Documented by Cortex Xpanse only: CONTAINED.
Documented by CrowdStrike EASM only: none.
Documented by both: FOUND and ROUTED.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Cortex Xpanse vs CrowdStrike EASM: which ASM tool takes an exposure further?
THE SHORT ANSWER
Cortex Xpanse scores higher overall on our weights, 6.40 to 5.55. Cortex Xpanse scores higher on Finds the unlisted estate, Routes to an owner, Contains before the patch and Fits the enterprise stack; CrowdStrike EASM scores higher on no criterion; they tie on Proves exploitability, Closes the loop and Buying transparency. The table below gives the reason for every score.
Cortex Xpanse
Rank 5 of 10
Best for: Palo Alto Networks Cortex estates that want automated response through XSOAR
CrowdStrike EASM
Rank 6 of 10
Best for: CrowdStrike Falcon customers who want external exposure in the same console as endpoint and vulnerability data
Which tool scores higher on each criterion?
| Criterion | Cortex Xpanse | CrowdStrike EASM | Higher |
|---|---|---|---|
Finds the unlisted estate 15%WhyCortex Xpanse: Palo Alto Networks states it scans all 4.3 billion IPv4 addresses several times a day and 500 billion+ ports daily. CrowdStrike EASM: Indexes the entire internet around the clock and maps known and unknown assets, including shadow IT; required inputs and subsidiary coverage are not described. | 8 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Cortex Xpanse |
Routes to an owner 10%WhyCortex Xpanse: Identifies third-party stakeholders for exposures; subsidiary attribution detail is not on the pages reviewed. CrowdStrike EASM: Tracks added, modified and removed assets and flags business-critical ones with AI-driven analysis; how an asset is tied to the organization, a subsidiary or an owner is not described. | 7 / 10 | 5 / 10 | Cortex Xpanse |
Proves exploitability 20%WhyCortex Xpanse: Exploitability validation is not described on the product pages reviewed; the emphasis is discovery and response. CrowdStrike EASM: Its Exposure Prioritization Agent "validates exploitability using real-time telemetry" and correlates internet-facing assets with internal systems; active exploit testing of external assets is not described. | 5 / 10 | 5 / 10 | Tie |
Contains before the patch 20%WhyCortex Xpanse: Active Response runs built-in automated playbooks against exposures; edge WAF rules are not named. CrowdStrike EASM: Falcon Fusion SOAR automates remediation workflows, and Falcon Real Time Response lists compensating controls such as network isolation, but it requires Falcon Insight XDR; no WAF or edge rule is described. | 7 / 10 | 5 / 10 | Cortex Xpanse |
Closes the loop 15%WhyCortex Xpanse: Routes and remediates through Cortex XSOAR playbooks; a retest after the fix is not described. CrowdStrike EASM: Guided remediation steps, plus ServiceNow, Jira and patch management integrations for ticketing and remediation tracking; owner routing and a retest after a fix are not described. | 6 / 10 | 6 / 10 | Tie |
Fits the enterprise stack 10%WhyCortex Xpanse: Native ties to Cortex XSOAR and Prisma Cloud inside the Palo Alto Networks Cortex portfolio. CrowdStrike EASM: Part of the CrowdStrike Falcon platform, combining EASM with threat intelligence, IT hygiene and vulnerability management across endpoints, cloud, network and OT/IoT; ServiceNow and Jira are the named integrations. | 9 / 10 | 8 / 10 | Cortex Xpanse |
Buying transparency 10%WhyCortex Xpanse: No price from Palo Alto Networks; a UK G-Cloud reseller listing shows £70,850.84 per instance per year. CrowdStrike EASM: No EASM or Exposure Management price; CrowdStrike publishes per-device prices only for endpoint bundles, and we found no CrowdStrike EASM listing on AWS Marketplace or the CrowdStrike Marketplace. | 3 / 10 | 3 / 10 | Tie |
Which steps does each tool document?
Cortex Xpanse
- FOUNDDocumented
Internet-wide IPv4 scanning several times a day.
- OWNEDPartial
Third-party stakeholders identified; subsidiary attribution not detailed.
- PROVENNot documented
Exploitability validation not described on the pages reviewed.
- CONTAINEDDocumented
Active Response automated playbooks.
- ROUTEDDocumented
Routing and remediation through Cortex XSOAR playbooks.
- RECHECKEDNot documented
Retest after a fix not described.
CrowdStrike EASM
- FOUNDDocumented
Internet-wide mapping 24/7, including shadow IT.
- OWNEDNot documented
Ownership or subsidiary attribution not described; inventory changes and business criticality are.
- PROVENPartial
Exposure Prioritization Agent validates exploitability using telemetry; active external exploit testing not described.
- CONTAINEDPartial
Fusion SOAR workflows; Real Time Response compensating controls need Falcon Insight XDR; no WAF or edge rule.
- ROUTEDDocumented
ServiceNow and Jira ticketing and remediation tracking.
- RECHECKEDNot documented
Retest after a fix not described.
Partial counts as not documented for these three lines.
What do they cost?
Cortex Xpanse
No price from Palo Alto Networks. Reseller price: a UK G-Cloud 14 listing by Khipu Networks shows £70,850.84 per instance per year, no free trial, public-facing attack surface only.
To start: Not published on the pages reviewed.
CrowdStrike EASM
Not published
No EASM or Exposure Management price published. CrowdStrike's pricing page lists endpoint bundles only (from $7.99 per device per month) and says add-ons cost extra. No CrowdStrike EASM listing found on AWS Marketplace or the CrowdStrike Marketplace.
To start: Required inputs are not published. CrowdStrike says Falcon Exposure Management gives "instant visibility and prioritization capabilities from day one", and its site offers a 15-day Falcon trial that is not tied to EASM.
Which should you choose?
Choose Cortex Xpanse if
- it matters most to you that it fits the enterprise stack (9/10)
- it matters most to you that it finds the unlisted estate (8/10)
Choose Cortex Xpanse if Cortex XSOAR already runs your response and you want exposures acted on by playbook. Look elsewhere if proof of exploitability is your main gap.
Choose CrowdStrike EASM if
- it matters most to you that it fits the enterprise stack (8/10)
- it matters most to you that it finds the unlisted estate (7/10)
Choose CrowdStrike EASM if your team already works in the Falcon console and wants external exposure next to endpoint and vulnerability data. Look elsewhere if you need proof of exploitability on external assets, attribution to subsidiaries or a published price.
Frequently asked questions
Which proves exploitability better, Cortex Xpanse or CrowdStrike EASM?
Neither: they tie on our proof criterion (Cortex Xpanse 5/10, CrowdStrike EASM 5/10). Cortex Xpanse: Exploitability validation is not described on the product pages reviewed; the emphasis is discovery and response. CrowdStrike EASM: Its Exposure Prioritization Agent "validates exploitability using real-time telemetry" and correlates internet-facing assets with internal systems; active exploit testing of external assets is not described.
Can Cortex Xpanse or CrowdStrike EASM contain an exposure before the patch?
Cortex Xpanse documents one: Active Response automated playbooks. CrowdStrike EASM: not documented on the pages reviewed Contain scores: Cortex Xpanse 7/10, CrowdStrike EASM 5/10.
Which is easier to buy, Cortex Xpanse or CrowdStrike EASM?
Cortex Xpanse: No price from Palo Alto Networks. Reseller price: a UK G-Cloud 14 listing by Khipu Networks shows £70,850.84 per instance per year, no free trial, public-facing attack surface only. CrowdStrike EASM: No EASM or Exposure Management price published. CrowdStrike's pricing page lists endpoint bundles only (from $7.99 per device per month) and says add-ons cost extra. No CrowdStrike EASM listing found on AWS Marketplace or the CrowdStrike Marketplace. Buying transparency scores: Cortex Xpanse 3/10, CrowdStrike EASM 3/10.
Read next
- Cortex Xpanse profile
Scores, sources and pricing
- CrowdStrike EASM profile
Scores, sources and pricing
- Beyond Cortex Xpanse: alternatives
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- Beyond CrowdStrike EASM: alternatives
Eight alternatives ranked
- Line them up
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