BlackBerry Cylance Cybersecurity vs Microsoft Defender for Business comparison

BlackBerry and Microsoft are both solutions in the Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) category. BlackBerry is ranked #31 with an average rating of 8.3, while Microsoft is ranked #21 with an average rating of 7.6. BlackBerry holds a 1.1% mindshare in EPP, compared to Microsoft’s 2.1% mindshare. Additionally, 85% of BlackBerry users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 87% of Microsoft users who would recommend it.

BlackBerry Cylance Cybersec...

Read 44 BlackBerry Cylance Cybersecurity reviews

2,953 Views
2,658 Comparison Views

85% willing to recommend

Microsoft Defender for Busi...

Read 18 Microsoft Defender for Business reviews

4,781 Views
3,490 Comparison Views

87% willing to recommend

BlackBerry Cylance Cybersec...

Microsoft Defender for Busi...

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jul 27, 2025

BlackBerry Cylance and Microsoft Defender for Business both compete in the cybersecurity field, focusing on endpoint protection. Microsoft Defender seems to have an advantage due to its strong integration within the Microsoft ecosystem and cost-effectiveness.

Features: BlackBerry Cylance offers a lightweight agent, machine learning for zero-day threat protection, and centralized management for robust endpoint protection. Microsoft Defender provides comprehensive threat detection, excellent integration with Microsoft tools, and strong vulnerability management capabilities.

Room for Improvement: BlackBerry Cylance requires better reporting, improved false positive management, and a more user-friendly interface. Microsoft Defender needs to address false positives, enhance integration and reporting features, and improve ease of remote actions.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: BlackBerry Cylance is deployable across various environments but receives mixed reviews on support due to slow responses. Microsoft Defender is also versatile in deployment with generally praised support, although it is sometimes noted for complexity without proper pre-warning on changes.

Pricing and ROI: BlackBerry Cylance's pricing is perceived as high, though users appreciate its security effectiveness. Microsoft Defender is commended for its cost-effectiveness and competitive pricing within its integration-friendly ecosystem. Both products enhance labor efficiency and security but Microsoft's pricing is seen as more flexible and affordable.

To learn more, read our detailed BlackBerry Cylance Cybersecurity vs. Microsoft Defender for Business Report (Updated: July 2025).

Buyer's Guide

BlackBerry Cylance Cybersecurity vs. Microsoft Defender for Business

July 2025

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Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Categories and Ranking

BlackBerry Cylance Cybersec...

Ranking in Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP)

31st

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

4.6

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Microsoft Defender for Busi...

Ranking in Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP)

21st

Average Rating

7.8

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Microsoft Security Suite (16th)

Mindshare comparison

As of September 2025, in the Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) category, the mindshare of BlackBerry Cylance Cybersecurity is 1.1%, down from 1.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft Defender for Business is 2.1%, up from 1.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Microsoft Defender for Business	2.1%
BlackBerry Cylance Cybersecurity	1.1%
Other	96.8%

Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP)

Featured Reviews

Sooraj Makkancherrry

Security Operations Manager at Philips

Doesn't have daily updates, which is important for healthcare IT

I face challenges with the exclusion policy - it still scans folders we told it not to, causing issues. When we contact support, they tell us to update the latest agent, but we can't do that immediately due to medical device protocols and validation testing. I wish support would try to understand our issues better instead of giving this standard response. The machine learning feature they use often tells us to upgrade the agent or add things to the exclusion list, which isn't unacceptable. It's a very good and new technology as a tool and antivirus. But sometimes, it doesn't work properly with our medical devices and products, quarantining files it shouldn't even after we add them to exclusions. This is tricky for us.

Read full review

Takayuki-Umehara

Public Cloud Engineer at Prudential

Product deployment protects assets but needs improvement in system support

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.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:

Pros

"One of the best features of the solution is that it's easy to deploy."

"I rate the tool a ten out of ten when it comes to the ease of use or management part."

"CylancePROTECT is very stable - we've had no issues with performance and no errors or bugs."

"We chose the solution because it doesn't have daily updates, which is important for us in healthcare IT, where network usage and connectivity to hospitals matter."

"You can manage all the threats and everything from a centralized dashboard."

"Two or three years ago when the WannaCry virus struck, the people that were on Cylance were the ones that weren't affected."

"CylancePROTECT works on AI technology, is always up to date, and uses very few resources on your devices."

"It is a good endpoint solution. It is very easy to manage and detect the threat immediately. It will take the necessary actions."

More BlackBerry Cylance Cybersecurity pros

"Microsoft Defender for Business stands out due to its ease of use, particularly due to the fact that many of my customers already use Microsoft and Azure."

"Microsoft Defender for Business is good for small and medium-sized businesses. It offers solid security flexibility and integration with tools like Microsoft Lighthouse and some other software. It takes some of the features of Defender for Endpoint EDR and provides those services for small and medium-sized business environments."

"Microsoft Defender for Business works well with the Microsoft Azure Security ecosystem, including Defender for Endpoint and Office 365 Cloud."

"Microsoft Defender for Business offers the best pricing option in the market and is very cost-effective."

"I rate Microsoft Defender for Business a 10 out of 10."

"Everything is stable. There have been no technical errors or stability issues."

"The solution includes attack-savvy service and risk protection, part of data center management, and offers an effective single-dashboard view with Microsoft 365."

"If you're an Intune user, you can bring in certain capabilities like system-hardening policies, which further enhances the security."

More Microsoft Defender for Business pros

Cons

"Making the dashboards a bit modern to make them easier to search would also be helpful."

"It could have integration with industrial base HMIS or Human Machine Interfaces Solutions. This is the industrial environment where you have a control center for all the automation that's happening, whether it is oil, gas, or chemical manufacturing. They often have to set up a computer at the back and watch the other stuff to get alerts. In these autonomous or on-premises environments, they often don't have access to email readily. Integration with other industrial solutions, such as HMIS, will allow them to communicate and get an alert that something has been found. This way, they can react to it sooner than having somebody watch the screen and keep checking the screen. Rockwell has its own suite. Similarly, Honeywell has its own suite. There's also an independent HMI/historian solution provider out there called VTSCADA. We actually get asked if we can get it to show up on a screen, which is difficult. Getting those alerts to work within an industrial environment would be a huge plus."

"The stability could be improved."

"It is hard to manage."

"The security scripting needs improvement. It needs deeper security for scripting."

"An area for improvement in CylancePROTECT is its pricing, as it's a bit costly."

"The product needs to continue to offer better alerts. In particular, around false positives. It needs to reduce them from happening."

"The company that sells us the licenses sometimes doesn't know how to do certain things."

More BlackBerry Cylance Cybersecurity cons

"The tool's support is an area of concern where improvements are needed."

"Additionally, the pricing policy poses a challenge, particularly in multi-year contracts, where other solutions like Trend Micro offer more affordable options."

"The threat detection capabilities require significant customization for multistage threat detection."

"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."

"Threat protection could be improved even though it is already a built-in feature."

"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."

"Defender's reporting is rather scattered, and its URL filtering mechanism doesn't really work."

"The biggest one is that Defender needs to be more proactive to the emerging threats. There can be tighter integration with email, especially how it integrates with our email system, which is the Microsoft Outlook suite. There should be the ability to react a lot quicker to emerging threats because sometimes, it takes a few days before some of these new threats are fully identified, and we need that to be a few hours."

More Microsoft Defender for Business cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"We pay our license on a yearly basis and have just renewed for two years."

"We went through a third party initially to do the renewal, but we won't be renewing, we will move on to something else."

"The solution's pricing is around the same as most EDRs but slightly behind some of the major ones."

"My company is on a yearly CylancePROTECT subscription. Price-wise, the solution is slightly expensive, so I'd rate it as eight out of ten."

"The license price for this solution could be better. It's on the expensive side."

"CylancePROTECT is an affordable solution."

"It's not so heavily priced; rather, it's average and decent."

"CylancePROTECT is worth the money, but I'm not sure of its exact price. I can't remember off the top of my head."

More BlackBerry Cylance Cybersecurity pricing and cost advice

"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."

"Defender for Business is included by default with an Office 365 premium subscription."

"It has to get more competitive because we are starting to see some of the competitors providing better pricing, and some of it, of course, is to gain market share. The Defender product pricing is probably a little higher than the competitors."

"The tool's cost has been a little high, but I do not think it was terrible."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

12%

Manufacturing Company

11%

Government

Comms Service Provider

Computer Software Company

19%

Comms Service Provider

Government

Retailer

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	33
Midsize Enterprise	5
Large Enterprise	13

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	14
Midsize Enterprise	2
Large Enterprise	3

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Blackberry Protect?

It is a good endpoint solution. It is very easy to manage and detect the threat immediately. It will take the necessary actions.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Blackberry Protect?

The price is reasonable for us at the moment. I rate the overall solution an eight out of ten.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Blackberry Protect?

See all answers

What do you like most about Microsoft Defender for Business?

A few things are valuable. One is the alerting we see when any kind of intrusion is happening, any kind of malware is being deployed across the endpoints, or any kind of suspicious activity is goin...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft Defender for Business?

Our thoughts on the pricing for Microsoft Defender for Business are that we wish it could be better. If the pricing was a little better, we would definitely increase what we currently have.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Microsoft Defender for Business?

Microsoft Defender for Business could improve by offering more of their offerings available in the basic tenants since not everyone has a budget for higher-level licenses, but everyone needs securi...

See all answers

Comparisons

CrowdStrike Falcon vs BlackBerry Cylance Cybersecurity

Compared 14% of the time

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs BlackBerry Cylance Cybersecurity

Compared 14% of the time

SentinelOne Singularity Complete vs BlackBerry Cylance Cybersecurity

Compared 8% of the time

Symantec Endpoint Security vs BlackBerry Cylance Cybersecurity

Compared 7% of the time

OpenText Core Endpoint Protection vs BlackBerry Cylance Cybersecurity

Compared 2% of the time

More BlackBerry Cylance Cybersecurity Competitors

HP Wolf Security vs Microsoft Defender for Business

Compared 19% of the time

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 vs Microsoft Defender for Business

Compared 13% of the time

Trend Micro Worry-Free Services Suites vs Microsoft Defender for Business

Compared 7% of the time

Microsoft Defender XDR vs Microsoft Defender for Business

Compared 6% of the time

Norton Small Business vs Microsoft Defender for Business

Compared 5% of the time

More Microsoft Defender for Business Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

BlackBerry Cylance Cybersecurity

September 2025

Download BlackBerry Cylance Cybersecurity product report

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Defender for Business

August 2025

Download Microsoft Defender for Business product report

Also Known As

Blackberry Protect

No data available

Overview

BlackBerry Cylance provides endpoint security, threat protection, and antivirus capabilities, using AI and machine learning for protection against malware and ransomware on desktops, servers, and virtual machines worldwide. Its AI-driven threat detection operates even with limited internet, facilitating effective threat management.

BlackBerry Cylance's centralized dashboard simplifies threat management and vulnerability protection for organizations globally. The platform combines AI and machine learning to deliver superior zero-day threat protection and minimize CPU usage, offering stable and accurate threat detection without frequent updates. It includes tools like CylanceOPTICS and CylancePERSONA for enhanced user behavior monitoring and adopts a proactive approach that effectively manages threats at various lifecycle stages. Renowned for stability and performance, it efficiently prevents unauthorized applications while maintaining system productivity.

What are the main features of BlackBerry Cylance?

Minimal CPU Usage: Efficiently operates without taxing computer resources.
AI and Machine Learning: Advanced technology for zero-day threat protection.
Lightweight Design: Functions without constant updates for simplified usage.
Centralized Management: Offers a user-friendly, intuitive dashboard.
CylanceOPTICS and PERSONA: Tools for in-depth user behavior analysis.

What are key benefits to look for in user reviews?

Effective Malware Detection: Recognized accuracy in identifying security threats.
Proactive Threat Mitigation: Actively detects and manages threats.
Stability and Performance: Consistent protection without hampering system performance.
Reduced Unauthorized Access: Limits unpermitted application activity.

In the professional sector, BlackBerry Cylance is leveraged to protect crucial infrastructure through a robust approach accommodating environments with limited connectivity. Its widespread deployment in industries, including healthcare and finance, is attributed to its ease of deployment and comprehensive protection capabilities. However, enhancements in reporting, pricing structures, and technical support are avenues for development, reflecting user feedback for improving detection rates and overall dashboard usability.

BlackBerry

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.

Microsoft

Sample Customers

Panasonic, Noble Energy, Apria Healthcare Group Inc., Charles River Laboratories, Rovi Corporation, Toyota, Kiewit

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

BlackBerry Cylance Cybersecurity vs. Microsoft Defender for Business

July 2025

Free Report: BlackBerry Cylance Cybersecurity vs. Microsoft Defender for Business

Find out what your peers are saying about BlackBerry Cylance Cybersecurity vs. Microsoft Defender for Business and other solutions. Updated: July 2025.

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