HEAD-TO-HEAD · FACTS ONLY
Harmonic vs Neo: 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: Neo, 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 | Neo |
|---|---|---|
| Owner | None | None |
| 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. | Agentic Software Control from Neo Security, Inc. (neo.ai, not Pulumi Neo): a live inventory of agents, models, skills, MCP servers and extensions on every endpoint, and runtime control that intercepts agent actions and allows, blocks or holds them for approval. Launched 20 July 2026 with $100M from Andreessen Horowitz and Bessemer; HQ Boston. |
| How it reaches devices | Rolls out through Intune, JAMF, Kandji or Group Policy. Source: Harmonic Security homepage · Read 27 Sep 2026 | A lightweight endpoint sensor with no kernel module, no reboot and no OS hooks; analysis stays on the device. OS support is not listed on the pages we read; SACR (secondary) says it needs no MDM. Source: Neo: platform · Read 13 Oct 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 | DescribedA live inventory of agents, models, skills, MCP servers and extensions on every endpoint, with runtime control that intercepts agent actions. Source: Neo homepage · Read 13 Oct 2026 |
| Browser extensionDiffers | DescribedBrowser extensions are a listed surface, with block, warn or log actions. Source: Harmonic Security homepage · Read 27 Sep 2026 | Partly described(secondary: SACR) user-mode endpoint and browser security. Source: SACR (secondary): CISO guide to endpoint control and prevention, July 2026 · Read 13 Oct 2026 · secondary source |
| 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 | MatchesNames Claude Code, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot and OpenAI Codex; Cursor is not named. Source: Neo: platform · Read 13 Oct 2026 |
| Decides on a tool call before it runsDiffers | 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 | MatchesIntercepts agent actions at the endpoint and allows, blocks or holds them for approval. Source: Neo homepage · Read 13 Oct 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 | PartlyIts own lightweight sensor rather than a rollout through existing EDR or MDM. Source: Neo: platform · Read 13 Oct 2026 |
| Can warn or ask instead of only blocking | MatchesWarn is one of three actions, with block and log. Source: Harmonic Security homepage · Read 27 Sep 2026 | MatchesHold an action for verified human approval. Source: Neo: platform · Read 13 Oct 2026 |
| Can block an agent, tool or action | MatchesBlock is one of three actions. Source: Harmonic Security homepage · Read 27 Sep 2026 | MatchesBlock is one of its runtime actions. Source: Neo: platform · Read 13 Oct 2026 |
| Has a watch-only or simulation mode | MatchesLog is one of three actions, for watching before enforcing. Source: Harmonic Security homepage · Read 27 Sep 2026 | MatchesAudit mode before enforcement. Source: Neo: platform · Read 13 Oct 2026 |
| Records who or what took each actionDiffers | Not in our sources | MatchesEvery action tied to the human or agent that caused it, in an immutable audit chain. Source: Neo homepage · Read 13 Oct 2026 |
| 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 | PartlyNames SaaS and desktop AI such as Slack AI, Notion AI, Salesforce Agentforce and ChatGPT Desktop. Source: Neo: platform · Read 13 Oct 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 | None |
| 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 (demo request). Source: Neo homepage · Read 13 Oct 2026 |
Where do they differ?
- On-device control: Harmonic partly describes it; Neo describes it.
- Browser extension: Harmonic describes it; Neo partly describes it.
- AI or MCP gateway: Harmonic describes it; Neo is not in our sources.
- Decides on a tool call before it runs: Harmonic partly matches; Neo matches.
- Controls what goes into browser AI: Harmonic matches; Neo is not in our sources.
- Rolls out through EDR or device management you run: Harmonic matches; Neo partly matches.
- Records who or what took each action: Harmonic is not in our sources; Neo matches.
- Has a public price or tiers (vendor site or marketplace): Harmonic partly matches; Neo 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 Neo if
- You want to hold agent actions for human approval on the device
- You want an audit mode before enforcing rules
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.
Neo
- Uses its own sensor rather than the EDR or MDM you run, and OS support is not listed on the pages we read.
- No price is published.