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Aqsa Taylor & Francis Odum — Software Analyst Cyber Research - AISOC for MDR: The Structural Evolution of Managed Detection and Response - January 2026 logo

Aqsa Taylor & Francis Odum — Software Analyst Cyber Research - AISOC for MDR: The Structural Evolution of Managed Detection and Response - January 2026

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How AI is reshaping MDR and what it means for CISOs

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Open Source
Company
Software Analyst Cyber Research (SACR)
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About Aqsa Taylor & Francis Odum — Software Analyst Cyber Research - AISOC for MDR: The Structural Evolution of Managed Detection and Response - January 2026

This report reveals how AI is reshaping Managed Detection and Response (MDR) and what it means for CISOs, offering clear guidance on evaluating AI-driven SOC and MDR platforms and deciding when to build versus buy. It includes market data: the MDR market reached $9.6 billion in 2025, projected to grow to $46.9 billion by 2035 at a 17.2% CAGR. The analysis draws on the 2025 SANS SOC Survey, highlighting that 69% of SOCs rely on manual or mostly manual processes and 61% of organizations ignore critical alerts that later cause breaches. The report explores two paths: building internal SOC capabilities with AI platforms versus outsourcing to AI-powered MDR providers, and introduces the concept of AI-native MDR combining agentic AI platform automation with human oversight.

Key Features

Market analysis and projections: MDR market growth from $9.6B to $46.9B by 2035
Examination of AI SOC platforms and MDR service convergence
Build vs buy framework for internal SOC capabilities vs outsourced AI-powered MDR
Data from the 2025 SANS SOC Survey on SOC manual processes and alert handling
Guidance for security leaders on evaluating AI-driven SOC platforms and MDR providers

Pros & Cons

Pros
  • Data-driven insights with specific market numbers and survey statistics
  • Clear analysis of build vs buy trade-offs with practical guidance
  • Addresses real operational challenges like alert fatigue, analyst shortage, and manual processes
  • Published by a reputable cybersecurity research firm (Software Analyst Cyber Research)
  • Free access to the full report
Cons
  • The analysis is high-level and may not provide deep technical details for implementation
  • The report represents a snapshot of 2025-2026 trends and may not reflect rapid market changes
  • Does not include detailed vendor-specific product comparisons or reviews

Best For

CISOs evaluating whether to build an internal AI-driven SOC or outsource to an AI-native MDR providerSecurity leaders seeking a data-driven overview of the MDR market landscape and trendsOrganizations benchmarking their SOC operations against industry survey dataInvestors and analysts researching the convergence of AI platforms and managed services in cybersecurity

FAQ

What is AI-native MDR?
AI-native MDR combines the automation capabilities of agentic AI platforms with the human oversight and accountability transfer that organizations require, blurring the line between platforms and managed services.
What are the main challenges in current MDR operations?
According to the 2025 SANS SOC Survey, 69% of SOCs rely on manual or mostly manual processes to report metrics, and 61% of organizations admit to ignoring critical alerts that later caused breaches.
What is the projected growth of the MDR market?
The managed detection and response market reached $9.6 billion in 2025 and is projected to grow to $46.9 billion by 2035, reflecting a 17.2% compound annual growth rate.
What are the two paths organizations can take according to the report?
The report examines two paths: building internal SOC capabilities with AI platforms versus outsourcing to AI-powered MDR providers.