ESET PROTECT Enterprise vs Microsoft Defender for Endpoint comparison

ESET PROTECT Enterprise vs. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

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:

ROI

Sentiment score

7.0

ESET PROTECT Enterprise offers strong returns with effective security, easy installation, and up to 30% cost savings over CrowdStrike.

Sentiment score

7.1

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint offers significant ROI with cost savings, seamless integration, and real-time protection against ransomware attacks.

The return on investment is excellent due to its functionality and ease of installation.

Director, Information Technology at Premier Realty Group

There was money saving from using ESET PROTECT Enterprise, which is why I switched from CrowdStrike to ESET.

For more quotes and insights, download the ESET PROTECT Enterprise report

IT Manager at R K Khanna and Associates

Without detection and protection measures, organizations would face substantial payments and reputational damage, including the necessity to inform customers about data breaches, potentially leading to loss of business.

Olufemi Ajala

Consultant at ACT4SERVICES

We have seen a return on investment when using Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, as it saves labor by reducing the need for staff to focus on it.

Joe Gordon

IT CONSULTANT at a tech company with 10,001+ employees

The biggest return on investment for me when using Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is the time saving.

Justin Mott

Lead security engineer at a computer software company with 11-50 employees

For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint report

Customer Service

Sentiment score

7.9

Customers praise ESET PROTECT Enterprise's support team for being knowledgeable, responsive, and helpful, often rating them 9 or 10.

Sentiment score

6.6

Many users find Microsoft Defender for Endpoint reliable, but support experiences vary, with premium support offering quicker assistance.

The tech support from ESET is amazing, and I would rate it as ten out of ten.

Owner at Octo-Xpressions

They are very responsive and help in solving issues quickly.

Security Network Engineer at АТ "Банк інвестицій та заощаджень"

Even if support is addressing my problem, if the two issues I mentioned are not resolved, then the support process is not complete.

For more quotes and insights, download the ESET PROTECT Enterprise report

IT Manager at R K Khanna and Associates

The level-one support seems disconnected from subject matter experts.

reviewer2595198

Office 365 Subject Expert at a government with 10,001+ employees

I rate Microsoft support 10 out of 10.

For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint report

Team manager of it department at a financial services firm with 501-1,000 employees

Due to our size, we don't have access to direct technical support, but the knowledge base, Microsoft Learn, and the articles available are really good.

Pauli Jubilant

Systems engineers at Delta Dental of Colorado

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score

7.5

ESET PROTECT Enterprise is highly scalable, efficiently expanding to thousands of devices, with performance varying across workstations and servers.

Sentiment score

7.7

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is scalable and integrates well with Microsoft’s ecosystem, despite needing improvements for handling massive data.

It can efficiently scale up to thousands of devices in an organization without issues.

Owner at Octo-Xpressions

I have used many products before, and this solution is definitely scalable.

IT Manager at R K Khanna and Associates

It is better suited for workstations rather than server environments.

For more quotes and insights, download the ESET PROTECT Enterprise report

Director, Information Technology at Premier Realty Group

We managed to scale it out in a short amount of time, with two months of planning and three months of implementation on 10,000 computers.

For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint report

Team manager of it department at a financial services firm with 501-1,000 employees

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is scalable enough to handle various devices across environments, whether they are laptops, Android devices, or operating in hybrid environments.

Syed Abid

Snr. Infrastructure Architect (Data Centre) at LogicEra

Compatibility is its main feature.

Joe Gordon

IT CONSULTANT at a tech company with 10,001+ employees

Stability Issues

Sentiment score

7.4

ESET PROTECT Enterprise operates reliably with minimal maintenance, despite occasional update interruptions and manageable false positives.

Sentiment score

7.9

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is praised for its reliability and stability, with minor concerns about resource intensity and performance.

When it performs an update, ESET PROTECT Enterprise should request permission for restarting because otherwise, users lose their work.

IT Manager at R K Khanna and Associates

The solution is stable, and I have not encountered any glitches.

Owner at Octo-Xpressions

The solution is very, very stable.

For more quotes and insights, download the ESET PROTECT Enterprise report

Director, Information Technology at Premier Realty Group

I haven't seen any outages with Microsoft.

John Rallo

IT Security Engineer at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees

I rate Defender 10 out of 10 for stability.

For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint report

Team manager of it department at a financial services firm with 501-1,000 employees

Defender for Endpoint is extremely stable.

Pauli Jubilant

Systems engineers at Delta Dental of Colorado

Room For Improvement

ESET PROTECT Enterprise needs better deployment, performance, automation, UI clarity, and efficient management, especially for mobile and Mac.

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint faces interface complexity, slow detection, high CPU usage, integration issues, and seeks improvements in multiple areas.

Sometimes, agents lose connection with the management console, and the administration team needs to reinstall the agents on the computers.

Security Network Engineer at АТ "Банк інвестицій та заощаджень"

They need to reduce the number of notifications on the endpoints.

Director, Information Technology at Premier Realty Group

It takes a lot of processing power when the machine is initially booted.

For more quotes and insights, download the ESET PROTECT Enterprise report

Owner at Octo-Xpressions

Repeated interactions are necessary due to Level One's lack of tools and knowledge, hindering efficient problem-solving and negatively impacting our experience with Microsoft support.

reviewer2595198

Office 365 Subject Expert at a government with 10,001+ employees

In contrast, competing products offer reduced pricing for long-term commitments, which makes it difficult for us in that environment.

NaySan @ Suraj Verma

Solution Consultant at BIM Group of Companies

We use Microsoft partners to help govern the platform, and as part of an alliance, we want to gather data from each tenant and combine them for a complete view.

For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint report

Team manager of it department at a financial services firm with 501-1,000 employees

Setup Cost

ESET PROTECT Enterprise's pricing is seen as cost-effective, offering good value despite being higher than some competitors.

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint offers flexible pricing, making it competitive and cost-effective compared to standalone security products.

I pay 40 dollars per agent annually, which is cheaper than 60 dollars per agent for Check Point.

Security Network Engineer at АТ "Банк інвестицій та заощаджень"

We recently paid fourteen dollars and thirty-six cents per unit for 20 users, which is reasonable.

Director, Information Technology at Premier Realty Group

Comparing it to other solutions in the market, it was slightly higher.

For more quotes and insights, download the ESET PROTECT Enterprise report

IT Manager at R K Khanna and Associates

Given our extensive Microsoft licensing, transitioning to Defender for Endpoint did not affect licensing costs.

For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint report

Team manager of it department at a financial services firm with 501-1,000 employees

It costs $15 per VM for the P2 plan, which is seen as affordable for customers.

Syed Abid

Snr. Infrastructure Architect (Data Centre) at LogicEra

The pricing, setup, and licensing were very easy and simple.

Pauli Jubilant

Systems engineers at Delta Dental of Colorado

Valuable Features

ESET PROTECT Enterprise offers robust security with efficient management, minimal resources, and strong threat detection for online transactions.

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint excels with seamless integration, advanced threat intelligence, AI-driven protection, and continuous cloud-based security management.

It allows simple whitelisting and has a learning mode for new installations, which reduces false positives by adapting to typical user habits.

Director, Information Technology at Premier Realty Group

Its web component prevents infections from malicious websites, which enhances its anti-malware capabilities.

Owner at Octo-Xpressions

One of the strong features of ESET PROTECT Enterprise is its ability to work well on old computers.

For more quotes and insights, download the ESET PROTECT Enterprise report

Security Network Engineer at АТ "Банк інвестицій та заощаджень"

Defender for Endpoint's coverage across different platforms in our environment is pretty good. We have devices running Linux, Mac OS, Windows, iOS, and Android. It covers all of them.

For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint report

Team manager of it department at a financial services firm with 501-1,000 employees

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint provides a unified management interface allowing customers to manage their on-premises and hybrid infrastructures from a single pane.

Syed Abid

Snr. Infrastructure Architect (Data Centre) at LogicEra

One of the best features of Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is its database for identifying zero-day attacks or malware attacks.

Olufemi Ajala

Consultant at ACT4SERVICES

Categories and Ranking

ESET PROTECT Enterprise

Ranking in Anti-Malware Tools

12th

Average Rating

8.6

Reviews Sentiment

7.0

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Extended Detection and Response (XDR) (20th)

Microsoft Defender for Endp...

Ranking in Anti-Malware Tools

1st

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.1

Number of Reviews

198

Ranking in other categories

Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) (1st), Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) (3rd), Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) (3rd), Microsoft Security Suite (4th)

Mindshare comparison

As of September 2025, in the Anti-Malware Tools category, the mindshare of ESET PROTECT Enterprise is 2.2%, up from 1.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is 14.2%, down from 20.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Anti-Malware Tools Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint	14.2%
ESET PROTECT Enterprise	2.2%
Other	83.6%

Anti-Malware Tools

Featured Reviews

Daniel Cordero

Chief Information Officer at Cordero y Asociados S.L. - Cordero Informáticos

Comprehensive solution manages diverse security policies and enhances organizational network protection

The best features of ESET PROTECT Enterprise include its unique platform that allows me to manage firewall policies based on license type. Depending on the license, I can apply different policies across a range of IPs to ensure network safety. Regarding real-time analytics and threat detection capabilities in ESET PROTECT Enterprise, I find them excellent. I can configure rules and receive email notifications about vulnerabilities. For instance, ESET LiveGuard checks all devices, identifying issues when vulnerabilities are found and alerting me promptly. ESET PROTECT Enterprise reporting and auditing features help my customers meet compliance requirements by allowing me to apply various security policies across their companies, ensuring their devices remain secure. ESET PROTECT Enterprise has EDR endpoint detection and response capabilities that have helped reduce security incidents for my customers. Although it's not the best EDR, ESET LiveGuard constantly monitors devices, effectively identifying and stopping threats such as ransomware. The product is an antivirus, specifically ESET PROTECT Enterprise, which provides solid protection.

Read full review

NaySan @ Suraj Verma

Solution Consultant at BIM Group of Companies

Has effectively blocked sophisticated attacks and malicious activities while providing excellent support

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is very good, but one suggestion is that in some products, we may need to configure security-related settings, whereas Microsoft Defender for Endpoint works completely differently, providing automatic recommendations and actions that we may need to perform ourselves. Regarding the pricing of Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, during the last three years, we set up the product and sold it, but we faced difficulties because Microsoft pricing is always the same. For example, whether I purchase Microsoft Defender for Endpoint for one year or for the next three years, the pricing remains constant with no discounts available. In contrast, competing products offer reduced pricing for long-term commitments, which makes it difficult for us in that environment. Microsoft should consider this option to remain competitive, but otherwise, everything else is fine.

Read full review

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

16%

Comms Service Provider

15%

Government

10%

Financial Services Firm

Computer Software Company

13%

Government

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	11
Midsize Enterprise	2
Large Enterprise	2

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	79
Midsize Enterprise	34
Large Enterprise	87

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about ESET Protect?

The product enabled Zero-Day Protection for our environment. We never encountered any issues regarding threats.

What needs improvement with ESET Protect?

One area for improvement in ESET PROTECT Enterprise is its capabilities on Mac devices, which are less functional compared to Windows. In terms of device management, ESET PROTECT Enterprise could i...

What is your primary use case for ESET Protect?

My customers use ESET PROTECT Enterprise to secure all their operating systems; we have a lot of customers who rely on this antivirus. It also acts as a platform where I can manage all the devices ...

How is Cortex XDR compared with Microsoft Defender?

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is a cloud-delivered endpoint security solution. The tool reduces the attack surface, applies behavioral-based endpoint protection and response, and includes risk-ba...

Which offers better endpoint security - Symantec or Microsoft Defender?

We use Symantec because we do not use MS Enterprise products, but in my opinion, Microsoft Defender is a superior solution. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is a cloud-delivered endpoint security s...

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 ...

F-Secure Total vs ESET PROTECT Enterprise

Comparisons

Compared 21% of the time

CrowdStrike Falcon vs ESET PROTECT Enterprise

Compared 11% of the time

Securepoint Antivirus Pro vs ESET PROTECT Enterprise

Compared 10% of the time

360 Safeguard vs ESET PROTECT Enterprise

Compared 7% of the time

ESET Endpoint Protection Platform vs ESET PROTECT Enterprise

Compared 6% of the time

More ESET PROTECT Enterprise Competitors

CrowdStrike Falcon vs Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

Compared 5% of the time

HP Wolf Security vs Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

Compared 5% of the time

F-Secure Total vs Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

Compared 4% of the time

Symantec Endpoint Security vs Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

Compared 4% of the time

Trellix Endpoint Security Platform vs Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

Compared 4% of the time

More Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Competitors

Product Reports

Download ESET PROTECT Enterprise product report

ESET PROTECT Enterprise

September 2025

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

August 2025

Download Microsoft Defender for Endpoint product report

Also Known As

ESET Protect, ESET File Security

Microsoft Defender ATP, Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection, MS Defender for Endpoint, Microsoft Defender Antivirus

Interactive Demo

Demo not available

ESET

Microsoft

Overview

ESET PROTECT Enterprise ensures real-time visibility for all endpoints as well as full reporting and security management for all OSes

Cloud-based console with the possibility of an on-premises deployment
Provides real-time visibility of all endpoints: desktops, servers, virtual machines and even managed mobile devices
Enables full reporting for ESET security solutions
Controls endpoint prevention, detection & response layers across all platforms
Connect anytime, anywhere from your favorite web browser

ESET

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is a comprehensive security solution that provides advanced threat protection for organizations. It offers real-time protection against various types of cyber threats, including malware, viruses, ransomware, and phishing attacks.

With its powerful machine-learning capabilities, it can detect and block sophisticated attacks before they can cause any harm. The solution also includes endpoint detection and response (EDR) capabilities, allowing organizations to quickly investigate and respond to security incidents. It provides detailed insights into the attack timeline, enabling security teams to understand the scope and impact of an incident.

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint also offers proactive threat hunting, allowing organizations to proactively search for and identify potential threats within their network. It integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft security solutions, such as Microsoft Defender XDR, to provide a unified and holistic security approach. With its centralized management console, organizations can easily deploy, configure, and monitor the security solution across their entire network.

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is a robust and scalable security solution that helps organizations protect their endpoints and data from evolving cyber threats.

Microsoft

Sample Customers

Information Not Available

Petrofrac, Metro CSG, Christus Health