← EDR / XDRMicrosoft Defender for Endpoint

StrongStrongStrongStrong

4.5

Vendors › EDR / XDR › Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

Name: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Author: Microsoft

Microsoft

Founded 1975·US·Public

4.5

Combined score

4.4306

Gartner

4.51,863

▪ Editorial verdict

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is the default choice for Microsoft-first organisations, and for good reason. The native integration across the entire Microsoft security stack, zero additional deployment for M365 E5 customers, and the unmatched XDR correlation across Entra ID, Defender for O365, and Defender for Cloud create cross-domain visibility that no third-party vendor can replicate for Microsoft environments.

The limitation is equally clear. macOS and Linux detection depth lags Windows significantly. The Defender portal complexity is consistently flagged by reviewers. And outside the Microsoft ecosystem, the cross-domain correlation value disappears. Organisations with significant non-Windows endpoints or non-Microsoft infrastructure will find CrowdStrike or SentinelOne offer materially better coverage.

The verdict: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is right for Microsoft-first enterprises that want the deepest XDR correlation within the Microsoft stack at no additional cost for E5 customers. Organisations with significant macOS, Linux, or non-Microsoft infrastructure should evaluate CrowdStrike or SentinelOne.

Last reviewed: September 2026

4.4306 reviews

Gartner

4.51,863 reviews

PeerSpot

8.0250 reviews

Gartner MQ: Leader

EDR / XDR assessment

PROTECTIONStrong

Endpoint detection

4 / 5

1,863 Gartner reviews - second most-reviewed EDR. Zero additional cost for M365 E5 customers is a structural advantage. Scored 4 because detection against novel/non-Windows threats lags CrowdStrike in independent tests.

Sources: Gartner Peer Insights, MITRE ATT&CK Evaluations

Extended XDR coverage

5 / 5

Scored 5 because native integration with M365, Entra ID, Azure, and Defender for Cloud makes it the broadest XDR platform for Microsoft environments. Email, identity, cloud, and endpoint all natively correlated.

Sources: Microsoft Defender XDR documentation

OPERATIONSStrong

Automated response

4 / 5

Automated investigation and remediation (AIR) is built-in. Scored 4 because autonomous response requires careful configuration to avoid false positives in diverse environments.

Sources: Microsoft AIR documentation, G2 reviews

Deployment & management

4 / 5

Scored 4 because Intune/MDE co-management is seamless for Windows but macOS and Linux management is less mature. Portal navigation complexity noted by reviewers.

Sources: G2 reviews, Gartner Peer Insights

ANALYTICSStrong

Threat hunting UX

4 / 5

Advanced Hunting with KQL provides excellent raw telemetry access. Scored 4 because KQL learning curve is steep and threat hunting productivity tools are less polished than CrowdStrike.

Sources: Microsoft Advanced Hunting documentation, G2 reviews

TRUST & ECOSYSTEMStrong

Ecosystem integrations

5 / 5

Native Microsoft ecosystem integration is unmatched. Scored 5 for Microsoft-centric environments where Sentinel, Purview, Intune, and Entra ID all connect natively.

Sources: Microsoft Defender ecosystem documentation

Strongest: Extended XDR coverage

Watch out for: Threat hunting UX

Strengths & limitations

Strengths

●Zero additional cost for M365 E5 customers

●Deep integration with Azure, Entra ID, Sentinel

●1,863 Gartner reviews - second most-reviewed EDR

Watch out for

●Strongest in Microsoft-only environments

●Requires Microsoft ecosystem for full value

●Navigation complexity within Defender suite

Best for

Microsoft 365 Enterprise customers wanting capable EDR without a separate vendor when already paying for E5.

Not suitable for: Non-Microsoft environments

Compliance coverage

●Essential Eight

●AU Privacy Act

●SOC 2

●HIPAA

●NIST CSF

●PCI-DSS

●CMMC

●GDPR

●NIS2

●DORA

●ISO 27001

●CIS Benchmarks

Switching intelligence

Switching from

Common migration paths based on review data

Third-party AV
Symantec
McAfee

Also considering

Vendors typically shortlisted alongside

Also in our database

Microsoft also appears in:

MDR / Managed SOC ➲Cloud Security Posture Management ➲SIEM ➲Identity & Access Management ➲Vulnerability Management ➲Email Security ➲ZTNA / Zero Trust Network Access ➲MFA / Passwordless Authentication ➲Data Loss Prevention ➲CASB / Cloud App Security ➲WAF / Web Application Firewall ➲SOAR ➲

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Quick facts

Pricing modelincluded in Microsoft 365 E5; standalone available

Pricing rangeIncluded in M365 E5; P2 standalone ~$5.20/user/month

Free trialYes - 90 days

Min seats1

Deployment time< 1 day

Complexity2 / 5

Pricing transparency4 / 5

AU presenceYes

IRAP assessedYes

Open sourceProprietary

Deployment

ModelsSaaS

OS supportWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

CloudAzure, AWS, GCP

SupportPhone, Email, Azure Portal, Dedicated CSM

Data residencyUS, EU, AU, Global

Company

Microsoft

Founded 1975 · 200,000+ employees · Public

HQ: US

$211B total FY2024

Certifications

FedRAMP High, ISO 27001, SOC 2 Type II, PCI-DSS, IRAP PROTECTED

See all Microsoft products ➲

Integrations

Microsoft 365Azure SentinelEntra IDIntuneDefender for CloudSplunkOkta