, as SaaS or self-hosted in your own cloud; rollout through MDM is not stated. | ||||
| Breadth | 8% | 6 | 6 | Tie |
Why these scoresNeo: Its platform page names desktop and SaaS AI such as ChatGPT Desktop, Slack AI, Notion AI and Salesforce Agentforce alongside coding agents; cloud workloads and red teaming are not described. Ent: Endpoint and browser coverage for insider risk, last-mile threats such as ClickFix, AI usage control and data security; SaaS agents and cloud workloads are not described. | ||||
| Maturity | 10% | 5 | 5 | Tie |
Why these scoresNeo: Came out of stealth on 20 July 2026 with $100M from Andreessen Horowitz and Bessemer; no documentation portal or pricing on neo.ai. Ent: Came out of stealth on 16 June 2026 with a $100 million seed led by Decibel; founders co-founded RiskIQ; no documentation portal or pricing on ent.ai. | ||||
| Total | 100% | 7.5 | 6.7 | Neo |
How do they deploy, and what do they cost?
| Attribute | Neo | Ent |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | Not acquired | Not acquired |
| How it reaches devices | Own endpoint sensor | Single lightweight agent; SaaS or self-hosted |
| Deployment detail | A lightweight endpoint sensor with no kernel module, no reboot and no OS hooks; analysis stays on the device. It is a new sensor rather than a rollout through existing EDR, and OS support is not listed on the pages we read. | A single lightweight agent across Windows, macOS, Linux and modern browsers, as SaaS or self-hosted in your own cloud. Rollout through MDM is not stated. |
| Pricing | Contact sales. Neo does not publish pricing. | Contact sales. Ent does not publish pricing. |
Source: neo.ai · Neo platform · Neo launch announcement (20 Jul 2026) · ent.ai · Ent press: intent-aware prevention (30 Jul 2026) · Ent press: $100M seed (16 Jun 2026) · Ent company · Reviewed Sep 2026
Which should you choose?
Choose Neo if
- Your priority matches our designation for Neo: best for approval holds and an agent-level audit trail.
- You need a fleet-wide inventory of AI agents, MCP servers, extensions and credentials on devices: Neo scores 9 to 7.
- You need to evaluate or stop individual tool calls before they run: Neo scores 8 to 7.
Choose Ent if
- Your priority matches our designation for Ent: best for one intent-aware policy across people and agents.
- Against Neo, Ent leads on no criterion; it ties on policy, footprint, maturity and breadth. It can still fit if it matches your existing stack.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Neo or Ent?
Neo scores higher overall on our weights (7.5 vs 6.7 out of 10). Neo scores higher on visibility, tool-call control and identity and audit; Ent leads on no criterion. They tie on policy, footprint, maturity and breadth. Scores are editorial assessments from public vendor material, reviewed September 2026.
Do Neo and Ent publish prices?
No. Neither publishes list prices, so ask both for a quote.
Do Neo or Ent replace EDR?
No. The tools in this guide add control over AI agent actions and work alongside EDR. Neo: Own endpoint sensor. Ent: Single lightweight agent; SaaS or self-hosted.
Related
Sources
- neo.ai · Reviewed Sep 2026
- Neo platform · Reviewed Sep 2026
- Neo launch announcement (20 Jul 2026) · Reviewed Sep 2026
- ent.ai · Reviewed Sep 2026
- Ent press: intent-aware prevention (30 Jul 2026) · Reviewed Sep 2026
- Ent press: $100M seed (16 Jun 2026) · Reviewed Sep 2026
- Ent company · Reviewed Sep 2026