Huntress Managed EDR vs Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting comparison

Huntress Managed EDR vs. Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting

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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

Huntress Managed EDR

Ranking in Managed Detection and Response (MDR)

1st

Average Rating

9.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) (6th)

Microsoft Defender Experts ...

Ranking in Managed Detection and Response (MDR)

19th

Average Rating

9.0

Reviews Sentiment

6.3

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2026, in the Managed Detection and Response (MDR) category, the mindshare of Huntress Managed EDR is 4.1%, down from 9.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting is 1.3%, down from 1.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Managed Detection and Response (MDR) Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Huntress Managed EDR	4.1%
Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting	1.3%
Other	94.6%

Managed Detection and Response (MDR)

Featured Reviews

Abhishek Saini

Professional Services Engineer at Next7 IT

Managed detection has transformed incident response and now delivers faster, focused protection

Overall, my experience with Huntress Managed EDR has been very positive. If I were to suggest improvements, I would like to see more advanced customization and reporting capabilities, particularly for MSPs managing multiple clients. For example, additional dashboard customization, more granular alert filtering options, and enhanced executive level reporting would help teams present security insights more effectively to their clients. Deeper integrations with a broader range of third party security and IT management platforms could also streamline workflows and reduce the need to switch between multiple tools. Another area of improvement would be expanding automation options for common remediation tasks, allowing security teams to respond even more quickly to certain types of threats while maintaining appropriate control. These are more enhancements than shortcomings, as Huntress Managed EDR already provides strong threat detection, excellent SOC support, and an easy-to-manage platform that delivers significant value in day-to-day operations. A few additional enhancements would make the platform even stronger, especially for MSPs managing a large number of endpoints and clients. From a user interface perspective, I would like to see more customizable dashboards that allow engineers to tailor views based on the client's priorities, threat levels, or operational metrics. Another useful feature would be additional automation and authorization options for common response actions such as isolating devices, initiating remediation workflows, or integrating with ticketing systems and SIEM platforms. Overall, these would be valuable additions, but they do not take away from the core strength of Huntress Managed EDR.

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Joe Cicero

Chief Marketing Officer at a computer software company with 201-500 employees

Proactive threat hunting has strengthened our defenses and provides expert support for incidents

Proactive threat hunting as well as the Ask an Expert feature, which is a button inside of the XDR portal that becomes available when the customer owns Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting, are the best features it offers. If a customer or one of our analysts needs extra support or has a question about a Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting notification, they can click on that button and chat directly with a Microsoft security analyst to get more information or fill in any gaps regarding the Ask an Expert feature. Improved detection rates are one of the specific outcomes that show the positive impact because Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting is a second set of eyes or a second team looking for emerging threats within a shared customer's environment. For us, the proactive approach that Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting is always running is valuable, and we see those alerts pop up inside of our incident queues in Microsoft Sentinel and we respond and acknowledge them. In many cases, Microsoft might see an alert from a zero-day that we aren't even aware of yet or the industry isn't aware of yet and we see that tagged within our incident queue, which allows us to follow up with it much sooner than had we had to search and detect for it ourselves. Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting helps my customers detect or prevent emerging threats that are not yet published but Microsoft has visibility into. Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting's reporting and analytics are clear and actionable, and the fact that it's tied to the MITRE framework puts it all in a common language. Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting helps my customers comply with industry regulations or standards, though I am unsure how, but many have requirements for threat hunting and this checks that box. Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting helps my team respond to incidents by providing a backstop, which does speed up the process and improve outcomes.

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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

"We saw the benefits of Huntress pretty quickly. Once it started detecting threats, it was great."

"Huntress Managed EDR is probably the easiest solution to use, both to deploy and to maintain, of all the product lines and vendor partnerships we have."

"Using Huntress Managed EDR has helped reduce the need for expensive security tools and to hire expensive security analysts, which is important for our organization because it keeps the level of security heightened and across the top of all of our clients' minds."

"I would absolutely recommend Huntress Managed EDR, as I consider them a leader in the field and am confident in their service."

"The endpoint protection is definitely the most impactful feature for clients. It just works. It is a set-it-and-forget-it type of solution."

"Huntress helps us replace traditional antivirus solutions with an EDR. I like how easy it is to use and deploy. Support is good- they've responded quickly when I've had issues. I like it a lot so far. It reports valuable information and filters out things I don't need to know."

"I evaluate Huntress Managed EDR as the best choice we have made for antivirus endpoint protection EDR solutions specifically for the SMB market."

"I have found it valuable that this solution is always there and always armed."

More Huntress Managed EDR pros

"The solution helps to detect some suspicious items for us and our clients."

"Easy to use is what my customers say is the biggest benefit of Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting for them."

"What really stands out about Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting is that it's easy to use, the cost is clear, and the pricing is transparent, with straightforward onboarding in hybrid, cloud, or on-premise environments."

"The best feature of this solution is that it is an integrated and comprehensive solution for the entire Microsoft ecosystem."

"Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting helps my customers detect or prevent emerging threats that are not yet published but Microsoft has visibility into."

Cons

"In terms of room for improvement for Huntress Managed EDR, I think that if they could work with maybe other antivirus vendors to sort of work together with those, it would be beneficial because I know they work with Microsoft Defender, but we chose not to do that."

"I would request that they make it an agent for Linux because we need it on Linux."

"What I dislike about Huntress Managed EDR is that I would probably change my opinion since about the only thing I could really see is bringing down the price somewhat."

"Regarding improvements for Huntress Managed EDR, there was an example yesterday where the UI had unclear directions and it caused the agent itself to be removed from the endpoint device during a critical moment."

"Reporting for Huntress Managed EDR could be better."

"The integration with our RMM could be better."

"If I were to suggest improvements, I would like to see more advanced customization and reporting capabilities, particularly for MSPs managing multiple clients."

"I would like to see an easier way to whitelist sites or to monitor some of the reporting that Huntress Managed EDR does."

More Huntress Managed EDR cons

"There is a lot of change in a small period. This might not be helpful for IT administrators and users."

"We tried the proactive threat hunting feature, but it was not a good experience with Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting. It created more trouble than expected with false positives and non-expected answers."

"The solution’s user interface could be improved."

"The price of the solution is costly, which I find significant."

"As a partner, Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting could be improved by getting earlier threat detection signals so we could proactively research on our own end and help support a campaign to raise awareness as well as proactive response."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It is simple. It is reasonable. They raised my prices this year. We never like price increases, but they continue to add value, so we just keep adding agents as we grow and as our clients grow."

"It is fair. They provide good value for the product that they deliver. I have had one price increase in the entire time I have used them. They added a bunch of features and then said that they have to increase our price a little bit. That is a fair way to handle it."

"I believe Huntress offers competitive pricing overall."

"The solution is cheap compared to other alternatives. It offers good value for money. For the whole solution, it's up to about five pounds per device per month. Considering what it does, I think that's very good value."

"The tool’s price is very good. You just need to pay for the standard license. However, you need to pay the additional cost for Microsoft Defender."

"Huntress Managed EDR offers a fair pricing model."

"I rate the product pricing six out of ten for the Malaysian market. However, I would rate it a three out of ten for the Australian, New Zealand, or Singapore markets."

"Huntress is priced fairly for the services and value it provides."

More Huntress Managed EDR pricing and cost advice

Information not available

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

10%

Manufacturing Company

10%

Outsourcing Company

Comms Service Provider

Computer Software Company

21%

Financial Services Firm

11%

Comms Service Provider

Construction Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	65
Midsize Enterprise	6
Large Enterprise	2

No data available

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with Huntress?

I would like to see more customization and deeper integration with SIEM and other security tools for Huntress Managed EDR, as better reporting and more detailed endpoint investigation data would al...

What is your primary use case for Huntress?

My main use case for Huntress Managed EDR is endpoint monitoring and threat detection, which I use to investigate suspicious processes, malware activity, endpoint alerts, and potential indicators o...

What advice do you have for others considering Huntress?

I would rate Huntress Managed EDR a nine out of 10 because it gives strong endpoint visibility, reliable threat detection, and effective remediation, while the managed SOC reduces the workload for ...

What needs improvement with Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting?

As a partner, Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting could be improved by getting earlier threat detection signals so we could proactively research on our own end and help support a campaign to rai...

What is your primary use case for Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting?

As a working security partner, my main use case for Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting is that many of our customers also have Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting and really find a lot of va...

What advice do you have for others considering Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting?

As a partner, there can be some concern that Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting is taking away some of our business because they're providing a solution that we also provide. However, the team ...

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Product Reports

Huntress Managed EDR

Download Huntress Managed EDR product report

Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting

Download Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting product report

Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting report

Overview

Huntress Managed EDR provides round-the-clock threat detection, incident response, and remediation services. It offers a cost-effective security solution tailored for small to medium businesses, integrating seamlessly with Microsoft Defender to bolster cybersecurity without needing extensive security personnel.

Huntress Managed EDR specializes in comprehensive threat-hunting and proactive defense, designed to operate alongside existing antivirus tools like Microsoft Defender. It delivers continuous monitoring and advanced threat detection to protect endpoints from threats beyond traditional antivirus capabilities. The platform features a user-oriented interface enabling efficient endpoint management and security. While valued for its 24/7 security operations and threat response, Huntress faces certain challenges such as enhancing reporting capabilities, expanding integration with third-party systems, and advancing its XDR functionalities. Users seek improved API capabilities, streamlined report generation, and broader Macintosh support to elevate their experience with the tool.

What are the key features?

24/7 SOC: Continuous monitoring and rapid threat response by expert analysts.
Threat Hunting: Active detection of complex threats that bypass traditional AV.
Proactive Incident Response: Immediate action taken to mitigate potential threats.
Automatic Remediation: Hands-free threat resolution without manual intervention.
Integration with Microsoft Defender: Seamlessly work alongside existing antivirus solutions.

What benefits should users consider?

Cost Efficiency: Reduces the need for large in-house security teams.
User Friendliness: Allows easy operation and management of cybersecurity tools.
Enhanced Security Posture: Adds an extra layer of protection to existing defenses.
Adaptability: Supports various deployment models for flexible implementation.
Endpoint Protection: Provides robust defense against evasive cyber threats.

Industries leverage Huntress Managed EDR to enhance security frameworks and integrate with existing security measures, like Microsoft Defender. Its deployment spans financial, healthcare, and SMB sectors, where the need for robust endpoint protection and threat-hunting capabilities is paramount. Organizations benefit from its flexible deployment options, adapting Huntress to their specific cybersecurity strategies.

Huntress

Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting empowers businesses with advanced threat detection and incident response capabilities, leveraging proactive threat hunting and expert consultation to enhance cybersecurity posture across diverse environments.

Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting provides a comprehensive cybersecurity solution that integrates well with Microsoft tools, enabling organizations to detect, explain, and manage threats efficiently. It uses the MITRE framework for reporting, enhancing detection strategies and regulatory compliance efforts, offering increased protection against nation-state and financially motivated cyber threats. With tools like KQL query capability, direct access to security analysts via the Ask an Expert button, and automation features, it enhances threat intel updates and saves significant man-hours for security teams.

What key features set Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting apart?

KQL Query Capability: Provides powerful data querying to identify potential threats.
Proactive Threat Hunting: Enables security teams to detect threats before they cause harm.
Ask an Expert Button: Allows direct chat with security analysts for expert insight.
Improved Detection Rates: Utilizes advanced algorithms to enhance threat detection accuracy.
Integration with MITRE Framework: Utilizes a robust framework for thorough threat identification.
Strategic Ecosystem Integration: Compatible with Microsoft tools for a cohesive cybersecurity strategy.

What benefits should organizations expect from using Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting?

Increased Threat Detection Precision: Provides reliable detection backed by Microsoft's extensive data.
Enhanced Operational Efficiency: Saves manpower through automation, allowing teams to focus on impactful tasks.
Regulatory Compliance Support: Assists in meeting compliance requirements through structured reporting.
Streamlined Incident Response: Reduces incident handling time with expert insights and integrated tools.

Industries employing Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting integrate it with Azure Sentinel and other cybersecurity tools to bolster threat response strategies. Entities benefit from advanced threat signals, enhancing protection against sophisticated cyber threats, particularly useful for sectors facing threats from nation-state and financially supported actors.

Microsoft

Huntress Managed EDR vs. Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting