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Microsoft BitLocker vs Symantec Endpoint Encryption vs ZENworks Suite comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

Review summaries and opinions

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

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2026, in the Endpoint Encryption category, the mindshare of Microsoft BitLocker is 20.1%, down from 40.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Symantec Endpoint Encryption is 8.3%, down from 10.0% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of ZENworks Suite is 2.9%, up from 1.5% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Endpoint Encryption Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Microsoft BitLocker20.1%
Symantec Endpoint Encryption8.3%
ZENworks Suite2.9%
Other68.7%
Endpoint Encryption
 

Featured Reviews

Ibrahin Gamal - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Technology Specialist at ITE Corp
Data protection improves while users adapt to user access complexities
Recovery options are useful with Microsoft BitLocker. When we get the recovery key from Microsoft, people who we show how BitLocker works did not know the facts about BitLocker. When we tell them about recovery keys, it is very difficult for them to get to the users who have issues in their PCs and do not have the knowledge. When IT asked about the scenario, it was difficult for them. They needed something where they could go to the administration portal to unlock the PC for the user, but we tell them that when a user asks for a recovery key, it consists of 32 numbers to unlock their PC. They observed cost savings after implementing Microsoft BitLocker because they requested BitLocker with System Center. They found that it did not have a high cost, as it is a built-in feature in Windows. When they asked about other solutions, it was very expensive for large numbers in other corporates or organizations. They were very satisfied with Microsoft BitLocker with System Center Configuration Manager.
KD
Security Risk Manager at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
Remote management capability ensures efficient security implementation for endpoints and servers
I use Symantec Endpoint Encryption for endpoint and server security. My current role involves preparing a design document for implementing security features for the product Symantec Endpoint Encryption is easy to use and manage. The solution's remote management capability is helpful, and it…
reviewer2134215 - PeerSpot reviewer
Consultant at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
Fast with great patching and the ability to prioritize critical work
For a customer that had 4,000 devices, and at the time they had something that only supported Windows. We suggested this product, and the client was able to manage inventory and patch beyond just Windows devices. It helped them maintain compliance and patching permissions. They could do all the patching of all the devices within a week - offering less downtime.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"From my own personal experience, Bitlocker is one of the easier ways to encrypt a drive."
"While it helps mitigate unauthorized data access by enhancing file and system protection through encryption, the tool is really enhanced with the combination of other Microsoft Security and Compliance features like data labeling."
"It is easy to use and has multiple options for many uses."
"BitLocker provides the common person with great security to guard against most threats consisting of efforts by unauthorized people who try to gain access to the computer by not allowing it to boot up absent a password."
"The most important aspect of this solution is that if your laptop gets stolen, the information is encrypted."
"The tool has improved the starting up of our notebooks and end-user devices."
"I have found it beneficial for my organization to store sensitive information in vaults, which is helpful for our purposes."
"It's my understanding that the initial setup is straightforward."
"The most valuable feature is that it works in the background so that the end-users are not aware of what is happening on the laptop."
"Disk encryption and file and folder encryption are the most valuable and used features. It is also very well integrated with Symantec Messaging Gateway and Symantec DLP, which is helpful in protecting any kind of information that goes outside. Symantec DLP catches an email and sends it to the encryption server. The encryption server encrypts the email and intimates to the user that confidential information is being sent out. The administrator can then take appropriate action."
"The solution’s installation was easy."
"The encryption feature is very good."
"The best feature of Symantec Endpoint Encryption is the encryption itself, and none of our customers have complained about this solution at all, so I take it that everything is still working fine."
"This solution has helped to increase staff productivity."
"The best feature of Symantec Endpoint Encryption is the encryption itself. Encryption truly is the way to go because nowadays we are living in an era of widespread server threats, and you need to encrypt your emails and documents because you never know who might get hold of them."
"In general terms, it is working properly and according to our expectations, and the comfort of feeling secure is the most valuable."
"It's allowed us to manage a couple of hundred PCs with just one person - me."
"The setup is pretty straightforward."
"The stability is good."
 

Cons

"The console GUI could be better."
"It would be good if Microsoft offered improved recovery options or if it could automate the recovery options a bit."
"Any software encryption will take up additional space on your hard drive or storage device, and Bitlocker is no exception."
"I often have to make multiple attempts to log in."
"I don't think we're getting our money's worth because we're often unable to locate computers that have been lost."
"The people at the first level of support refer you to articles that do not pertain to the problem at hand."
"The reporting in Microsoft is very minimal."
"For improvement, as it is now, I do not have any support from anyone. There should be a web interface to manage BitLocker. But for now, all I do is just install a new product on the user's machine and create it. I would like to be able to see everything that is happening, even if it is just through a web interface. I would also like to be able to see how many users are provisioned, which users are using BitLocker, and how to disable or enable it. That's what I would like to see."
"Another improvement that comes to mind is that it could be made much simpler. The user must be able to use it easily and without any hassle."
"One feature that is lacking is integration with Symantec Information Centric (ICT). As it is now, I don't see how to integrate the encryption with ICT, and in my opinion this is an area that certainly requires encryption, even though it's no longer supported by Broadcom."
"I would like to have less frequent updates."
"It's a bit difficult to get good support. Their response times are really bad."
"The solution does not have endpoint control."
"Its decryption time needs to be improved. Currently, its decryption time is very long, and it takes double time than encryption."
"We had approximately 600 users but we migrated to a different solution because of some issues. I can't recommend this product."
"Its decryption time needs to be improved. Currently, its decryption time is very long, and it takes double time than encryption. They need to work on that. Its encryption time is fine."
"If they could introduce it on the cloud, it would be ideal."
"I'm not on the most current version, however, I know one area that I didn't get into that I kind of wanted to is to have a mobile device management tool. My understanding is it's improved a lot from the version I have. It may be a feature that is already available."
"They used to be really good, however, lately, not so much. The quality of support has dropped."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The product's cost is included in Windows."
"It's not about pricing, because we are working with Enterprise companies that already have Windows Enterprise, so BitLocker comes already included as a Windows feature. It's free for Enterprise users. The price is only for deployment. The customer will pay for McAfee, however."
"It operates on a subscription model on an annual basis."
"I think it's reasonably priced because I've never heard any complaints from my company about its costs."
"The price of this solution should be more competitive."
"The solution is cost efficient."
"For reasons unknown, Microsoft products seem to be getting more expensive."
"It is a totally free solution."
"Depending on how many modules you will use (up to five) the licensing will be more expensive."
"The licensing costs yearly are $5000."
"It can be expensive. However, if you plan to scale or are at a large enterprise company, this product could be what you need."
"Considering the fluctuation in exchange rates in our part of the world, we find it generally affordable."
"The solution is good, but it is more expensive than other solutions in the market. Other solutions, such as BitLocker are less expensive."
"The license is not very expensive."
"They have two solutions for encryption including Symantec Endpoint Encryption and PGP Endpoint Encryption. With one PGP license, you can deploy the two solutions. The PGP license gives you two options."
"Although the performance and stability of this solution are good, our challenge is the price tag. You buy the solution once, but you also have to keep on buying the licenses yearly."
Information not available
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Government
9%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Manufacturing Company
9%
University
8%
Financial Services Firm
13%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Construction Company
8%
Government
7%
No data available
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business35
Midsize Enterprise10
Large Enterprise25
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business19
Midsize Enterprise7
Large Enterprise16
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

What should one take into account when replacing PGP with Microsoft BitLocker?
Beware to make backup of useful data, then use reverse decryption policy from Symantec panel/McAfee ePO to decrypt th...
Would you choose Microsoft BitLocker or McAfee Complete Data Protection?
Microsoft BitLocker is very intuitive and easy to maintain. It is basically the global standard solution for drive en...
How does Microsoft BitLocker compare with Symantec Endpoint Encryption?
Microsoft BitLocker is very intuitive and easy to maintain. It is basically the global standard solution for drive en...
What do you like most about Symantec Endpoint Encryption?
Antivirus, URL filtering, and firewall protection are the most effective features for data protection.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Symantec Endpoint Encryption?
I am not sure about the pricing and licensing cost of Symantec Endpoint Encryption.
What needs improvement with Symantec Endpoint Encryption?
Based on my experience, technically, the product already meets all our requirements. The only improvement would be if...
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Also Known As

BitLocker, MS BitLocker
Symantec Drive Encryption
ZENworks
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

ACV, Proaxis Therapy, Choice Hotels International, adnymics GmbH, Intermedia, NMBS/SNCB
Citrix Systems Inc., City of Lansing, Commercial & Industrial Property, France T_l_visions, Fujian Mobile Co. Ltd., Group Lotus plc, Hall Booth Smith & Slover, P.C. (HBSS), Portugal Telecom, PostFinance, Public Pension Agency
CSC
Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft, Sophos, Broadcom and others in Endpoint Encryption. Updated: February 2026.
885,728 professionals have used our research since 2012.