Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Antivirus software
Endpoint detection & response (EDR) software
Endpoint protection platforms
Endpoint protection software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
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$3.00 per user per month
Free Trial
Free version unavailable
Small
Medium
Large
- Real estate and property management
- Construction
- Retail and wholesale
What is Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is an endpoint security product that provides endpoint detection and response, threat protection, and investigation capabilities for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS devices. It is used by IT and security teams to prevent, detect, and respond to endpoint threats across enterprise environments. The product integrates with the broader Microsoft security stack (including Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Sentinel) and supports centralized management, alerting, and automated remediation workflows.
Deep Microsoft ecosystem integration
The product integrates natively with Microsoft Entra ID, Microsoft Intune, Microsoft 365 Defender, and Microsoft Sentinel for identity-aware signals and cross-domain incident correlation. This reduces the need for third-party connectors when an organization standardizes on Microsoft security and management tools. It also supports unified investigation views and coordinated response actions across endpoints and other Microsoft security workloads.
Broad endpoint OS coverage
Defender for Endpoint supports Windows endpoints and servers as well as macOS and Linux, with mobile support via Android and iOS integrations. This helps organizations apply consistent detection and response processes across mixed device fleets. Centralized policy, alerting, and device inventory features support enterprise-scale administration.
Strong EDR investigation tooling
The product provides endpoint telemetry, alert triage, and investigation features such as device timelines and incident grouping. It supports response actions like isolating devices, collecting investigation packages, and running antivirus scans from the console. Automation features (including automated investigation and remediation) can reduce manual effort for common incident types.
Licensing can be complex
Capabilities vary by license tier and packaging (for example, different Microsoft 365 and Defender plans), which can make entitlement and cost planning non-trivial. Some advanced features may require additional Microsoft security components or higher-tier subscriptions. Organizations often need careful mapping of requirements to the correct SKU set.
Best fit for Microsoft-centric stacks
While it supports non-Windows operating systems, the strongest management and integration experience typically occurs in environments already using Microsoft identity, device management, and security tooling. Organizations with heterogeneous security stacks may need additional integration work to align workflows and reporting. This can affect time-to-value compared with more standalone endpoint suites.
Operational tuning required
Like other enterprise EDR tools, it can generate alerts that require tuning to reduce noise and align with organizational risk tolerance. Effective use often depends on configuring exclusions, attack surface reduction policies, and automation rules appropriately. Teams without dedicated security operations resources may find ongoing monitoring and response processes demanding.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Defender for Business | $3.00 per user/month (annual) | Up to 300 users (max), up to five devices per user; next‑gen antimalware, EDR capabilities, vulnerability management; "Try free for 30 days" shown on product page. |
| Microsoft Defender for Endpoint P1 | Included with Microsoft 365 E3 (Microsoft 365 E3 listed at $36.00 user/month, annual on Microsoft site) | Foundational endpoint protection: antimalware, attack surface reduction, device control, firewall, web control, device‑based conditional access. |
| Microsoft Defender for Endpoint P2 | Included with Microsoft 365 E5 (Microsoft 365 E5 listed at $57.00 user/month, annual on Microsoft site); alternatively, customers with Microsoft 365 E3 can add the Microsoft Defender Suite add‑on ($12.00 user/month, annual) | Full EDR: endpoint detection & response, automated investigation & remediation, cyberthreat & vulnerability management, sandboxing, threat intelligence. P2 shown as included with E5; Defender Suite add‑on provides equivalent XDR/endpoint capabilities when paired with E3. |
| Standalone enterprise / volume licensing | Contact Sales (no standalone per‑user price published on public Microsoft pages) | Microsoft directs enterprise customers/volume licensing customers to contact Sales / partners; Product Terms list available editions but public standalone prices for P1/P2 are not published. |
Seller details
Microsoft Corporation
Redmond, Washington, United States
1975
Public
https://www.microsoft.com/
https://x.com/Microsoft
https://www.linkedin.com/company/microsoft/
