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Heralded

The most visible endpoint security tools, October 2026

October 2026 · 12 questions asked in English, worldwide · ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Gemini and Google AI Mode · 96 answers read

Most cited source

gartner.com

48citations

From Google AI Mode, Gemini, Google AI Overviews and ChatGPT

Where engines disagree most

Sophos

1/4engines put it in their top three

Top three on ChatGPT, not on Google AI Mode, Gemini and Google AI Overviews

Brands

Rank Brand Rank change Heralded Score Score trend Mentioned Recommended By engine Mentioned by Change
11 Trend Micro JP New entry 8 , range 4–31
8
  • : score 8 · #11
 11% 1% First reading
12 Symantec US New entry 7 , range 4–29
7
  • : score 7 · #12
 10% 2% First reading
13 Check Point IL New entry 7 , range 3–26
7
  • : score 7 · #13
 9% 1% First reading
14 WithSecure FI New entry 5 , range 2–19
5
  • : score 5 · #14
 7% 1% First reading
15 Cisco Secure Endpoint US New entry 5 , range 2–19
5
  • : score 5 · #15
 6% 1% First reading
16 WatchGuard US New entry 3 , range 1–11
3
  • : score 3 · #16
 4% 1% First reading
17 Kaspersky RU New entry 3 , range 1–10
3
  • : score 3 · #17
 3% 1% First reading
– Arctic Wolf US Unranked Too few answers
–
  • : Unranked
 1% 0% First reading
– Broadcom Carbon Black US Unranked Too few answers
–
  • : Unranked
 3% 1% First reading
– Cynet IL Unranked Too few answers
–
  • : Unranked
 2% 2% First reading

“=” marks brands whose score ranges overlap, so the test cannot separate them. Every brand named in at least three answers is ranked. By engine has one dot per engine (ChatGPT, Google AI Overviews, Gemini and Google AI Mode), darker the more often it names the brand.

This month's moves

First reading. No comparable previous month yet.

Biggest risers

No clear rise.

Biggest fallers

No clear fall.

Drop-outs

No drop-outs.

Most cited sources

Rank Source Type Cited in Engines Pages cited Brands its pages mention
1 gartner.com Industry authority 35.4% 4 of 4 11 21
2 google.com Vendor site 12.5% 3 of 4 34 Not read
3Withheld. Run a full Snapshot to see it.
4Withheld. Run a full Snapshot to see it.
5 microsoft.com Brand site 21.9% 3 of 4 16 2
6Withheld. Run a full Snapshot to see it.
7Withheld. Run a full Snapshot to see it.
8Withheld. Run a full Snapshot to see it.
9 reddit.com Community 14.6% 2 of 4 11 23
10 huntress.com Brand site 12.5% 4 of 4 4 12

The questions, and who wins each

QuestionLanguageWins it
endpoint security software with the best support English CrowdStrike
which endpoint security software do experts recommend English Microsoft Defender

Each engine's top three

Method

Each month Heralded asks every engine the same buyer questions, twice each, and reads every answer. An answer counts 0 for a brand it leaves out, 50 for a brand it names and 100 for a brand it recommends, and the Heralded Score is built from those. A brand named in at least three answers gets a score and a place.

How the leaderboards are measured