Head to head · Checked against vendor sites, September 2026
Harmonic Security vs Koi (Palo Alto Networks): AI agent security compared
The verdict
Harmonic Security and Koi tie overall on our weights at 7.1 out of 10. Harmonic Security scores higher on policy, footprint and identity and audit; Koi scores higher on visibility and breadth. They tie on tool-call control and maturity. Neither publishes list prices. Harmonic Security publishes tier names.
Harmonic Security
Best for data protection in everyday AI use
Koi (Palo Alto Networks Cortex Agentic Endpoint Security)
Owner: Palo Alto Networks (acquisition completed 14 April 2026)
Best for Palo Alto Cortex customers
How do Harmonic Security and Koi compare on each criterion?
| Criterion | Weight | Harmonic Security | Koi | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visibility | 22% | 7 | 9 | Koi |
Why these scoresHarmonic Security: Finds AI tool use across browsers, desktop apps and CLI tools, including local tools on devices. Koi: Visibility into models, MCPs, extensions and packages on the endpoint, with risk scoring. | ||||
| Tool-call control | 20% | 7 | 7 | Tie |
Why these scoresHarmonic Security: Governs at the MCP layer and tool surface, with permissions for what agents can read, write to and act on. Koi: Blocks unsafe AI application interactions and prevents prompt injections; tool-call level mechanics not published. | ||||
| Policy | 15% | 8 | 7 | Harmonic Security |
Why these scoresHarmonic Security: Block in real time, warn the employee with context, or log silently; data classification by work intent. Koi: Out-of-the-box policies and one-click removal of insecure packages, extensions and AI tools. | ||||
| Identity and audit | 12% | 6 | 5 | Harmonic Security |
Why these scoresHarmonic Security: Unified governance for humans and agents in Harmonic Command; per-action attribution not detailed. Koi: Agent vs human attribution not described on the pages we reviewed. | ||||
| Footprint | 13% | 8 | 6 | Harmonic Security |
Why these scoresHarmonic Security: Rolls out through Intune, JAMF, Kandji or Group Policy with no proxy redesign. Koi: Agent-based; offered as a Cortex XDR module and as a standalone offering. | ||||
| Breadth | 8% | 6 | 7 | Koi |
Why these scoresHarmonic Security: Centered on data protection in AI use; browser, desktop, MCP and API surfaces. Koi: Palo Alto Networks is integrating Koi with Prisma AIRS for wider AI coverage. | ||||
| Maturity | 10% | 7 | 7 | Tie |
Why these scoresHarmonic Security: Publishes named packaging tiers (Explore, Guide, Command) but no prices. Koi: Acquisition completed 14 April 2026 by Palo Alto Networks; pricing not published. | ||||
| Total | 100% | 7.1 | 7.1 | Tie |
How do they deploy, and what do they cost?
| Attribute | Harmonic Security | Koi |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | Not acquired | Palo Alto Networks (acquisition completed 14 April 2026) |
| How it reaches devices | Intune, JAMF, Kandji or Group Policy | Cortex XDR module or standalone agent |
| Deployment detail | Harmonic states it rolls out through Intune, JAMF, Kandji or Group Policy, with no proxy redesign and no certificate changes. | Integrates with Cortex XDR as a module and is also available standalone as an agent-based deployment. If you run Cortex XDR, this is the lowest-friction path; if you run another EDR, expect a separate agent. |
| Pricing | Tiers are published (Explore, Guide, Command), prices are not. Contact sales. | Contact sales. Pricing is not published. |
Source: harmonic.security · Harmonic Command · Harmonic pricing · Cortex Agentic Endpoint Security · Press release, 14 April 2026 · Reviewed Sep 2026
Which should you choose?
Choose Harmonic Security if
- Your priority matches our designation for Harmonic Security: best for data protection in everyday AI use.
- You want a light rollout with published deployment detail, ideally through existing EDR or MDM: Harmonic Security scores 8 to 6.
- You want context-aware rules and answers beyond allow and block: Harmonic Security scores 8 to 7.
Choose Koi if
- Your priority matches our designation for Koi: best for Palo Alto Cortex customers.
- You need a fleet-wide inventory of AI agents, MCP servers, extensions and credentials on devices: Koi scores 9 to 7.
- Your agents also run in SaaS platforms, cloud workloads or apps you build: Koi scores 7 to 6.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better, Harmonic Security or Koi (Palo Alto Networks)?
Harmonic Security and Koi tie overall on our weights at 7.1 out of 10. Harmonic Security scores higher on policy, footprint and identity and audit; Koi scores higher on visibility and breadth. They tie on tool-call control and maturity. Scores are editorial assessments from public vendor material, reviewed September 2026.
Do Harmonic Security and Koi (Palo Alto Networks) publish prices?
No. Neither publishes list prices, so ask both for a quote. Harmonic Security publishes its tier names (Explore, Guide, Command).
Do Harmonic Security or Koi (Palo Alto Networks) replace EDR?
No. The tools in this guide add control over AI agent actions and work alongside EDR. Harmonic Security: Intune, JAMF, Kandji or Group Policy. Koi: Cortex XDR module or standalone agent.
Related
Sources
- harmonic.security · Reviewed Sep 2026
- Harmonic Command · Reviewed Sep 2026
- Harmonic pricing · Reviewed Sep 2026
- Cortex Agentic Endpoint Security · Reviewed Sep 2026
- Press release, 14 April 2026 · Reviewed Sep 2026