Microsoft Defender for Business Reviews

Name: Microsoft Defender for Business
Brand: Microsoft
Rating: 3.9 (19 reviews)

3.9 out of 5

19 reviews
87% willing to recommend

What is Microsoft Defender for Business?

Microsoft Defender for Business is a new endpoint security solution that was designed especially for the small and medium-sized business (up to 300 employees). With this endpoint security solution, your company's devices are better protected from ransomware, malware, phishing, and other threats.

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Microsoft Defender for Business is the #17 ranked solution in top Microsoft Security Suite solutions and #20 ranked solution in endpoint security software. PeerSpot users give Microsoft Defender for Business an average rating of 7.8 out of 10. Microsoft Defender for Business is most commonly compared to CrowdStrike Falcon: Microsoft Defender for Business vs CrowdStrike Falcon. Microsoft Defender for Business is popular among the small business segment, accounting for 43% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 18% of all views.

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Defender for Business

July 2025

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Helped 864,053 peers since 2012

Featured Microsoft Defender for Business reviews

Takayuki-Umehara

Public Cloud Engineer at Prudential

I am doing maintenance for Microsoft Defender for Business, and I'm currently working with it. We don't need to use the latest version of Microsoft Defender for Business. We still use the latest virus definition file that Microsoft Defender for Business has automatically updated. We implement a basic update mechanism. Our compliance division manages how many servers and PCs we have and whether those servers have antivirus solutions. I am not certain about how Microsoft Defender for Business helps with AI-driven security strategies. I just use it normally and don't know if it uses AI technology. I rate Microsoft Defender for Business a six out of ten.

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Syed Abid

Snr. Infrastructure Architect (Data Centre) at LogicEra

Threat protection and log analytics workspace have been the most effective for maintaining security. On our last deployment, I configured over 300 on-premises servers with XDR ( /categories/extended-detection-and-response-xdr ), different workload integrations, and onboarded Azure ( /products/microsoft-azure-reviews ) Arc servers. Additionally, I enabled Defender advanced threat protection on the on-premises servers that were already in VMware, all protected with the Defender P2 plan.

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Vincent Gagnon

Directeur Département Microsoft 365 at BGM Informatique

I have a lot of clients and I use Microsoft Defender for Business when we have certain types of licenses. It comes with Microsoft Business Premium. However, it is not available for many of my clients due to the high license cost, which makes it difficult to sell. I have a couple of clients who use…

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Microsoft Defender for Business mindshare

Product category:

As of August 2025, the mindshare of Microsoft Defender for Business in the Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) category stands at 2.0%, up from 1.4% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP)

PeerResearch reports based on Microsoft Defender for Business reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP)	Aug 1, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Aug 1, 2025	Download
Comparison	Microsoft Defender for Business vs Microsoft Defender for Endpoint	Aug 1, 2025	Download
Comparison	Microsoft Defender for Business vs CrowdStrike Falcon	Aug 1, 2025	Download
Comparison	Microsoft Defender for Business vs SentinelOne Singularity Complete	Aug 1, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
CrowdStrike Falcon	4.3	10.5%	96%	132 interviews Add to research
Microsoft Intune	4.1	N/A	94%	287 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

Microsoft Defender for Business offers robust threat detection, response capabilities, and seamless integration with Microsoft ecosystem, including Sentinel and Azure. Its scalability, central console, and vulnerability management are highly regarded. Users appreciate its ease of use, cost-effectiveness, and advanced features like CASB, content filtering, predictive analysis, and Data Loss Prevention. The software provides AI-powered threat intelligence and continuously updated protection, ensuring comprehensive security across endpoints for small and medium-sized businesses.

"The security features in Microsoft Defender for Business that have been most effective for our company include the way it's built-in and intertwined into all the operating systems, giving us a good opportunity to holistically block things for the organization using that tenant."
"Using Microsoft Defender for Business is beneficial for my company."
"Microsoft Defender for Business offers the best pricing option in the market and is very cost-effective."

Room for Improvement

Microsoft Defender for Business requires enhancements in reporting, URL filtering, and threat protection to minimize false positives. Users desire better integration with other systems and more proactive responses to emerging threats. Remote management capabilities should be improved, especially in handling workstations and third-party software. The user interface needs simplification, and technical support should be more responsive. Licensing and pricing strategies need adjustments, along with adding default log storage and enhancing managing Linux platforms.

"I have an open case for close to two months with no responses or updates, except for an email response, and I've made four or five phone calls regarding the Microsoft Interconnect for AD and cloud tenant."
"The technical support from Microsoft is very poor. I would rate it a one, as their technical staff are very junior and take a long time to respond to simple questions."
"The areas where Microsoft Defender for Business could improve include the support, installation process, and wiki. I should be able to find solutions to issues quickly without having to delve too deep."

ROI

Many see significant gains with Microsoft Defender for Business by enhancing end-user productivity and team efficiency. They find cost reductions from consolidating features, saving 20% to 30% of budgets. Users appreciate its ability to improve security and reduce incident response times while offering comprehensive features enabling other sales opportunities. Some struggle to gauge return due to reliance on additional tools and await governmental funding for more tool integration.

Pricing

Microsoft Defender for Business provides a competitive pricing structure, especially attractive when bundled with an Office 365 premium subscription, offering organizations a cost-effective security solution. Some enterprise users find the standalone pricing higher compared to competitors but acknowledge its comprehensive ecosystem covering various security needs. Pricing opinions vary; nonprofits and those with multi-year contracts often benefit from discounts. Small organizations may feel the cost is significant, though the deployment process is notably efficient.

"The tool's cost has been a little high, but I do not think it was terrible."
"The tool is cheap, while some other solutions are more expensive. I remember the tool cost about five euros for a workstation or for a user on a monthly basis."
"Since we're a nonprofit, we get pretty good discounts on the tool."

Popular Use Cases

Microsoft Defender for Business is primarily used for endpoint protection on desktops, laptops, and virtual infrastructures. Users implement it for cybersecurity tasks like threat prevention, vulnerability management, and attack surface detection. Managed service providers utilize it to enhance security across environments, deploying it for Windows, Linux, and Azure-based systems. Some clients face challenges due to licensing costs, but many organizations integrate it with existing security solutions and use it extensively with Microsoft 365 Business services.

Service and Support

Microsoft Defender for Business receives mixed reactions about its customer service. While some express satisfaction with prompt responses and integration support, others mention challenges with reaching support, slow response times, and inadequate solutions. The process of contacting technicians can be cumbersome, with frequent redirections. Ratings vary, with some satisfied with responsiveness and others noting significant delays and limited expertise. Overall, there's a consensus that improvements are needed, particularly regarding timely resolution of security concerns.

Deployment

Many found Microsoft Defender for Business's initial setup straightforward and quick, with some requiring less than ten minutes. Experienced technical personnel found it simple, though configuring log analytics could be tricky. Some rated setup as difficult due to scripting needs, appreciating guidance for newcomers. Smaller teams completed deployment within days, though distributed structures needed more time. Expertise enhances understanding, while cloud integration was managed efficiently by teams using their data centers and Azure Cloud.

Scalability

Microsoft Defender for Business exhibits high levels of scalability due to its cloud-driven design. Users rate its scalability between eight and ten. Thousands of users across diverse sectors, such as government and IT, confirm its broad usability. While some configurations may affect expansion speed, the tool remains reliable and adaptable. Businesses appreciate its capacity to handle numerous endpoints effectively.

Stability

Microsoft Defender for Business is generally perceived as stable. Many users rate its stability positively, with scores ranging from seven to ten. Users appreciate its reliability and absence of crashes or downtime, maintaining satisfaction over extended usage periods. While minor issues like bugs or complex system errors sometimes occur, these are infrequent. Some detect occasional instability but these views are in the minority among the users. Specific aspects like threat detection could see improvement.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our Microsoft Defender for Business Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.