


Fortinet FortiClient and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint compete in the endpoint protection category. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint often holds the upper hand due to its comprehensive features.
Features: Fortinet FortiClient is praised for its VPN capabilities, threat detection, and remediation functions. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint stands out with advanced threat intelligence, integration with Microsoft 365, and automated investigation features.
Room for Improvement: Fortinet FortiClient could enhance its reporting tools, malware detection accuracy, and user interface. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint needs performance optimization, fewer false-positive alerts, and improved support for non-Microsoft platforms.
Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Fortinet FortiClient is valued for its straightforward deployment process and responsive customer support. In contrast, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint can be complex to deploy but benefits from extensive documentation and strong technical support.
Pricing and ROI: Fortinet FortiClient is generally perceived as cost-effective with a strong return on investment. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is more expensive, but users feel the extensive feature set justifies the higher cost.
They appreciate the rich telemetry data from the solution, as it provides in-depth threat identification.
Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks helps to reduce my total cost of ownership significantly.
In Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks, most of the remediation is automated and the accuracy is quite good.
The VPN performance has a substantial impact on our remote workforce.
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.
Incident response time has significantly reduced, with MTTR reduced from two to three hours to less than one hour, mainly due to automation plus better visibility.
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.
The technical support from Palo Alto deserves a mark of ten because they reach out within an hour whenever assistance is needed.
There is no back and forth, and they know what we are asking for and come up with the best resolution for a solution.
If any of these services are missed, it becomes a problem in terms of support tickets, follow-up, or special configuration that needs to be done in the system.
They initiate the troubleshooting process quickly and resolve issues in a timely manner.
In 99% of cases, we do not have to do configurations on our own as they are normally handled by their service providers.
They provide very good support, and an issue I had was resolved quickly over the phone.
The Microsoft agent, who did not actually work for Microsoft, is one of the vendors that Microsoft uses for support, said, 'Just to set expectations, my lunch break is in an hour and I am going to go away then.'
The level-one support seems disconnected from subject matter experts.
I rate Microsoft support 10 out of 10.
You can onboard 10,000 endpoints in just hours, which demonstrates the excellent scalability of this product.
Activating the newly purchased licenses is instantaneous, allowing installations without adjustments since it's cloud-based.
Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks can be expanded anytime by purchasing another license without any issues related to scalability.
We normally take into consideration while installing the product that it can scale up to approximately 20%, but not more than that.
Most of our clients are using the free version rather than the paid version due to the high range of maximum users available for the free version.
I hope Fortinet will start an insider developer program where professionals can provide feedback on new releases to ensure improvements.
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.
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is scalable enough to handle various devices across environments, whether they are laptops, Android devices, or operating in hybrid environments.
Compatibility is its main feature.
Cortex remains fast and responsive, even with increasing data and alerts.
The thresholds we've seen on our firewall boxes at some instances reached 80% to 85%, but even at that level of utilization, we don't observe any latency or any issues reported with respect to accessing the application.
Cortex XDR is stable, offering high quality and reliable performance.
Its stability level is excellent.
I normally get a call within 15-20 minutes after logging a complaint.
Fortinet FortiClient is a stable product with no glitches or latency issues.
I haven't seen any outages with Microsoft.
I rate Defender 10 out of 10 for stability.
Defender for Endpoint is extremely stable.
Improving reporting and dashboard customization, along with the addition of real-time and exportable reports, would help SOC teams greatly.
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.
FortiClient needs improvement in restricting user information and ensuring more secure customer data to better protect source code and reduce the risk of security breaches.
There are advanced features like Zero Trust that I currently do not use but could be beneficial for security.
Fortinet frequently releases updates without thorough testing.
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.
In contrast, competing products offer reduced pricing for long-term commitments, which makes it difficult for us in that environment.
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.
The pricing on SentinelOne is far more reasonable and cheaper than Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks.
I would say it is definitely not a cheap product, considering how mature it is and how scalable all Palo Alto products are together.
Cortex XDR is perceived as expensive by some customers, yet offers dynamic pricing.
FortiClient is a value-for-money product and is not considered expensive compared to similar products on the market.
Justifying the price to clients can be difficult.
FortiClient is included in a package with the UTM features, so there is no separate cost for it.
That has been the trend we have seen with Microsoft lately—it is just getting more and more expensive.
The standalone option can feel expensive if you opt for full P2 coverage.
Given our extensive Microsoft licensing, transitioning to Defender for Endpoint did not affect licensing costs.
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.
It includes machine learning to easily analyze data and detect complex threats across endpoints, networks, or clouds.
The most valuable feature of FortiClient is its high security level.
We appreciate its VPN capabilities and the features that offer extra security functionalities like antivirus and malware scanning.
I strongly recommend this solution, especially for Fortinet customers who use FortiGate or other Fortinet products, as they can easily integrate these features and exchange information seamlessly.
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.
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint provides a unified management interface allowing customers to manage their on-premises and hybrid infrastructures from a single pane.
One of the best features of Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is its database for identifying zero-day attacks or malware attacks.
| Product | Mindshare (%) |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Defender for Endpoint | 7.0% |
| Cortex XDR by Palo Alto Networks | 3.6% |
| Fortinet FortiClient | 1.8% |
| Other | 87.6% |


| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 45 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 21 |
| Large Enterprise | 48 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 59 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 23 |
| Large Enterprise | 25 |
| Company Size | Count |
|---|---|
| Small Business | 82 |
| Midsize Enterprise | 43 |
| Large Enterprise | 95 |
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?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.
Fortinet FortiClient is a comprehensive security tool, renowned for its VPN capabilities and seamless remote access, making it ideal for businesses seeking efficient endpoint protection and secure remote work options.
FortiClient integrates well with Fortinet systems, offering user-friendly features and centralized management. It supports Active Directory, multi-factor authentication, and delivers robust security measures including web filtering and antivirus. As a cost-effective solution, it provides rapid connectivity, scalability, and performance for businesses. While valued for its functionality, users seek improvements in management simplicity, web filtering, multifactor authentication, and version compatibility. Challenges include occasional slow connections, support quality, and pricing concerns. Areas needing enhancement involve deployment, stability, security, and reporting. Frequent updates demand better endpoint detection, broader integration, and reliable connectivity with improved documentation and analytics.
What are the key features of Fortinet FortiClient?In specific industries, FortiClient is utilized in sectors such as finance and healthcare, where high levels of security are mandatory. It enables secure VPN access to critical systems and data, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards. Education institutions deploy FortiClient to protect academic data and facilitate remote learning environments, safeguarding both faculty and student interactions online.
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint provides comprehensive threat protection that integrates well with current systems, offering proactive threat detection and automatic updates while reducing manual efforts.
The platform is designed for seamless integration with Microsoft products, facilitating efficient management and use. It offers proactive ransomware protection and valuable threat intelligence, crucial for timely response and increased visibility across devices. Users highlight its ability to secure endpoints from viruses and malware, integrating with Windows and Office 365 to enhance real-time detection capabilities in diverse environments, including hybrid and on-premises setups. However, enhancements are needed in Linux integration, detection accuracy, and policy implementations.
What are the key features of Microsoft Defender for Endpoint?Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is implemented across industries for securing endpoints, relying on its deep integration with Windows and Office 365 to protect against malware and viruses. Organizations benefit from its real-time detection and comprehensive management capabilities, particularly in hybrid environments where diverse digital infrastructures need safeguarding.
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