Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs Symantec Endpoint Security Enterprise comparison

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and Symantec Endpoint Security Enterprise based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.
To learn more, read our detailed Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs. Symantec Endpoint Security Enterprise Report (Updated: May 2024).
771,212 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"It is very easy to set up. I would rate my experience with the initial setup a ten out of ten, with ten being very easy to set up.""NGAV and EDR features are outstanding.""I like FortiClient EMS. FortiEDR has a lot of great features like lockdown mode, remote wipes, and encryption. I can set malware outbreak policies and controls for detecting abnormalities. You can also simulate phishing attacks.""The solution was relatively easy to deploy.""We have FortiEDR installed on all our systems. This protects them from any threats.""Having all monitoring, response, tracking, and mitigation tools in one dashboard provides our analysts and SOC team with a comprehensive view at a glance.""Ability to get forensics details and also memory exfiltration.""Fortinet is very user-friendly for customers."

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"It's very easy to scale because it comes built-in with Windows 10, and you just need to enable it. This can be done on scale using group policies or through Endpoint Manager on cloud or Intune.""It performs well. The stability is seamless.""Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is a robust platform.""The most valuable feature of Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is its ability to bring together all the data, providing more information than just antivirus hits.""The most valuable feature is its ability to effectively detect threats. It has the EDR feature, endpoint detection and response, and that is very good.""We apply the DLP policies across a range of endpoints and it is very accurate when reporting vulnerabilities, including those in email attachments.""Because it has been integrated with the OS, we get the entire software inventories, and we even get access to the registries. Those are the primary features.""Offers good protection."

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"The most valuable features of Symantec Endpoint Security Enterprise are the proactive threat protection and the normal spyware protection which they offer in addition to catching standard threats. It all works well for us even without an EDR.""The solution works well overall.""Symantec Endpoint Security Enterprise is a simple solution to implement. It took us half a day to complete the process.""The monitoring and reporting features are pretty awesome.""We rely on Symantec Endpoint Security Enterprise to safeguard our computer systems from malware. Occasionally, we have encountered issues related to antivirus or malware, but overall, the application has been instrumental in addressing these concerns.""The most valuable feature of Symantec Endpoint Security Enterprise is the application. Additionally, they are adding features frequently.""Symantec is a little bit better at remediating or preventing things in general.""It is very easy to use. The user interface is friendly."

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Cons
"I think cloud security and SASE are areas of concern in the product where improvements are required. The tool's cloud version has to be improved in terms of the security it offers.""We'd like to see more one-to-one product presentations for the distribution channels.""ZTNA can improve latency.""The support needs improvement.""To improve Fortinet, we need to see more features and technology areas at the endpoint level introduced.""Everything with Fortinet having to do with their cloud services. They need to invest more in their internal infrastructure that they are running in the cloud. One of the things I find with their cloud environment compared to others' is that they go cheap on the equipment. So it causes some performance degradation.""The only minor concern is occasional interference with desired programs.""Making the portal mobile friendly would be helpful when I am out of office."

More Fortinet FortiEDR Cons →

"Integrating this with third-party systems has some complexity involved.""Microsoft Defender for Endpoint can improve by making the reporting faster. It takes some time to reflect back to the administration portal of what has been updated. For example, out of 100 Computers, approximately 90 computers received updates, but when you check the administration portal over one or two days, you will only see 75, even though 90 were updated.""There are some areas in the proactive threats that are just overwhelming the SOC, so we've had to turn those off until we can figure out how to filter out the false positives.""I would like to see online updates for patches for this solution. I would also like to see online information about what is trending in the market in terms of spams, viruses, or trojans. It takes some time to understand how this solution works. A few things are unclear at the beginning, such as whether it actually restricts the virus or spam at the initial stage, or when there is a security update, how will we come to know and how will it get synchronized. It would be really helpful if there is some kind of knowledge base in the form of video, audio, or document that can explain in a user-friendly way the setup, features, risks, and process to mitigate the risks. Currently, I have installed endpoint security for every individual system. I could not install it like other endpoint solutions where we have a server and a client. It would be really helpful if Microsoft Windows Defender has a server-client based model so that I can save some bandwidth when it downloads or uploads features. It will be helpful if we have a LAN-based or WAN-based controlling system.""The management console is something that can be improved.""The central console needs improvement. Both McAfee and Symantec antivirus have dashboards. These integrate with a server and work on my antivirus or some other product. However, with Microsoft Defender, you use Microsoft Group Policy Object. Defender does not provide a central console. Therefore, if you implement Defender, then maybe use another tool for the central view.""Reporting could be improved. I would like to see how many security incidents occurred in the last six months, how many devices were highly exposed to security risks, and how many devices were actually compromised.""They're in the process of pulling more things together. They can continue with the integrations and provide a better way of seeing the impact of security changes, especially on the endpoint side. Before we actually flip the switch, we should be able to see the impact of security changes on the business or business applications. It would prevent breaking any business applications."

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"I have contacted support and the speed of resolution could be faster.""An area for improvement for Symantec Endpoint Security Enterprise would be its firewall features, in particular, this solution needs to provide more firewall controls.""Symantec Endpoint Security Enterprise could improve by giving notifications regarding identified threats.""The solution needs to be marketed to more consumers so that they will use it.""The solution's management dashboard could be improved. An easier-to-use threat-hunting dashboard would make life easier for security analysts. Its support needs to improve for the African region.""Symantec's main priority should be enhancing their support, especially local support for different regions.""I don't see any specific areas for improvement. They are knowledgeable about advanced solutions, so no suggestions from my end. Maybe there are minor enhancements, like improving UI features or dashboards, but overall, the product is well-designed. As for additional features, I hope they incorporate Kipops, specifically AI functionality, in the next release of Symantec Endpoint Security Enterprise.""The product is a bit resource-intensive."

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Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "I know it is tough to get big budget additions up front, but I highly recommend deploying environment wide and adding the forensic service."
  • "There are no issues with the pricing."
  • "The price is comprable to other endpoint security solutions."
  • "The pricing is typical for enterprises and fairly priced."
  • "I'm not familiar with pricing, but it looks a bit costly compared to other vendors I think."
  • "The pricing is good."
  • "I would rate the solution's pricing an eight out of ten."
  • "The hardware costs about €100,000 and about €20,000 annually for access."
  • More Fortinet FortiEDR Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "The product is free of charge and comes integrated into Windows."
  • "The solution is free."
  • "This product is included in the pricing for Windows."
  • "If you don't purchase the advanced threat protection then there is no additional charge."
  • "It is affordable and comes in the Office 365 bundle."
  • "Microsoft Defender ATP is expensive."
  • "I pay for it through the Windows Professional or Standard license. It is a one-time cost for me, and I use the same license."
  • "When compared with other vendors, the pricing is very high."
  • More Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "The license for Symantec Endpoint Security Enterprise is paid, but there is a trial for 60 days."
  • "The cost of the solution is reasonable."
  • "The price of the solution is very low. There is an annual subscription to use the solution."
  • "The price of Symantec Endpoint Security Enterprise is expensive. When compared to other solutions they should reduce the price."
  • "We have Symantec Endpoint Security Enterprise, and it's very competitively priced. However, there is a considerable jump in price for upgrading to the EDR, so that's more compatible with enterprise-level organizations."
  • "If you have a variety of different endpoints, including heavily protected endpoints and some endpoints that are in the field, Symantec allows you to apply different licensing so you don't have to put everything under Endpoint Complete."
  • "I rate Symantec Endpoint Security Enterprise's pricing a two out of ten."
  • "I rate the tool's pricing a six out of ten."
  • More Symantec Endpoint Security Enterprise Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:I suggest Fortinet’s FortiEDR over FortiClient for several reasons. For starters, FortiEDR guarantees solid protection… more »
    Top Answer:We have FortiEDR installed on all our systems. This protects them from any threats.
    Top Answer:We license it per employee, so as long as the employee count remains the same, the licensing won't change. We have it… more »
    Top Answer:Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is a cloud-delivered endpoint security solution. The tool reduces the attack surface… more »
    Top Answer:We use Symantec because we do not use MS Enterprise products, but in my opinion, Microsoft Defender is a superior… more »
    Top Answer:The CrowdStrike solution delivers a lot of information about incidents. It has a very light sensor that will never push… more »
    Top Answer:The primary feature of the solution is antivirus scanning with IPS. It blocks viruses and uses a signature database… more »
    Top Answer:The solution could improve its speed, threat coverage, and the tool's functionality. There are concerns regarding the… more »
    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    enSilo, FortiEDR
    Microsoft Defender ATP, Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection, MS Defender for Endpoint, Microsoft Defender Antivirus
    Learn More
    Interactive Demo
    Fortinet
    Demo Not Available
    Broadcom
    Demo Not Available
    Overview

    Fortinet FortiEDR is a real-time endpoint protection, detection, and automated response solution. Its primary purpose is to detect advanced threats to stop breaches and ransomware damage. It is designed to do so in real time, even on an already compromised device, allowing you to respond and remediate incidents automatically so your data can remain protected.

    Fortinet FortiEDR Features

    Fortinet FortiEDR has many valuable key features, including:

    • Easily customizable
    • Real-time proactive risk mitigation & IoT security
    • Pre-infection protection
    • Post-infection protection
    • Track applications and ratings
    • Reduce the attack surface with risk-based proactive policies
    • Achieve analysis of entire log history
    • Optional managed detection and response (MDR) service

    Fortinet FortiEDR Benefits

    Some of the key benefits of using Fortinet FortiEDR include:

    • Protection: Fortinet FortiEDR provides proactive, real-time, automated endpoint protection with the orchestrated incident response across platforms. It stops the breach with real-time postinfection blocking to protect data from exfiltration and ransomware encryption.

    • Single unified console: Fortinet FortiEDR has a single unified console with an intuitive interface, which makes management easier. The solution automates mundane endpoint security tasks so your employees don’t need to do it.

    • Cost savings: With Fortinet FortiEDR you can eliminate post-breach operational expenses and breach damage costs.

    • Flexibility: Fortinet FortiEDR can be deployed on premises or on a secure cloud instance. With Fortinet FortiEDR, endpoints are protected both on- and off-line.

    • Scalability: Because Fortinet can be deployed quickly and has a small footprint, it is easy to scale up to protect hundreds of thousand endpoints.

    Reviews from Real Users

    Below are some reviews and helpful feedback written by Fortinet FortiEDR users.

    An Owner at a security firm says, "The features that I have found most valuable are the ability to customize it and to reduce its size. It lets you run in a very small window in terms of memory and resources on legacy cash registers. The customer has literally about 800 cash registers. That was the use case for Fortinet FortiEDR - to get that down into a tiny space. The only way to do that was to use this product because it had that ability to unbundle services that were a surplus.”

    Chandan M., Chief Technical Officer at Provision Technologies LLP, mentions, “The ease of deployment and configuration is valuable. It's very easy compared to other vendors like Sophos. Sophos' configuration is complex. Fortinet is a lot easier to understand. You don't need a lot of admin knowledge to do the configuration.” He also adds, “The security is also very good and the firewall response is good.”

    Harpreet S., Information Technology Support Specialist at Chemtrade Logistics, explains, "It notifies us if there's any suspicious file on any PC. If any execution or similar kind of thing is happening, it just alerts us. It doesn't only alert. It also blocks the execution until we allow it. We check whether the execution is legitimate or not, and then approve it or keep it blocked. This gives us a little bit of control over this mechanism. Fortinet FortiEDR is also very straightforward and easy to maintain."

    DeAndre V., Senior Network Administrator at a financial services firm, states, “The dashboard is easy to follow and use. The deployment and uninstalling were easy. I like the detailed information about the path of a file that might be suspicious. Being able to check that out was easy to follow. Exceptions are easy to create and the interface is easy to follow with a nice appearance.

    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.

    Endpoint Security Enterprise focuses on advanced prevention for traditional endpoints and modern mobile devices. To include attack surface reduction capabilities and detection and response technologies, check out Endpoint Security Complete.

    Sample Customers
    Financial, Healthcare, Legal, Technology, Enterprise, Manufacturing ... 
    Petrofrac, Metro CSG, Christus Health
    Information Not Available
    Top Industries
    REVIEWERS
    Financial Services Firm21%
    Comms Service Provider11%
    Manufacturing Company11%
    Pharma/Biotech Company5%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company16%
    Government8%
    Manufacturing Company8%
    Financial Services Firm8%
    REVIEWERS
    Financial Services Firm19%
    Computer Software Company16%
    Energy/Utilities Company7%
    Comms Service Provider7%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Educational Organization22%
    Computer Software Company13%
    Government8%
    Financial Services Firm7%
    REVIEWERS
    Manufacturing Company24%
    Financial Services Firm18%
    Government18%
    Retailer12%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company14%
    Manufacturing Company11%
    Financial Services Firm10%
    Government8%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business52%
    Midsize Enterprise15%
    Large Enterprise33%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business31%
    Midsize Enterprise19%
    Large Enterprise50%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business40%
    Midsize Enterprise17%
    Large Enterprise43%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business22%
    Midsize Enterprise33%
    Large Enterprise45%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business50%
    Midsize Enterprise23%
    Large Enterprise27%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business30%
    Midsize Enterprise13%
    Large Enterprise57%
    Buyer's Guide
    Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs. Symantec Endpoint Security Enterprise
    May 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs. Symantec Endpoint Security Enterprise and other solutions. Updated: May 2024.
    771,212 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is ranked 1st in Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) with 182 reviews while Symantec Endpoint Security Enterprise is ranked 20th in Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) with 30 reviews. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is rated 8.0, while Symantec Endpoint Security Enterprise is rated 8.0. The top reviewer of Microsoft Defender for Endpoint writes "Eliminates the need to look at multiple dashboards by automatically providing one XDR dashboard to show the security score of each subscription". On the other hand, the top reviewer of Symantec Endpoint Security Enterprise writes "Offers the ability to craft very specific policies to secure your environment and customize your security functions". Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is most compared with Symantec Endpoint Security, Intercept X Endpoint, SentinelOne Singularity Complete, CrowdStrike Falcon and Microsoft Intune, whereas Symantec Endpoint Security Enterprise is most compared with Symantec Endpoint Security Complete and Symantec Endpoint Security. See our Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs. Symantec Endpoint Security Enterprise report.

    See our list of best Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) vendors.

    We monitor all Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.