HEAD-TO-HEAD · FACTS ONLY
Harmonic vs Koi: AI endpoint control facts side by side
Short answer
By The Device Desk · Endpoint AI Finder · Published 2026-10-11
Desk research from public vendor pages read on 27 September and 11 October 2026. Profiles follow our published method; we did not run the products.
Vendor pages read September and October 2026 · updated 2026-10-13
Where do their controls sit?
- Filled or hatched marker: Harmonic
- Dashed teal ring: Koi, described
- DEV Filled marker: described on the product pages we read
- DEV Hatched marker: partly described (another component, a narrower scope, or method not detailed)
- DEV Dashed marker: not in our sources (it may exist; we did not find it)
What are the facts, side by side?
| Fact | Harmonic | Koi |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | None | Palo Alto Networks (acquisition completed 14 April 2026) |
| Positioning | A data protection product for everyday AI use, sold as Explore, Guide and Command, covering browser extensions, desktop apps and CLI tools, MCP gateways and an API. | Koi, now sold by Palo Alto Networks as Cortex Agentic Endpoint Security, gives visibility into models, MCPs and extensions on endpoints, removes insecure packages, extensions and AI tools in one click, and stops malicious actions. |
| How it reaches devices | Rolls out through Intune, JAMF, Kandji or Group Policy. Source: Harmonic Security homepage · Read 27 Sep 2026 | Available as a Cortex XDR module or as a standalone agent. koi.ai now redirects to the Palo Alto Networks page. Source: Palo Alto Networks: Cortex Agentic Endpoint Security · Read 27 Sep 2026 |
| On-device controlDiffers | Partly describedDeployment options include desktop apps and AI agents, rolled out through device management; the on-device component is not described in detail. Source: Harmonic Security pricing (re-read) · Read 11 Oct 2026 | DescribedAgent-based visibility into models, MCPs and extensions, one-click removal of insecure packages, extensions and AI tools, and blocking of unsafe AI application interactions. Source: Palo Alto Networks: Cortex Agentic Endpoint Security · Read 27 Sep 2026 |
| Browser extensionDiffers | DescribedBrowser extensions are a listed surface, with block, warn or log actions. Source: Harmonic Security homepage · Read 27 Sep 2026 | Not in our sourcesNot described on the pages we read. |
| Network or SSE proxy | Not in our sourcesNot described on the pages we read. | Not in our sourcesNot described on the pages we read. |
| AI or MCP gatewayDiffers | DescribedMCP gateways are a listed surface, and Harmonic Command governs at the MCP layer and at the tool surface. Source: Harmonic Security: Command · Read 27 Sep 2026 | Not in our sourcesNot described on the pages we read. |
| Names the coding agents it covers | MatchesThe Guide tier adds desktop AI apps and developer tools, naming Claude Code, GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT Desktop and Microsoft 365 Copilot. Source: Harmonic Security pricing (re-read) · Read 11 Oct 2026 | MatchesA Palo Alto Networks blog of 18 August 2026 names Claude Code, Cursor, Codex and Antigravity. Source: Palo Alto Networks blog: A Quarter of Innovation with Koi Agentic Endpoint Security · Read 11 Oct 2026 |
| Decides on a tool call before it runs | PartlyThe Command tier adds MCP client and server discovery, agent permissions for read, write and execute, and MCP server tool controls. Source: Harmonic Security pricing (re-read) · Read 11 Oct 2026 | PartlyBlocks unsafe AI application interactions and prevents prompt injections; decisions on individual tool calls are not described. Source: Palo Alto Networks: Cortex Agentic Endpoint Security · Read 27 Sep 2026 |
| Controls what goes into browser AIDiffers | MatchesBlock, warn or log on AI use in the browser. Source: Harmonic Security homepage · Read 27 Sep 2026 | Not in our sources |
| Rolls out through EDR or device management you runDiffers | MatchesRolls out through Intune, JAMF, Kandji or Group Policy. Source: Harmonic Security homepage · Read 27 Sep 2026 | PartlyA Cortex XDR module, or its own standalone agent. Source: Palo Alto Networks: Cortex Agentic Endpoint Security · Read 27 Sep 2026 |
| Can warn or ask instead of only blockingDiffers | MatchesWarn is one of three actions, with block and log. Source: Harmonic Security homepage · Read 27 Sep 2026 | Not in our sources |
| Can block an agent, tool or action | MatchesBlock is one of three actions. Source: Harmonic Security homepage · Read 27 Sep 2026 | MatchesStops malicious actions and removes insecure packages, extensions and AI tools in one click. Source: Palo Alto Networks: Cortex Agentic Endpoint Security · Read 27 Sep 2026 |
| Has a watch-only or simulation modeDiffers | MatchesLog is one of three actions, for watching before enforcing. Source: Harmonic Security homepage · Read 27 Sep 2026 | Not in our sources |
| Records who or what took each action | Not in our sources | Not in our sources |
| Also covers SaaS, cloud or homegrown AI | PartlyAn API is listed alongside device surfaces; SaaS or cloud agents are not described. Source: Harmonic Security homepage · Read 27 Sep 2026 | PartlyPalo Alto Networks plans integration with Prisma AIRS, its wider AI security platform. Source: Palo Alto Networks press release: acquisition of Koi completed · Read 27 Sep 2026 |
| Has a public price or tiers (vendor site or marketplace)Differs | PartlyNames three tiers (Explore, Guide, Command) on its pricing page, without prices. Source: Harmonic Security: pricing · Read 27 Sep 2026 | Not in our sources |
| Built into | None | Offered as a Cortex XDR module. Source: Palo Alto Networks press release: acquisition of Koi completed · Read 27 Sep 2026 |
| Works with | None in our sources | None in our sources |
| Price | Three named tiers (Explore, Guide, Command) with no prices; a full prompt audit log is an add-on on Guide and Command. Source: Harmonic Security pricing (re-read) · Read 11 Oct 2026 | Not published. Source: Palo Alto Networks: Cortex Agentic Endpoint Security · Read 27 Sep 2026 |
Where do they differ?
- On-device control: Harmonic partly describes it; Koi describes it.
- Browser extension: Harmonic describes it; Koi is not in our sources.
- AI or MCP gateway: Harmonic describes it; Koi is not in our sources.
- Controls what goes into browser AI: Harmonic matches; Koi is not in our sources.
- Rolls out through EDR or device management you run: Harmonic matches; Koi partly matches.
- Can warn or ask instead of only blocking: Harmonic matches; Koi is not in our sources.
- Has a watch-only or simulation mode: Harmonic matches; Koi is not in our sources.
- Has a public price or tiers (vendor site or marketplace): Harmonic partly matches; Koi is not in our sources.
Choose Harmonic if
- Your main risk is employees pasting sensitive data into AI tools and you would rather coach than block
- You manage devices with Intune, JAMF, Kandji or Group Policy
Choose Koi if
- You already run Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR
- You want to find and remove risky extensions and packages across the fleet
Which limits should you check?
Harmonic
- Tier names only, no prices, and the full prompt audit log is an add-on.
- An activity record that separates a person from an agent is not described, and prompt injection protection is listed as coming soon.
Koi
- Agent-based: it adds an agent unless you run it as a Cortex XDR module.
- Warn or ask actions and a record that separates a person from an agent are not described on the pages we read, and no pricing is published.