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Microsoft Defender for Business Reviews

Vendor: Microsoft
3.9 out of 5
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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 #16 ranked solution in top Microsoft Security Suite solutions and #18 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 45% 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
December 2025
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Microsoft Defender for Business mindshare

Product category:
Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP)
As of January 2026, the mindshare of Microsoft Defender for Business in the Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) category stands at 2.0%, up from 1.9% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Microsoft Defender for Business2.0%
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint8.2%
CrowdStrike Falcon7.0%
Other82.8%
Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP)

PeerResearch reports based on Microsoft Defender for Business reviews

TypeTitleDate
CategoryEndpoint Protection Platform (EPP)Jan 8, 2026Download
ProductReviews, tips, and advice from real usersJan 8, 2026Download
ComparisonMicrosoft Defender for Business vs CrowdStrike FalconJan 8, 2026Download
ComparisonMicrosoft Defender for Business vs Microsoft Defender for EndpointJan 8, 2026Download
ComparisonMicrosoft Defender for Business vs SentinelOne Singularity CompleteJan 8, 2026Download
Suggested products
TitleRatingMindshareRecommending
CrowdStrike Falcon4.37.0%97%136 interviewsAdd to research
Microsoft Intune4.1N/A94%307 interviewsAdd to research
 
 
Key learnings from peers
Last updated Jan 5, 2026

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.
  • "Because Microsoft Defender for Business is a native solution to Microsoft 365, it has contributed to my organization's proactive defense strategies by saving time on integration."
  • "The best features of Microsoft Defender for Business include it coming as an XDR solution which provides automated investigations, remediations, and endpoint detection and response."
  • "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."

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 see room for improvement in Microsoft Defender for Business, particularly regarding the consolidation of all security solutions in one place and the integration of AI and data security into the same platform."
  • "The pricing of Microsoft Defender for Business has a long way to go since people are still preferring solutions such as CrowdStrike and Palo Alto."
  • "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."

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.

Review data by company size

By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business13
Midsize Enterprise2
Large Enterprise4
By reviewers
By visitors reading reviews
Company SizeCount
Small Business280
Midsize Enterprise117
Large Enterprise228
By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
18%
Comms Service Provider
8%
Government
6%
Financial Services Firm
6%
Manufacturing Company
5%
Retailer
5%
Educational Organization
5%
Healthcare Company
4%
Outsourcing Company
4%
University
4%
Construction Company
4%
Non Profit
3%
Insurance Company
3%
Real Estate/Law Firm
3%
Performing Arts
3%
Wholesaler/Distributor
2%
Media Company
2%
Hospitality Company
2%
Energy/Utilities Company
2%
Legal Firm
2%
Recreational Facilities/Services Company
1%
Transportation Company
1%
Logistics Company
1%
Pharma/Biotech Company
1%
Wellness & Fitness Company
1%

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Product Categories

Product Categories
Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP)
Microsoft Security Suite

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Microsoft Defender for Business Reviews Summary
Author infoRatingReview Summary
Public Cloud Engineer at Prudential3.0I use Microsoft Defender for Business to protect our company assets. It's from a trusted vendor and beneficial for security, but it's less effective on Linux. Despite this instability, I recommend it for companies using Microsoft products, though CrowdStrike suits tech-focused firms.
Associate VP (Managed Information Technology Services) at Dev Information Tech Pvt Ltd4.0I've found Microsoft Defender for Business effective with solid integration and threat hunting, though limited by pricing, scalability, and data retention; it's ideal for SMBs but less suited for enterprises needing broader advanced security features.
Works4.5I use Microsoft Defender for Business for endpoint security and CASB. Its valuable features include content filtering and DLP, though support and installation need improvement. Its automation and threat response offer cost-effective security. CrowdStrike and Sentinel have better support.
Head Of IT Security at Dangote Industries Limited4.0I use Microsoft Defender for Business for comprehensive protection, appreciate its AI-driven threat hunting and integration with Microsoft 365, but see room to improve risk quantification, asset inventory, and remediation prioritization. I’d rate it eight out of ten.
Chief Cybersecurity Architect at cytek-security4.0I use Microsoft Defender for its effective integration with Microsoft Sentinel, enhancing investigations with quick threat mitigation and valuable insights. While Defender is valuable, its pricing is high, awaiting further Sentinel integration to realize its full potential.
Snr. Infrastructure Architect (Data Centre) at LogicEra5.0I frequently recommend Microsoft Defender for Business for its effective threat protection and log analytics, especially for Azure-based infrastructures. However, log storage costs and limitations in whitelisting features need improvement. It has reduced clients' operational costs and incident response times.
IT Security Analyst at a recreational facilities/services company with 1-10 employees4.5In our hybrid environment, we rely on Microsoft Defender for Business for threat monitoring and response, but improvements are needed for basic tenants. While integrated effectively, the ROI is unclear due to third-party tools supplementing our security stack.
Solution Consultant at BIM Group of Companies5.0I use Microsoft Defender for Business primarily for endpoint protection across laptops, desktops, VDI, and Windows 365, valuing its robust vulnerability management and cost-effectiveness. However, improvements are needed in batch management and pricing, especially for multi-year contracts.