HEAD TO HEAD
Koi (Palo Alto Networks) matched with Neo: agentic endpoint security compared
SHORT ANSWER
On our published weights Neo scores higher overall, 6.85 to 5.75 out of 10. Koi scores higher on cloud and workspace reach and public proof; Neo scores higher on stop before it runs, verdict range, capability rules and actor trail; they tie on rollout path and named agent coverage. Which fits depends on which of those criteria matters most to you.
By The Agent Desk · Agentic Endpoint Compare · Published 2026-10-11
Desk research from public vendor pages, press releases and standards pages read on 27 September and 11 October 2026. Editorial assessment; we did not run the products.
How do they compare at a glance?
Koi (Palo Alto Networks)
Palo Alto Networks (acquisition completed 14 April 2026)
Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR estates
Rank 7 of 8 among broader AI security platforms
Neo
Approval holds and an agent-level audit chain
Rank 2 of 6 among agentic endpoint vendors
Which scores higher on each criterion?
| Criterion | Weight | Koi (Palo Alto Networks) | Neo | Higher |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stop before it runs | 25% | 7 / 10 Stops malicious actions, blocks unsafe AI application interactions and prevents prompt injections; tool-call decision mechanics are not published. Source: Palo Alto Networks: Cortex Agentic Endpoint Security · Read 27 Sep 2026 | 8 / 10 Intercepts agent actions at the endpoint and allows, blocks or holds them for approval before they run; decision latency is not stated. Source: Neo homepage · Read 13 Oct 2026 | Neo |
| Verdict range | 15% | 3 / 10 Documents 2 of six verdict types: Block or deny and Remove or scale back. "Stops malicious actions and offers one-click removal of insecure packages, extensions and AI tools." Source: Palo Alto Networks: Cortex Agentic Endpoint Security · Read 27 Sep 2026 | 7 / 10 Documents 4 of six verdict types: Block or deny, Ask a person, Mask or modify and Simulate first. "Allow, block, redirect or hold an action for verified human approval; audit mode before enforcement." Source: Neo platform · Read 13 Oct 2026 | Neo |
| Capability rules | 15% | 6 / 10 Out-of-the-box policies, agent runtime custom policies and one-click removal of insecure packages, extensions and AI tools. Source: Palo Alto Networks blog: A Quarter of Innovation with Koi Agentic Endpoint Security (18 August 2026) · Read 11 Oct 2026 | 7 / 10 Policies built with a built-in LLM, with examples such as Block secret reads and Hold exports over 10 MB, over an inventory of agents, models, skills, MCP servers and extensions. Source: Neo homepage · Read 13 Oct 2026 | Neo |
| Actor trail | 10% | 5 / 10 Agent versus person attribution is not described on the pages we read. Source: Palo Alto Networks: Cortex Agentic Endpoint Security · Read 27 Sep 2026 | 8 / 10 Every action is tied to the human or agent that caused it, in what Neo calls an immutable audit chain. Source: Neo homepage · Read 13 Oct 2026 | Neo |
| Rollout path | 10% | 6 / 10 Agent-based: a Cortex XDR module or a standalone offering. Source: Palo Alto Networks press release: Koi acquisition completed (14 April 2026) · Read 27 Sep 2026 | 6 / 10 A new lightweight endpoint sensor: no kernel module, no reboot, no OS hooks; OS support and MDM rollout are not stated. Source: Neo platform · Read 13 Oct 2026 | Tie |
| Cloud and workspace reach | 10% | 6 / 10 An endpoint product; Palo Alto Networks is integrating Koi with Prisma AIRS for wider AI coverage. Source: Palo Alto Networks press release: Koi acquisition completed (14 April 2026) · Read 27 Sep 2026 | 5 / 10 Names SaaS and desktop AI such as Slack AI, Notion AI and Salesforce Agentforce from the endpoint; agents in cloud workloads are not described. Source: Neo platform · Read 13 Oct 2026 | Koi |
| Named agent coverage | 5% | 5 / 10 Names 3 of the six agents we track: Claude Code, Cursor and OpenAI Codex. Source: Palo Alto Networks blog: A Quarter of Innovation with Koi Agentic Endpoint Security (18 August 2026) · Read 11 Oct 2026 | 5 / 10 Names 3 of the six agents we track: Claude Code, GitHub Copilot and OpenAI Codex. Source: Neo platform · Read 13 Oct 2026 | Tie |
| Public proof | 10% | 7 / 10 Acquisition by Palo Alto Networks completed 14 April 2026; pricing not published. Source: Palo Alto Networks press release: Koi acquisition completed (14 April 2026) · Read 27 Sep 2026 | 6 / 10 Came out of stealth on 20 July 2026 with $100M from Andreessen Horowitz and Bessemer; no documentation portal or pricing. Source: Neo news: launch with $100M (20 July 2026) · Read 13 Oct 2026 | Koi |
Which verdicts does each document?
| Verdict type | Koi (Palo Alto Networks) | Neo |
|---|---|---|
| Block or deny | Documented | Documented |
| Ask a person | Not described | Documented |
| Alert or warn | Not described | Not described |
| Mask or modify | Not described | Documented |
| Simulate first | Not described | Documented |
| Remove or scale back | Documented | Not described |
- Koi (Palo Alto Networks): "Stops malicious actions and offers one-click removal of insecure packages, extensions and AI tools."
Source: Palo Alto Networks: Cortex Agentic Endpoint Security · Read 27 Sep 2026
- Neo: "Allow, block, redirect or hold an action for verified human approval; audit mode before enforcement."
Source: Neo platform · Read 13 Oct 2026
How does each reach devices?
Koi (Palo Alto Networks)
A Cortex XDR module, or a standalone agent-based offering.
Source: Palo Alto Networks press release: Koi acquisition completed (14 April 2026) · Read 27 Sep 2026
Neo
A new lightweight endpoint sensor with no kernel module, no reboot and no OS hooks; OS support and MDM rollout are not stated.
Source: Neo platform · Read 13 Oct 2026
Which agents does each name?
| Agent | Koi (Palo Alto Networks) | Neo |
|---|---|---|
| Claude Code | Named | Named |
| Cursor | Named | Not named |
| GitHub Copilot | Not named | Named |
| OpenAI Codex | Named | Named |
| Windsurf | Not named | Not named |
| Claude Desktop | Not named | Not named |
| Named | 3 of 6 | 3 of 6 |
Which should you choose?
Choose Koi (Palo Alto Networks) if you need stop before it runs and public proof. Koi (Palo Alto Networks) is best for: Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR estates.
Choose Neo if you need stop before it runs and actor trail. Neo is best for: Approval holds and an agent-level audit chain.
Frequently asked questions
Which is better for agentic endpoint security, Koi (Palo Alto Networks) or Neo?
On our published weights Neo scores higher overall, 6.85 to 5.75 out of 10. See the criterion table above for where each scores higher.
Which stops an agent action before it runs more fully, Koi (Palo Alto Networks) or Neo?
Neo scores higher on stopping an action before it runs (8 to 7). Koi (Palo Alto Networks): Stops malicious actions, blocks unsafe AI application interactions and prevents prompt injections; tool-call decision mechanics are not published. Neo: Intercepts agent actions at the endpoint and allows, blocks or holds them for approval before they run; decision latency is not stated.
Do Koi (Palo Alto Networks) and Neo publish prices?
Koi (Palo Alto Networks): not published. Palo Alto Networks publishes no pricing for Cortex Agentic Endpoint Security. Neo: not published. Neo publishes no pricing.