ExtraHop Reveal(x) 360 vs Microsoft Defender XDR comparison

ExtraHop Networks and Microsoft are both solutions in the Extended Detection and Response (XDR) category. ExtraHop Networks is ranked #41, while Microsoft is ranked #4 with an average rating of 8.3. ExtraHop Networks holds a 1.0% mindshare in XDR, compared to Microsoft’s 4.5% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of ExtraHop Networks users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 98% of Microsoft users who would recommend it.

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Oct 8, 2024

ExtraHop Reveal(x) 360 and Microsoft Defender XDR compete in the network security category. Microsoft Defender XDR has the upper hand due to its comprehensive feature set and functionality appeal.

Features: ExtraHop Reveal(x) 360 offers network detection and response capabilities, high visibility into network traffic, and personalized support. Microsoft Defender XDR features integration within the Microsoft ecosystem, seamless protection across platforms, and extensive feature coverage.

Room for Improvement: ExtraHop requires enhancement in scalability, reporting customization, and flexible reporting options. Microsoft Defender XDR needs improvements in alert management, cross-platform consistency, and fine-tuning its alert mechanisms.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: ExtraHop achieves quick deployment times with supportive customer service for swift issue resolution. Microsoft Defender XDR has more complex configurations but benefits from an extensive support network.

Pricing and ROI: ExtraHop Reveal(x) 360 is favored for its cost-effectiveness and rapid ROI with low setup costs. Microsoft Defender XDR users acknowledge higher initial expenses but justify them with long-term value and strong performance returns.

To learn more, read our detailed ExtraHop Reveal(x) 360 vs. Microsoft Defender XDR Report (Updated: April 2026).

Buyer's Guide

ExtraHop Reveal(x) 360 vs. Microsoft Defender XDR

April 2026

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Helped 894,738 peers since 2012

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

Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Net...

Mindshare comparison

As of May 2026, in the Extended Detection and Response (XDR) category, the mindshare of Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks is 4.7%, down from 5.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of ExtraHop Reveal(x) 360 is 1.0%, up from 0.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft Defender XDR is 4.5%, down from 6.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Extended Detection and Response (XDR) Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Microsoft Defender XDR	4.5%
Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks	4.7%
ExtraHop Reveal(x) 360	1.0%
Other	89.8%

Extended Detection and Response (XDR)

Featured Reviews

ABHISHEK_SINGH

Senior Process Expert at A.P. Moller - Maersk

Gained full visibility and streamlined threat detection through behavior-based insights and AI integration

Initially, we got to have a lot of false positives when we onboarded, but nowadays it's quite smooth. We have fine-tuned our security policies and allowed different levels of policies to get rid of those false positives. Currently, we are getting a fairly good amount of incidents that are not false positives or benign, but actionable items. The process is streamlined. In the initial days, the operations used to get involved in a lot of benign and other activities, but now the process is streamlined. We are leveraging the auto-detection and remediation plans. The operations teams are now more involved in other business roles as well, not just looking into the logs and fetching out what's happening there. They have fixed a lot of things. Initially, they didn't have IAC code drift detection, cloud posture management, or security posture management, but they have those now. They purchased different vendors and did a merger with that. They have now Prisma Cloud that gets integrated and now they are working with Cortex Cloud. Everything that was negative has now been addressed, and the product altogether looks to be in a very better and mature shape now. Currently, it's more or less detecting the workloads with AI-based best practices. Since most organizations are consuming AI agents and other things, we are looking forward to seeing what other feature enhancements Palo Alto can support in that.

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Maksym Toporkov

Head of Research And Development at Quipu GmbH

A competitive choice for network detection and response with exceptional user interface, ease of implementation and minimal false positives

The NDR feature analyzes network traffic, creating records with connection details. While these records offer insights, there's a limitation in investigating payloads directly. ExtraHop provides an option for an additional server to save payloads, but its temporary storage has constraints. Unlike some competitors, it lacks an automatic payload-saving feature for each detection, presenting an improvement opportunity. Suggested enhancement involves the main sensor prompting payload storage for specific detections, streamlining the investigation process, and contributing to a more efficient workflow. A drawback includes packet storage limitations for payload data, necessitating timely extraction for thorough investigations.

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reviewer2812758

Infosec at a government with 10,001+ employees

Integrated defenses have unified threat hunting, phishing simulations, and identity investigations

I appreciate Microsoft Defender XDR's MDE, Microsoft Defender tool, which has Attack Simulator. Instead of doing a phishing campaign and getting a separate tool, Microsoft Defender XDR does it all. These features of Microsoft Defender XDR have helped us conduct a phishing campaign quarterly, which has been beneficial. I also appreciate the fact that it has Defender for Office integrated, Defender for Identity, and everything integrated together. I would describe the process of using Microsoft Defender XDR to prioritize incidents in my security operations as quite decent. I appreciate the automatic alerting system where any incidents or alerts we receive come directly to our email. From there, we can open the email, go directly to Microsoft Defender XDR, and start our investigations and remediations. I perceive the integration of security and identity access management in Microsoft Defender XDR as affecting my identity protection strategies very well because it is well integrated with Purview, integrated well with Entra ID, and integrated well with Exchange. I especially appreciate MDO, the Office product. If anything happens and I want to conduct an investigation, it takes me directly to Exchange, where I can also investigate any emails or phishing incidents. Instead of going to different portals, everything can be done from Microsoft Defender XDR. If necessary for further investigation, Microsoft Defender XDR then directs me to that environment. I would assess the integration of AI in guiding security actions within Microsoft Defender XDR as quite positive. Recently, Security Copilot went big, and it is beneficial that I can use that, especially to write KQL. I can do threat hunting features and intelligence all within using Microsoft's Security Copilot. It also has a nice AI feature for threat hunting. I know that all the Defender logs go to Sentinel, and I can pull it up from Microsoft Defender XDR or from Sentinel. The fact that I can actually do all that within Microsoft Defender XDR is a nice feature. In the top module, I can do threat lookups, and I can actually type KQLs in Microsoft Defender XDR and look up incidents. Predictive shielding has had a nice impact on my proactive security measures. It is beneficial that it has, similar to Entra ID, a secure score. For me to improve the product, the secure score helps me out. If I rate it from highest to lowest, I can see what things I can improve. Secure score helps me see what areas I can improve in Microsoft Defender XDR to increase my score and bring it to 80 or more. Knowing Microsoft Defender XDR from using it since 2019, before COVID days, I know that they have improved significantly. It is much more user-friendly and has a very nice vulnerability feature that I find handy and useful. The fact that this feature integrates into Intune is also very decent.

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Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"Monitoring is most valuable."

"The level of security I get for my endpoints and servers is extremely valuable."

"Cortex covers everything I need. It's a perfect solution. Cortex provides a different level of visibility because it's an extended EDR, allowing you to grab logs from the network and firewalls. Palo Alto invented the concept of the extended EDR or XDR."

"The solution is a new generation XDR that has a lot of artificial intelligence modules."

"Cortex XDR features advanced threat detection capabilities."

"Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks has helped lighten the load of our security analysts because it was the major tool that we were using and the one we utilized most."

"The good thing about the product is that it's always scanning."

"The initial setup isn't too bad."

More Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks pros

"It is scalable."

"Their technical support is more effective and of better quality than other competitors."

"It is very easy to collect and handle data in ExtraHop Reveal(X) Cloud. Integration with Big Data is also easy. Many of our customers integrate it with Big Data platforms like Splunk or Elastic. It is also easy to handle and easy to understand."

"It stands out for its intuitive and efficient user interface, robust detection capabilities with minimal false positives, and the ability to handle encrypted traffic, making it a valuable asset for network security and management."

"The summarization of emails is a valuable feature."

"The feature I find most valuable is Defender for Endpoint."

"Advanced hunting is good. I like that. We can drill down to lots of details."

"The most valuable feature of the solution stems from the fact that Microsoft Defender XDR is easy to integrate with other Microsoft platforms or products."

"It has great stability."

"Defender XDR has a feature called the timeline that lets you track all activities. It helps a lot with investigations."

"The integration, visibility, vulnerability management, and device identification are valuable."

"Microsoft Defender's most critical component is its CASB solution. It has many built-in policies that can improve your organization's cloud security posture. It's effective regardless of where your users are, which is critical because most users are working from home. It's cloud-based, so nothing is on-premise."

More Microsoft Defender XDR pros

Cons

"There are some default policies which sometimes affect our applications and cause them to run around. In the hotel industry, we use a different type of data versus Oracle and SQL. By default, there are some policies which stop us from running properly. Because of this, the support level is also not that strong. We have to wait to get a results."

"The server sometimes stops continuously to check things so it would be helpful to receive access updates or technical reasons."

"Cortex XDR is trickier to configure than other Palo Alto products. This is one area where we are not so satisfied."

"The dashboard could use some significant improvement, just making it more useful with more information."

"Cortex XDR could improve its sales support team, including better commission structures and referral programs."

"The solution should offer more dashboards and they should be better customized."

"Basically, they don't provide customer support tools just to investigate the logs."

"The complexity and confusion regarding product variants, such as XDR, Forexiant, and Forexon, must be addressed."

More Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks cons

"A drawback includes bucket storage limitations for payload data, necessitating timely extraction for thorough investigations."

"They can include integration with SAP. Currently, no vendor provides network performance monitoring in the SAP market. It is a very big market. We have around 400 customers for SAP in Korea. In the USA, there are more than 10,000 customers."

"Their professional service can be improved."

"There needs to be more support."

"The only problem I find is that the use cases are built-in. There is no template available that you can modify according to your organization's standards. What they give is very generic, the market standard, but that might not be applicable to every organization."

"Every now and then, Microsoft Defender XDR seems to go through and aggregates almost a week's worth of incidents and wraps them up, indicating a huge problem."

"Because of the training model, Defender XDR's automatic response sometimes blocks legitimate users and activities. Also, the UI sometimes responds slowly."

"Since all of our databases are updated and located in the cloud, I would like additional support for this."

"The interface could be improved. For example, if you want to do a phishing simulation for your employees, it can take a while to figure out what to do. The interface is a bit messy and could be updated. It isn't too bad, but doing some things can be a long process."

"The solution could improve by having better machine learning and AI. Additionally, the interface, documentation, and integration could be better."

"The management features could be improved, particularly in terms of better integration with Intune, Microsoft's cloud-based management solution."

"The advanced threat-hunting capabilities are phenomenal, and the security copilot enhances that, but some data elements could be better or have more context inside of the advanced tables themselves. The schemas feel a little limited to what they're building into the product. It's probably just a maturity thing. I imagine we'll see the features I want in the next year."

More Microsoft Defender XDR cons

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The pricing is a little high. It is per user per year."

"In terms of the cost Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks is very expensive because we are a Mexican company and when you translate dollars to pesos the cost is very high. The solution is very expensive for Mexican companies. I understand that they have international prices, but I do not think it offsets the price enough for many companies in countries, such as Mexico. The amount it is reduced is not a massive percentage."

"The solution is expensive. It's pricing is on a yearly-basis."

"The price was fine."

"The tool's price is moderate."

"It has reasonable pricing for the use cases it provides to the company."

"I feel it is fairly priced."

"If one wishes to work with another team or large number of users at a future point, he must purchase a license for them."

More Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks pricing and cost advice

"When compared to other solutions, it aligns with the market average, indicating a competitive pricing level."

"The most valuable licensing option is expensive, so pricing could be improved. Licensing options for this solution also need to be consolidated, because they frequently change."

"I find the pricing to be quite competitive, especially considering its inclusion in our E5 subscription, which provides a comprehensive set of functionalities."

"Microsoft is not competitive with the pricing of the solution. The competitors are able to offer lower discounts. The price of the solution is higher."

"365 Defender can get expensive because you pay per gigabyte of data ingested. On the other hand, much of the data available in the other Microsoft security solutions are made available relatively cheaply—sometimes at cost or for free. Integrating only a limited set of third-party solutions with Sentinel would be cost-effective. It's much more affordable if companies only have Microsoft stuff."

"I believe the pricing is fair and acceptable. I consider it to be reasonable and satisfactory."

"While the standalone price of Defender XDR might seem high, its value becomes clear when considering the ease of implementation and smooth integration with our existing Microsoft infrastructure, especially when bundled with other Microsoft products."

"The solution is affordable, and we haven't been hit with any hidden costs. The subscription model is straightforward, and it's easy to understand how much additional features cost. If we need to cancel a license or feature, we do that well in advance to avoid being charged for it, but overall, the pricing and licensing are simple and easy."

"The functionality is fantastic, but for medium and small-sized companies it's overpriced. It would be better if it were a little bit cheaper."

More Microsoft Defender XDR pricing and cost advice

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

12%

Construction Company

12%

Comms Service Provider

Manufacturing Company

Financial Services Firm

12%

Construction Company

Computer Software Company

Government

Computer Software Company

11%

Financial Services Firm

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	20
Large Enterprise	49

No data available

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	46
Midsize Enterprise	29
Large Enterprise	41

Questions from the Community

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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,...

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What do you like most about Microsoft 365 Defender?

Microsoft Defender XDR provides strong identity protection with comprehensive insights into risky user behavior and p...

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What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft 365 Defender?

My experience with the pricing, setup costs, and licensing of Microsoft Defender XDR is that we are on an E5 license,...

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What needs improvement with Microsoft 365 Defender?

From my perspective, Microsoft Defender XDR can be improved with better visibility in certain areas where I can trigg...

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Comparisons

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks

Compared 9% of the time

SentinelOne Singularity Endpoint vs Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks

Compared 5% of the time

CrowdStrike Falcon vs Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks

Compared 4% of the time

Cortex XSIAM vs Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks

Compared 3% of the time

Confluera vs Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks

Compared 1% of the time

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Vectra AI vs ExtraHop Reveal(x) 360

Compared 10% of the time

Fortinet FortiGate vs ExtraHop Reveal(x) 360

Compared 7% of the time

ExtraHop Reveal(x) vs ExtraHop Reveal(x) 360

Compared 6% of the time

NetWitness NDR vs ExtraHop Reveal(x) 360

Compared 6% of the time

Wazuh vs ExtraHop Reveal(x) 360

Compared 3% of the time

More ExtraHop Reveal(x) 360 Competitors

CrowdStrike Falcon vs Microsoft Defender XDR

Compared 10% of the time

Wazuh vs Microsoft Defender XDR

Compared 6% of the time

SentinelOne Singularity Endpoint vs Microsoft Defender XDR

Compared 4% of the time

Microsoft Defender for Cloud vs Microsoft Defender XDR

Compared 4% of the time

IBM Security QRadar vs Microsoft Defender XDR

Compared 2% of the time

More Microsoft Defender XDR Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks

May 2026

Download Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks product report

Buyer's Guide

Intrusion Detection and Prevention Software (IDPS)

May 2026

Download ExtraHop Reveal(x) 360 product report

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Defender XDR

April 2026

Download Microsoft Defender XDR product report

Also Known As

Cyvera, Cortex XDR, Palo Alto Networks Traps

ExtraHop Reveal(X) Cloud, Reveal(X) Cloud

Microsoft 365 Defender, Microsoft Threat Protection, MS 365 Defender

Overview

Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks provides advanced threat detection with AI-driven endpoint protection and seamless integration, ensuring multi-layered security and automatic threat response.

Cortex XDR is designed to safeguard endpoints against malware and suspicious activities. It offers advanced threat detection and response capabilities using behavioral analysis, AI, and machine learning. It seamlessly integrates with security infrastructures, providing endpoint security, firewall integration, and enhanced visibility in both cloud-based and on-premises environments.

What are the key features of Cortex XDR?

Advanced Threat Detection: Uses AI and machine learning for proactive threat identification.
Multi-layered Security: Combines various security measures for comprehensive protection.
Endpoint Protection: Safeguards against malware and exploits.
Behavioral Analysis: Monitors suspicious activity for early detection.
Automatic Threat Response: Automates responses to neutralize threats.

What benefits should users expect?

Ease of Use: Simplifies security management with intuitive design.
Resource Efficiency: Minimizes impact on system resources.
Integration Capabilities: Works well with existing security setups.
Reduced Analyst Workload: Automates processes to decrease manual intervention.

Organizations in diverse sectors deploy Cortex XDR to protect against malware, leveraging its advanced threat detection capabilities. Its integration with existing security infrastructures appeals to those seeking comprehensive protection in both cloud and on-premises environments, providing enhanced visibility and threat intelligence.

Palo Alto Networks

ExtraHop Reveal(x) 360 offers advanced network detection and response capabilities, designed to provide real-time situational awareness and threat detection across hybrid and multi-cloud environments.

Built to meet the demands of modern enterprises, ExtraHop Reveal(x) 360 enhances visibility into network activities, delivering comprehensive security insights. It uses high-speed data analysis to identify anomalous behaviors and potential threats, helping security teams respond effectively. With centralized visibility, it ensures quick detection and thorough investigation of threats within complex infrastructures, including cloud, edge, and on-premises environments.

What key features does ExtraHop Reveal(x) 360 offer?

Real-Time Threat Detection: Monitors network traffic in real-time for immediate threat identification.
Centralized Visibility: Offers a unified dashboard for observing activities across diverse environments.
Automated Response: Enables predefined actions to mitigate threats swiftly without manual intervention.
Integration Capabilities: Seamlessly integrates with tools for enhanced incident management.
Advanced Analytics: Utilizes machine learning to detect sophisticated threats promptly.

What benefits should users look for in reviews of ExtraHop Reveal(x) 360?

Improved Security Posture: Evidence of enhanced organizational security through faster threat detection and response.
Operational Efficiency: Reduction in time and effort for IT teams due to automated processes.
Scalability: Flexibility to expand with organizational growth and technology changes.
Cost-Effectiveness: Attractive pricing compared to functionality and outcomes offered.

ExtraHop Reveal(x) 360 is implemented across industries such as financial services, healthcare, and retail, where robust security measures are paramount. In these sectors, the capabilities of ExtraHop Reveal(x) 360 align with the need for secure handling of sensitive data and compliance with industry regulations, providing valuable protection and detection capabilities.

ExtraHop Networks

Microsoft Defender XDR is a comprehensive security solution designed to protect against threats in the Microsoft 365 environment.

It offers robust security measures, comprehensive threat detection capabilities, and an efficient incident response system. With seamless integration with other Microsoft products and a user-friendly interface, it simplifies security management tasks.

Users have found it effective in detecting and preventing various types of attacks, such as phishing attempts, malware infections, and data breaches.

Watch the Microsoft demo video here: Microsoft Defender XDR demo video.

Microsoft

Sample Customers

CBI Health Group, University Honda, VakifBank

Wizards of the Coast

Accenture, Deloitte, ExxonMobil, General Electric, IBM, Johnson & Johnson and many others.

Buyer's Guide

ExtraHop Reveal(x) 360 vs. Microsoft Defender XDR

April 2026

Free Report: ExtraHop Reveal(x) 360 vs. Microsoft Defender XDR

Find out what your peers are saying about ExtraHop Reveal(x) 360 vs. Microsoft Defender XDR and other solutions. Updated: April 2026.

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