CrowdStrike Falcon vs Microsoft Defender External Attack Surface Management comparison

CrowdStrike and Microsoft are both solutions in the Attack Surface Management (ASM) category. CrowdStrike is ranked #1 with an average rating of 8.6, while Microsoft is ranked #12 with an average rating of 7.5. CrowdStrike holds a 11.4% mindshare in ASM, compared to Microsoft’s 3.1% mindshare. Additionally, 97% of CrowdStrike users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Microsoft users who would recommend it.

CrowdStrike Falcon

Read 135 CrowdStrike Falcon reviews

50,951 Views
4,076 Comparison Views

97% willing to recommend

Microsoft Defender External...

Read 2 Microsoft Defender External Attack Surface Management reviews

942 Views
754 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

CrowdStrike Falcon

Microsoft Defender External...

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between CrowdStrike Falcon and Microsoft Defender External Attack Surface Management based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Attack Surface Management (ASM) solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.

To learn more, read our detailed CrowdStrike Falcon vs. Microsoft Defender External Attack Surface Management Report (Updated: September 2025).

Buyer's Guide

CrowdStrike Falcon vs. Microsoft Defender External Attack Surface Management

September 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

CrowdStrike Falcon

Ranking in Attack Surface Management (ASM)

1st

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.3

Number of Reviews

135

Ranking in other categories

Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) (6th), Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) (1st), Threat Intelligence Platforms (TIP) (1st), Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) (1st), Extended Detection and Response (XDR) (1st), Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) (2nd), AI-Powered Cybersecurity Platforms (1st)

Microsoft Defender External...

Ranking in Attack Surface Management (ASM)

12th

Average Rating

7.6

Reviews Sentiment

6.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Microsoft Security Suite (32nd)

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2025, in the Attack Surface Management (ASM) category, the mindshare of CrowdStrike Falcon is 11.4%, down from 25.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft Defender External Attack Surface Management is 3.1%, up from 2.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Attack Surface Management (ASM) Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
CrowdStrike Falcon	11.4%
Microsoft Defender External Attack Surface Management	3.1%
Other	85.5%

Attack Surface Management (ASM)

Featured Reviews

Waleed Omar

Information Security Specialist at Arab Open University

Provides effective real-time threat detection with potential for cost optimization

Some features such as device control, firewall management, and file analysis are standalone products that we need to purchase separately. If these features came out of the box within the product, it would be much more beneficial for us. Other providers such as SentinelOne include these features in their base product. We attended a CrowdStrike Falcon event where they discussed some shallow AI features, but we cannot see these in our panel yet. We work with different solutions such as Darktrace and SocRadar, where AI features are automatically displayed in our dashboards after release. However, for CrowdStrike Falcon, we cannot see these features.

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AndyChan3

General manager at a tech services company with 201-500 employees

Enhanced visibility and exposes vulnerabilities but needs more integration

I am currently in the pilot stage of implementing Microsoft External Attack Surface Management (EASM). My organization is transitioning to a comprehensive track of Microsoft solutions, and we will move to full-scale production in another year, maybe Microsoft External Attack Surface Management…

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

"The most valuable aspects of CrowdStrike Falcon for me are its device observability, identification, and software and OS recognition."

"The solution has improved my organization by automating the detection and reporting of unwanted applications so we're aware of them and can respond appropriately."

"CrowdStrike is deployed on every workstation, so policy changes can be enforced on all of them. It lowers the manual work on each of the workstations. It has helped us manage device usage in our environment."

"The detection is very effective."

"The CrowdStrike Falcon agent is very lightweight. Users never complain about their PCs getting stuck and things like that."

"CrowdStrike displays a threat score when it detects an infection. This is helpful because not all detections are the same. It will classify them as ransomware, malware, phishing, etc. This feature helps us prioritize and cross-check with other EDR tools."

"The ability to remote into other devices for investigation and the way it presents a graphical representation of the detection, like the parent-child process, are valuable features."

"It has good features for threat detection."

More CrowdStrike Falcon pros

"Microsoft External Attack Surface Management helps improve the visibility of my exposed vulnerabilities and provides an overview of my security posture across the globe."

"It seems to be better at protecting from cyberattacks."

Cons

"It can be expensive depending on the features you select."

"The performance could be better."

"It would be nice if the dashboard had some more information upfront, and looked a little better."

"If CrowdStrike can further expand its support for XDR compatibility, that would give it an edge over all the other competing new products."

"The installation process for this software needs to be simplified."

"We sometimes get false positives."

"The ability to receive text alerts natively in the console would be kind of cool."

"This solution is relatively expensive."

More CrowdStrike Falcon cons

"Further integration across different Microsoft products would be an improvement."

"The integration is not as seamless compared to competitors like Palo Alto."

"With Microsoft, support is always crazy, it's not easy to get support."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The pricing and licensing are reasonable. I don't think we are getting charged more than what it is worth. It is fair, but I do not like how it is a la carte. I realize they do that so other organizations can buy and get the agent, getting it cheaper than you could otherwise. However, if you want the main core package, which has all the main features with the exception of maybe the multi-cloud protections, that can get pricier for an organization. So, you have to pick and choose what you want. I do not care for a la carte pricing."

"We pay 40,000 dirhams per 100 users."

"The price of CrowdStrike Falcon could be better. It is very expensive, we pay approximately $900 per month for the licenses. There are not any additional fees."

"The price of CrowdStrike Falcon is expensive and should be reduced."

"The solution isn't very costly; it's affordable."

"Years ago, when we bought CrowdStrike, you got everything it had. I was a little concerned when they broke this out into a la carte modules where you can buy EDR, Spotlight, etc., picking and choosing off the menu. I was a little worried that the solution would get watered down. However, I realized in my previous organization when we had the full suite that there were a bunch of features in it that we didn't have time to operationalize. So, I warmed up to it. I get the whole, "Look, you can pick and choose. Okay, everybody buys a steak, but do you want mashed potatoes, or do you want lobster mac and cheese?" So, you can pick the sides that you want, so you can buy the solution that you want and operationalize versus paying a lot of money and getting a bunch of things, but not using 60 percent of the tools in the box."

"The tool is a little bit expensive compared to other products, but I think it's okay owing to its quality."

"I do not have experience with the cost or licensing of the product."

More CrowdStrike Falcon pricing and cost advice

Information not available

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

14%

Financial Services Firm

10%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Computer Software Company

17%

Financial Services Firm

13%

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	46
Midsize Enterprise	34
Large Enterprise	61

No data available

Questions from the Community

Comparing CrowdStrike Falcon to Cortex XDR (Palo Alto)

Cortex XDR by Palo Alto vs. CrowdStrike Falcon Both Cortex XDR and Crowd Strike Falcon offer cloud-based solutions that are very scalable, secure, and user-friendly. Cortex XDR by Palo Alto offers ...

See all answers

How does Crowdstrike Falcon compare with Darktrace?

Both of these products perform similarly and have many outstanding attributes. CrowdStrike Falcon offers an amazing user interface that makes setup easy and seamless. CrowdStrike Falcon offers a cl...

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How does Microsoft Defender for Endpoint compare with Crowdstrike Falcon?

The CrowdStrike solution delivers a lot of information about incidents. It has a very light sensor that will never push your machine hardware to "test", you don't have the usual "scan now" feature ...

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft Defender External Attack Surface Management?

I rate the pricing of the solution as eight out of ten.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Microsoft Defender External Attack Surface Management?

Further integration across different Microsoft products would be an improvement. Introduction of more AI automation into the products would also be beneficial. The integration is not as seamless co...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Microsoft Defender External Attack Surface Management?

See all answers

Comparisons

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs CrowdStrike Falcon

Compared 5% of the time

Darktrace vs CrowdStrike Falcon

Compared 3% of the time

Microsoft Defender XDR vs CrowdStrike Falcon

Compared 3% of the time

Tanium vs CrowdStrike Falcon

Compared 2% of the time

Fortinet FortiEDR vs CrowdStrike Falcon

Compared 2% of the time

More CrowdStrike Falcon Competitors

Qualys CyberSecurity Asset Management vs Microsoft Defender External Attack Surface Management

Compared 17% of the time

Bitsight vs Microsoft Defender External Attack Surface Management

Compared 11% of the time

Darktrace vs Microsoft Defender External Attack Surface Management

Compared 10% of the time

Tenable Attack Surface Management vs Microsoft Defender External Attack Surface Management

Compared 10% of the time

Mandiant Advantage vs Microsoft Defender External Attack Surface Management

Compared 10% of the time

More Microsoft Defender External Attack Surface Management Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

CrowdStrike Falcon

October 2025

Download CrowdStrike Falcon product report

Buyer's Guide

Attack Surface Management (ASM)

October 2025

Microsoft Defender External Attack Surface Management report

Download Microsoft Defender External Attack Surface Management product report

Also Known As

CrowdStrike Falcon, CrowdStrike Falcon XDR, CrowdStrike Falcon Threat Intelligence, CrowdStrike Identity Protection, CrowdStrike Falcon Surface

No data available

Overview

CrowdStrike Falcon offers comprehensive endpoint protection with real-time threat detection, AI-driven capabilities, and seamless integration with other platforms. Its cloud-native design provides robust security across diverse environments, making it a reliable choice for modern cybersecurity needs.

CrowdStrike Falcon is heralded for features like robust endpoint visibility, threat detection, and AI-driven capabilities. Users value its efficient real-time monitoring, which maintains low impact on performance while offering seamless integration with platforms. The lightweight design, coupled with comprehensive dashboards and automated threat responses, enhances security operations while reducing resource strain. CrowdStrike's cloud-native architecture ensures flexible, always-on protection, making it adaptable to a wide range of environments. However, improvements can be made in log management, compatibility with diverse operating systems, and integration with third-party technologies. Users also seek more robust reporting features, fewer false positives, and better support for legacy systems. Enhanced policy application, AI capabilities, and extended on-demand scanning are desired, while pricing and technical support responsiveness are concerns.

What are CrowdStrike Falcon's key features?

Endpoint Visibility: Offers robust real-time monitoring and detection.
AI-Driven Security: Incorporates advanced AI for threat intelligence.
Cloud-Native Architecture: Provides flexible, always-on protection.
Automated Threat Response: Enhances security operations efficiently.
Seamless Integration: Works smoothly with other platforms.

What benefits should users focus on?

Reduced Resource Strain: Lightweight design minimizes performance impact.
Comprehensive Security: Advanced protection across various endpoints.
Flexible Deployment: Adapts to different environments easily.
Improved Efficiency: Streamlines threat detection and response processes.
Cost-Effectiveness: Potential ROI from reduced security breaches.

CrowdStrike Falcon is implemented widely in industries relying on robust endpoint protection for monitoring, securing endpoints, forensic analysis, and malware detection. Its cloud-based AI capabilities ensure comprehensive security across devices, making it a preferred choice for networks, servers, and workstations globally. The efficient management of security threats and compliance with regulations is achieved with minimal resource consumption.

CrowdStrike

In this era of hybrid work, shadow IT creates an increasingly serious security risk. Microsoft Defender External Attack Surface Management helps cloud security teams see unknown and unmanaged resources outside the firewall.

Microsoft

Buyer's Guide

CrowdStrike Falcon vs. Microsoft Defender External Attack Surface Management

September 2025

Free Report: CrowdStrike Falcon vs. Microsoft Defender External Attack Surface Management

Find out what your peers are saying about CrowdStrike Falcon vs. Microsoft Defender External Attack Surface Management and other solutions. Updated: September 2025.

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