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IBM Security QRadar vs Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR comparison

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Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Jun 3, 2026

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

ROI

Sentiment score
6.1
Torq automation boosts workflow efficiency and ROI by reducing alert handling time, saving hours daily, and offering fair pricing.
Sentiment score
6.4
IBM Security QRadar offers efficient data management, cost savings, competitive pricing, and long-term protection akin to security insurance.
Sentiment score
4.9
Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR enhances efficiency by automating security operations, yielding high ROI with mature cybersecurity processes.
Since we started working with Torq, I am handling much fewer alerts. It is becoming really easy for me to handle an alert.
SOC Analyst at AppsFlyer
We have seen a return on investment, targeting a $600,000 ROI for the year.
Cyber Security Engineer at a real estate/law firm with 5,001-10,000 employees
I have seen a return on investment with Torq, as the automation reduces the number of employees needed and significantly saves both time and resources.
Senior Cybersecurity Engineer at a tech vendor with 10,001+ employees
With SOAR, the workflow takes one minute or less to complete the analysis.
Cyber Security Architects at VaporVM
AWS gives the chance to implement a solution out of the box with use cases that are already in IBM Security QRadar.
Strategic Account Executive at a computer software company with 51-200 employees
Investing this amount was very much worth it for my organization.
Information Security Analyst at Banglalink
By implementing Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR playbooks, I automated repetitive SOC tasks such as IOC enrichment, alert triggers, host isolation, and incident ticket creation.
Cybersecurity Senior Analyst
We are positioning Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR, which can be used in the SOC and do a lot of automation for the customer.
Vice President, Technology at Cache Digitech Pvt Ltd.
Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR is a pure and proven technology product and cybersecurity product, customers will get more ROI when compared with others.
Technical Consultant at Vertex Techno Solutions (B) Pvt Ltd
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
6.6
Torq's customer service is praised for 24/7 support, helpful documentation, quick responses, and knowledgeable staff.
Sentiment score
6.0
IBM Security QRadar support is mixed, with varying response times and expertise, but users find online resources helpful.
Sentiment score
6.6
Palo Alto Cortex XSOAR support is highly rated for responsiveness, though delays, escalations, and time zone issues are noted.
My impression of their technical support during the initial setup was that they were helpful, responded within a reasonable timeframe, and provided exactly what we needed.
Security Consultant at Integrity360
The speed and quality of their answers have been pretty good, as I usually get a response within 24 hours, and they follow up well.
CyberSecurity Engineer at a real estate/law firm with 10,001+ employees
We can always get an answer, and the support team are experts in their own system.
Director Of Cyber Security at a tech vendor with 501-1,000 employees
They assist with advanced issues, such as hardware or other problems, that are not part of standard operations.
Network and Security Architect at Deutsche Telekom
Support needs to understand the issue first, then escalate it to the engineering team.
Cyber Security Architects at VaporVM
The support is really good; for instance, if a critical ticket is submitted, you will get paged right away as it gets logged, and their analyst will look into it, letting you know as soon as possible so you can work on it.
Cyber Security Intern at a retailer with 1,001-5,000 employees
Eight out of ten times, they provide valuable help.
Lead Application Security Engineer Iv at a financial services firm with 5,001-10,000 employees
I would rate the customer support for Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR as 9 out of 10.
Senior Cyber Defense Analyst at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees
Their support has been better than Anomali's and they are more responsive.
Enterprise Security Architect V at FirstEnergy
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
6.5
Torq is praised for scalability and efficient cloud-native architecture, though large workflows can hinder performance without modularization.
Sentiment score
7.2
IBM Security QRadar is praised for scalability, though challenges in larger setups and specific hardware requirements are noted.
Sentiment score
7.0
Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR is scalable, integrates easily, and supports growth, but may face cost and performance challenges.
Its scalability is good because it has a cloud-native architecture and it expands dynamically to handle thousands of alerts at the same time.
Software Engineer at Accenture
Our case management is super scalable.
CyberSecurity Engineer at a real estate/law firm with 10,001+ employees
In terms of scalability, you can do as long as you can build it, and they can support it.
Director Of Cyber Security at a tech vendor with 501-1,000 employees
For EPS license, if you increase or exceed the EPS license, you cannot receive events.
Cyber Security Architects at VaporVM
The scalability of Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR supports our growth and security needs because we can integrate various tools and continuously add more capability.
Enterprise Security Architect V at FirstEnergy
Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR has very good application capabilities and is highly scalable.
Assistant Security Architect at Cloudnomics
The issues with scalability arise from the speed of some integrations, as not all are perfectly tuned by Palo.
Lead Application Security Engineer Iv at a financial services firm with 5,001-10,000 employees
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
7.4
Torq is favored for its reliable uptime and stable performance, with minor issues resolved swiftly and effectively.
Sentiment score
7.5
IBM Security QRadar offers robust stability and reliability, though some users report issues with patches and high-demand scenarios.
Sentiment score
7.7
Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR is highly reliable, stable with updates, but occasionally encounters bugs and performance issues.
We have been using Torq for one and a half years, but we have experienced no downtime.
Angular Developer at Flourish Software
Most of the time, the system is stable as long as the components that they integrate with are stable.
Director Of Cyber Security at a tech vendor with 501-1,000 employees
I have never faced any downtime or issues.
Senior Information Technology Security Consultant at Mideast Data Systems
On cloud, you don't see any disconnections or instability.
SOC Engineer at a outsourcing company with 10,001+ employees
I think QRadar is stable and currently satisfies my needs.
Architect of Cybersecurity at ASSIST - Software Services
The product has been stable so far.
Information Security Analyst at Banglalink
The system works smoothly even when I navigate deep into the playbook section.
Assistant Security Architect at Cloudnomics
As a leading partner, I do not anticipate any issues with stability or scalability.
Technical Consultant at Vertex Techno Solutions (B) Pvt Ltd
I would rate the stability and reliability of Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR as a nine.
Lead Application Security Engineer Iv at a financial services firm with 5,001-10,000 employees
 

Room For Improvement

Torq needs AI enhancements, improved integration visibility, and comprehensive user support to optimize automation workflows and connectivity.
IBM Security QRadar users seek improved upgrades, integrations, user interface, cost efficiency, AI features, and better threat detection.
Cortex XSOAR needs documentation and interface improvements, better integration, and competitive pricing to enhance accessibility and user satisfaction.
Torq should offer default templates that can directly scan firewall data and automate actions.
Senior Information Technology Security Consultant at Mideast Data Systems
The AI value depends on maturity. Real value depends heavily on telemetry, integration depth, and workflow design, all of which rely on how mature customers are in their SOC department.
Security Consultant at Integrity360
It was able to capture data but was unable to differentiate between the agent hostname we are using and the hostname that resides on the back end of the Internet.
Senior Consultant at a university with 10,001+ employees
We receive logs from different types of devices and need a way to correlate them effectively.
Network and Security Architect at Deutsche Telekom
If AI-related support can suggest rules and integrate with existing security devices like MD, IPS, this SIM can create more relevant rules.
Information Security Analyst at Banglalink
IBM Security QRadar does not support Canvas, so we had to create custom scripts and workarounds to pull logs from Canvas.
Cyber Security Architects at VaporVM
The biggest area for improvement is simplifying playbook development and debugging.
Cybersecurity Senior Analyst
The deployment requires integration and the development of integration modules.
Presale Engineer at Westcon-Comstor
One of the significant issues we encounter is system slowdown when we receive an influx of alerts, which inhibits how quickly we can access the information needed for investigation.
Enterprise Security Architect V at FirstEnergy
 

Setup Cost

Enterprise buyers find Torq's pricing competitive and valuable, with many renewing annually due to satisfied experiences.
IBM Security QRadar is costly but valuable, priced per EPS/FPS, and cheaper than Splunk yet pricier than other SIEMs.
Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR offers high-priced but valuable integration, with annual licensing and discounts for larger enterprises.
When they bring more and more value into the platform, it makes more sense to pay that price, but still, it is expensive.
Senior Cyber Architect at a manufacturing company with 10,001+ employees
Before deciding to implement Torq, I considered that compared to our old case management platform, Torq was a much better price and had a lot better value for what you get out of the platform, which was a key consideration for the company.
CyberSecurity Engineer at a real estate/law firm with 10,001+ employees
It is an expensive solution, not an inexpensive solution, but we get through the flexibility.
Director Of Cyber Security at a tech vendor with 501-1,000 employees
Splunk is more expensive than IBM Security QRadar.
Cyber Security Architects at VaporVM
It was costly mainly because of the value you can get right now compared to other solutions.
CTO at Sabyk
It depends on how much you want to spend.
Strategic Account Executive at a computer software company with 51-200 employees
For customers, it is zero versus $20 million, which is why they have to make a decision.
Vice President, Technology at Cache Digitech Pvt Ltd.
Being among the market leaders, it is worth the money, though still a bit pricey.
Security Engineer at a financial services firm with 51-200 employees
The price will be high, but the solution is absolutely superb.
VP Of Digital Transformation at Netsys Solutions (Pvt) Ltd
 

Valuable Features

Torq enhances productivity and satisfaction with integration, no-code automation, AI assistance, and a unified, error-reducing platform.
IBM Security QRadar is valued for real-time alerts, scalability, integration, AI features, user-friendly interface, and threat detection.
Cortex XSOAR enhances incident management with automation, integration, and analytics, offering user-friendly tools to improve response times.
Torq's unified platform approach to AI SOC automation and case management has significantly benefited us by integrating the case management platform with the automation, which saves time compared to managing multiple point solutions across our security stack.
CyberSecurity Engineer at a real estate/law firm with 10,001+ employees
The fact that I can build whatever I want within my own imagination and skills without relying on code is the best thing about Torq.
Director Of Cyber Security at a tech vendor with 501-1,000 employees
You can copy and paste a cURL command. If you have documentation or APIs, you usually have an example on the side. You basically have all the information on how the API call should be. You can just copy that and paste it into a step, and it will just build the step for you.
Global IT Director at OpenWeb
Recently, I faced an incident, a cyber incident, and it was detected in real time.
Information Security Analyst at Banglalink
IBM Security QRadar gives the opportunity to improve the time to market of the releases with a great evaluation of cybersecurity breaches.
Strategic Account Executive at a computer software company with 51-200 employees
Compared to ArcSight, Splunk, or any other SIEM tools where you need their processing language such as structured query language, SPL, and in Sentinel there is KQL query languages, IBM Security QRadar doesn't require reliance on query languages.
SOC Engineer at a outsourcing company with 10,001+ employees
Execution of automatic tasks for collecting, enriching, and correlating security events from hundreds of different technologies.
Presale Engineer at Westcon-Comstor
If I already have an established process, I do not have to change my process to fit into the tool. I can modify the tool to fit into my process, which makes things considerably easier.
Enterprise Security Architect V at FirstEnergy
We have implemented automation features, such as automated responses to email threats and automatic configuration of target devices for blocking specific IPs.
Vice President, Technology at Cache Digitech Pvt Ltd.
 

Categories and Ranking

Torq
Sponsored
Ranking in Security Orchestration Automation and Response (SOAR)
4th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
6.6
Number of Reviews
17
Ranking in other categories
AI-SOC (1st), AI-Powered Security Automation (1st)
IBM Security QRadar
Ranking in Security Orchestration Automation and Response (SOAR)
5th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.6
Number of Reviews
218
Ranking in other categories
Log Management (5th), Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) (2nd), User Entity Behavior Analytics (UEBA) (3rd), Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) (12th), Managed Detection and Response (MDR) (7th), Extended Detection and Response (XDR) (10th)
Palo Alto Networks Cortex X...
Ranking in Security Orchestration Automation and Response (SOAR)
2nd
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
6.5
Number of Reviews
61
Ranking in other categories
SOC as a Service (2nd)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of August 2026, in the Security Orchestration Automation and Response (SOAR) category, the mindshare of Torq is 3.6%, down from 5.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of IBM Security QRadar is 5.7%, down from 7.2% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR is 8.9%, down from 10.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Security Orchestration Automation and Response (SOAR) Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR8.9%
Torq3.6%
IBM Security QRadar5.7%
Other81.8%
Security Orchestration Automation and Response (SOAR)
 

Featured Reviews

AD
Solutions Architect at ProArch
Automation has streamlined multi-tenant SOC workflows and improves alert handling efficiency
Although the reporting within Torq is not that great, we did ask for many features regarding reporting in Torq, but due to some platform constraints, they could not make the whole dataset available for us to be used in reporting. Except for that, we used some basic reporting. When I used Torq, it was indeed in the early stages of AI capabilities. Only a few customers were allowed to use it, and we were among them. It functioned well as long as we summarized the data properly. If you input garbage, you would get garbage out. Thus, we had to do significant fine-tuning regarding what data context we provided to the AI orchestrator to get meaningful results. In terms of Torq's unified platform approach to AI SOC automation and case management compared to managing multiple point solutions across my security stack, I find it case-centric. The unified view in case management is good since it provides clarity, although there are limitations regarding how many items in case management can be modified at once. Bulk operations are very limited, potentially due to their back-end database or data retrieval processes that can be improved. Regarding improvements for Torq, when we were onboarded, there were aspects we were uncertain about, such as the number of cases that could be generated, what data we could bring in, how many clients we could onboard, and similar concerns. Initially, we also lacked clarity about the number of playbooks or workflows we could build. Different triggers like system triggers, case-based triggers, and others can be employed without restrictions, but when it comes to on-demand and scheduled jobs, there is a limitation based on the subscription and pricing tier that notably caps the number of workflows we can create. No bulk editing across cases was one issue, along with limited filtering related to single grouping constraints. Additionally, the out-of-the-box case templates provided require substantial modifications before they become usable. There is also a feature in the cases for notes that cannot be searched. They are only visible through the UI, which is another area for improvement. The workflow and execution-based charges seem misleading as this was not discussed initially. I am not sure if new customers are made aware of this. It seems that workflows revolving around cases hinder functionality outside of case management, as we have many use cases needing on-demand triggers and schedules for functions like reporting or polling devices. Creating additional workflows to achieve basic functionalities raises costs significantly, which disadvantages customers. While they facilitate optimization and scaling, the support received tends to be very basic. Improvements can be made in that area as well.
HarshBhardiya - PeerSpot reviewer
SOC Engineer at a outsourcing company with 10,001+ employees
Have managed daily asset and alert monitoring effectively but have encountered limitations with manual processes and interface usability
It's still very manual and doesn't work on its own. It's still in an early stage and not on par where we can consider it a really successful detection system. The accuracy is not there. The UI could be better when compared to Sentinels where we can use flags and tagging. It could be much more user-friendly. IBM Security QRadar has all features and is fully competitive with other SIEM tools, but when it comes to user-friendliness, a new user takes time to get used to it. More intuitive, user-friendly interfaces and more helpful documentation would be beneficial. The query searching and data fetching could be faster. In large to very large organizations with around 5,000 or 6,000 assets or beyond, even with proper configurations and RAM and hardware backing up, the query is fairly slow.
Sricharan R - PeerSpot reviewer
Lead Application Security Engineer Iv at a financial services firm with 5,001-10,000 employees
Security automation has transformed incident workflows and now reduces response time dramatically
I think the areas of Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR that could be improved are mainly in UX. We have communicated with the vendor team about this, but they are prioritizing product functionality over usability because most target customers are technical and understand a primitive UI. They face difficulties in implementing UI changes as their team is stretched. Thus, the UI/UX of the tool needs significant improvement. There are plans on their roadmap, but a lot remains to be done. Parts of the tool run on an older framework, causing slowness. Usability is a broader issue than features alone. This usability problem is common in many cybersecurity tools, unlike customer-facing applications. Some integrations have speed issues and might not function seamlessly with different upstream configurations, requiring manual updates. These are the main pain points we encountered, particularly with UI/UX, integration speed, and the usability of certain inbuilt playbooks.
report
Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Security Orchestration Automation and Response (SOAR) solutions are best for your needs.
908,877 professionals have used our research since 2012.
 

Comparison Review

VS
Manager, Enterprise Risk Consulting at a tech company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Jun 28, 2015
Qradar vs. ArcSight
Continuing with the SIEM posts we have done at Infosecnirvana, this post is a Head to head comparison of the two Industry leading SIEM products in the market – HP ArcSight and IBM QRadar Both the products have consistently been in the Gartner Leaders Quadrant. Both HP and IBM took over niche SIEM…
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
13%
Construction Company
10%
Outsourcing Company
10%
Comms Service Provider
10%
Financial Services Firm
11%
Construction Company
10%
Outsourcing Company
8%
Computer Software Company
8%
Financial Services Firm
13%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Computer Software Company
7%
Outsourcing Company
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business4
Midsize Enterprise5
Large Enterprise10
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business92
Midsize Enterprise39
Large Enterprise107
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business27
Midsize Enterprise9
Large Enterprise32
 

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with Torq?
The only thing is more out-of-the-box integrations. Torq already has a lot of supported integrations and adding new o...
What is your primary use case for Torq?
For Torq, first of all, it's a hyperautomation and AI assistant usage. Our EDR SentinelOne is integrated in Torq and ...
What advice do you have for others considering Torq?
I think I have told everything about Torq that I can share at this stage, but I am still in the process of learning t...
What are the biggest differences between Securonix UEBA, Exabeam, and IBM QRadar?
It mostly depends on your use-cases and environment. Exabeam and Securonix have a stronger UEBA feature set, friendli...
What SOC product do you recommend?
For tools I’d recommend: -SIEM- LogRhythm -SOAR- Palo Alto XSOAR Doing commercial w/o both (or at least an XDR) is a...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for IBM Security QRadar?
I am overall satisfied with the licensing cost for IBM Security QRadar.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR?
My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing for Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR is that I was just a consum...
What needs improvement with Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR?
Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR can be improved if it can include AI modules within Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR a...
What is your primary use case for Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR?
My main use case for Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR is that we use it as a SOAR platform, Security Orchestration and...
 

Also Known As

No data available
IBM QRadar, QRadar SIEM, QRadar UBA, QRadar on Cloud, IBM QRadar Advisor with Watson
Demisto Enterprise, Cortex XSOAR, Demisto
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

Information Not Available
Clients across multiple industries, such as energy, financial, retail, healthcare, government, communications, and education use QRadar.
Cellcom Israel, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City, esri, Cylance, Flatiron Health, Veeva, ADT Cybersecurity
Find out what your peers are saying about IBM Security QRadar vs. Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR and other solutions. Updated: June 2026.
908,877 professionals have used our research since 2012.