

Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks and Microsoft Defender for Cloud compete in the cybersecurity space with a focus on endpoint and cloud environments, respectively. While both are effective, Cortex XDR seems to have the upper hand in endpoint security due to its advanced behavior-based detection and automation features, while Microsoft Defender for Cloud excels in regulatory compliance and multi-cloud visibility, benefiting cloud-native environments.
Features: Cortex XDR offers advanced endpoint security, zero-day malware protection, and behavior-based detection to enhance threat visibility. Microsoft Defender for Cloud provides cloud-native regulatory compliance support, extensive integration with Azure services, and multi-cloud environment visibility, strengthening its cloud capabilities.
Room for Improvement: Cortex XDR could improve reporting simplicity, EDR capabilities, and interface design, with users finding the manual setup complex and resource-intensive. Microsoft Defender for Cloud can refine pricing models and reduce false positives while offering better integration with existing systems and faster alert responses.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Cortex XDR provides flexible cloud deployment options but poses challenges in on-premises setups and customer support experiences vary. Microsoft Defender is optimal for Azure cloud, benefitting from seamless integration, though its licensing complexity and feature navigation can hinder the experience. Both emphasize the need for skilled technical support.
Pricing and ROI: Cortex XDR is perceived as costly, though it offers substantial ROI due to its threat detection and compliance. Microsoft Defender for Cloud presents competitive pricing, especially within the Microsoft ecosystem, with its new Defender for Storage plan considered expensive but favorable for cloud-based ROI and security improvements.
They appreciate the rich telemetry data from the solution, as it provides in-depth threat identification.
I have seen a return on investment with Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks, as this product is offered at a minimal cost, and we can find a good ROI from it.
Defender proactively indexes and analyzes documents, identifying potential threats even when inactive, enhancing preventative security.
Identifying potential vulnerabilities has helped us avoid costly data losses.
The biggest return on investment is the rapid improvement of security posture.
Every vendor has similar support; it depends on how the case is handled and raised.
Their support is efficient and responsive whenever I raise a ticket through my portal.
They did well with handling high-risk threats.
Since security is critical, we prefer a quicker response time.
The support team was very responsive to queries.
They understand their product, but much like us, they struggle with the finer details, especially with new features.
We are using infrastructure as a code, so we do not have any scalability issues with Microsoft Defender for Cloud implementation because our cloud automatically does it.
It has multiple licenses and features, covering infrastructures from a hundred to five hundred virtual machines, without any issues.
Defender won't replace our endpoint XDR, but it will likely adapt and support any growth in the Microsoft Cloud space.
Cortex XDR is stable, offering high quality and reliable performance.
For the last 11 months, we haven't faced any outage issues, so it is a stable product.
All the situations and issues were controlled in a good way by Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks.
Defender's stability has been flawless for us.
Microsoft Defender for Cloud is very stable.
Microsoft sometimes changes settings or configurations without transparency.
The inclusion of this feature would allow the application of DLP policies alongside antivirus policies via a single agent and console, making it more competitive as other OEMs often offer DLP solutions as part of their antivirus products.
If the per GB data could be provided at a certain level free of cost or at the same cost which the customer is taking for the entire bundle, that would be better.
Cortex XDR could improve its sales support team, including better commission structures and referral programs.
Microsoft, in general, could significantly improve its communication and support.
It would be beneficial to streamline recommendations to avoid unnecessary alerts and to refine the severity of alerts based on specific environments or environmental attributes.
The artificial intelligence features could be expanded to allow the system to autonomously manage security issues without needing intervention from admins.
Cortex XDR is perceived as expensive by some customers, yet offers dynamic pricing.
Compared to competitors such as CrowdStrike and Sophos, the pricing of Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks is similar to CrowdStrike but more expensive than Sophos.
Every time we consider expanding usage, we carefully evaluate the necessity due to cost concerns.
We appreciate the licensing approach based on employee count rather than a big enterprise license.
Microsoft Defender for Cloud is pricey, especially for Kubernetes clusters.
It incorporates AI for normal behavior detection, distinguishing unusual operations.
The product provides automation responses in case of a threat attack, severity assessments, centralized manageability, and comprehensive compliance features, resulting in reduced costs.
If a user doesn't click any link within 30 days and on the 31st day clicks a new link, Cortex XDR immediately alerts us that this user has clicked on an uncommon link or their behavior is uncommon.
The most valuable feature for me is the variety of APIs available.
This feature significantly aids in threat detection and enhances the user experience by streamlining security management.
The most valuable feature is the recommendations provided on how to improve security.
| Product | Market Share (%) | 
|---|---|
| Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks | 5.2% | 
| CrowdStrike Falcon | 11.8% | 
| Wazuh | 9.6% | 
| Other | 73.4% | 
| Product | Market Share (%) | 
|---|---|
| Microsoft Defender for Cloud | 15.4% | 
| Wiz | 15.1% | 
| AWS GuardDuty | 13.8% | 
| Other | 55.7% | 


| Company Size | Count | 
|---|---|
| Small Business | 41 | 
| Midsize Enterprise | 18 | 
| Large Enterprise | 36 | 
| Company Size | Count | 
|---|---|
| Small Business | 26 | 
| Midsize Enterprise | 7 | 
| Large Enterprise | 45 | 
Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks delivers comprehensive endpoint security, integrating well with other systems to offer robust threat detection and real-time protection through AI-driven analytics.
Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks offers advanced endpoint protection and threat detection through AI and behavior-based analytics. Its user-friendly design simplifies integration with firewalls, delivering multi-layered protection with low resource consumption. Valued for policy management, USB control, and incident correlation, Cortex XDR enhances threat management and real-time threat hunting capabilities. However, users note challenges with third-party integration, reporting, and dashboard automation. Agent performance across operating systems and memory consumption are areas for improvement, alongside reducing false positives and simplifying endpoint management and setup.
What features does Cortex XDR offer?
What benefits should be considered in reviews?
Cortex XDR is crucial in industries requiring robust endpoint protection, such as finance, healthcare, and technology. It supports malware detection, behavioral analysis, and ransomware mitigation across endpoints, including remote work environments, providing comprehensive threat visibility and security policy management. The solution's integration with firewalls and specialized industry requirements enhances security posture in diverse operational settings.
Microsoft Defender for Cloud is a comprehensive security solution that provides advanced threat protection for cloud workloads. It offers real-time visibility into the security posture of cloud environments, enabling organizations to quickly identify and respond to potential threats. With its advanced machine learning capabilities, Microsoft Defender for Cloud can detect and block sophisticated attacks, including zero-day exploits and fileless malware.
The solution also provides automated remediation capabilities, allowing security teams to quickly and easily respond to security incidents. With Microsoft Defender for Cloud, organizations can ensure the security and compliance of their cloud workloads, while reducing the burden on their security teams.
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