Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs WithSecure Elements Endpoint Protection comparison

Microsoft and WithSecure are both solutions in the Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) category. Microsoft is ranked #2 with an average rating of 8.3, while WithSecure is ranked #46 with an average rating of 7.5. Microsoft holds a 9.9% mindshare in EPP, compared to WithSecure’s 0.8% mindshare. Additionally, 94% of Microsoft users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of WithSecure users who would recommend it.

Microsoft Defender for Endp...

Read 198 Microsoft Defender for Endpoint reviews

35,345 Views
20,500 Comparison Views

94% willing to recommend

WithSecure Elements Endpoin...

Read 8 WithSecure Elements Endpoint Protection reviews

1,405 Views
1,405 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Microsoft Defender for Endp...

WithSecure Elements Endpoin...

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Sep 9, 2024

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and WithSecure Elements Endpoint Protection are robust security solutions. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint appears to have the upper hand due to its advanced security features and integration capabilities.

Features: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is praised for its integration with Windows systems, advanced threat detection capabilities, and comprehensive reporting. WithSecure Elements Endpoint Protection is commended for its lightweight operation, broad-spectrum malware detection, and intuitive configuration.

Room for Improvement: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint could benefit from more straightforward navigation, lower resource usage, and improved usability. WithSecure Elements Endpoint Protection users suggest enhancements in threat response capabilities, additional customizability in policy management, and deeper integration with other security solutions.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Users find Microsoft Defender for Endpoint relatively simple to deploy, especially in environments using Microsoft services, and it is supported by robust customer support. WithSecure Elements Endpoint Protection offers a straightforward deployment process valued for its ease in diverse settings, though some users feel customer service response times could be improved.

Pricing and ROI: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is considered cost-effective, especially for businesses leveraging Microsoft products, providing strong ROI through comprehensive features. WithSecure Elements Endpoint Protection, while potentially higher in initial setup cost, delivers excellent ROI through its efficient operation and targeted security features.

To learn more, read our detailed Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs. WithSecure Elements Endpoint Protection Report (Updated: September 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs. WithSecure Elements Endpoint Protection

September 2025

Download the complete report

Helped 872,778 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

Microsoft Defender for Endp...

Ranking in Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP)

2nd

Average Rating

8.2

Reviews Sentiment

7.1

Number of Reviews

198

Ranking in other categories

Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) (3rd), Anti-Malware Tools (1st), Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) (3rd), Microsoft Security Suite (5th)

WithSecure Elements Endpoin...

Ranking in Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP)

46th

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

7.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2025, in the Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) category, the mindshare of Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is 9.9%, down from 12.4% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of WithSecure Elements Endpoint Protection is 0.8%, up from 0.7% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint	9.9%
WithSecure Elements Endpoint Protection	0.8%
Other	89.3%

Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP)

Featured Reviews

NaySan @ Suraj Verma

Solution Consultant at BIM Group of Companies

Has effectively blocked sophisticated attacks and malicious activities while providing excellent support

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is very good, but one suggestion is that in some products, we may need to configure security-related settings, whereas Microsoft Defender for Endpoint works completely differently, providing automatic recommendations and actions that we may need to perform ourselves. Regarding the pricing of Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, during the last three years, we set up the product and sold it, but we faced difficulties because Microsoft pricing is always the same. For example, whether I purchase Microsoft Defender for Endpoint for one year or for the next three years, the pricing remains constant with no discounts available. In contrast, competing products offer reduced pricing for long-term commitments, which makes it difficult for us in that environment. Microsoft should consider this option to remain competitive, but otherwise, everything else is fine.

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Mark Feldman

IT-Manager at MKF-Schimanski-ERGIS GmbH

Central console streamlines patch monitoring and device management effortlessly

WithSecure Elements Endpoint Protection is good and easy to set up. I provide an installation file for every client through my domain controller and GPO, and it works properly. We have faced no incidents with viruses or network breaches, and it's easy to monitor patches. I can use remote desktop from the central console. The solution also saves my time because, being the only one handling it, I can monitor all devices easily.

Read full review

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"It's pretty easy to scale."

"We had Norton Antivirus before, and with Norton, we didn't have a way to centrally manage a lot of features. Defender allowed us to deploy it from our Office 365 admin console. That is probably the biggest thing that made us go with Defender."

"User-friendly, offering safety and security."

"Defender is stable, I haven't had any problems with viruses when using it, and it's easy to update."

"Defender is stable. The performance is good."

"The most valuable features are the Windows Firewall and the regular virus definition updates. These features are very helpful and have helped to improve our security."

"Microsoft's technical support is fantastic."

"Defender should be fine for home use. It has all the basic functionality you need. I can't speak to how well it works as an enterprise solution because I'm not in the space."

More Microsoft Defender for Endpoint pros

"There is a layer of security to prevent a malicious agent (malware) from interrupting or stopping services, deleting or modifying registry entries or even stopping the antivirus from acting, ensuring that there will be no interruption of protection."

"Both incoming and outgoing traffic is protected."

"We use the product for detecting network vulnerabilities and for software update purposes."

"The most valuable features of WithSecure Elements Endpoint Protection are the clear useful portal and overall company protection."

"The notifications and patch management features are valuable."

"F-Secure is useful for keeping user machines up-to-date by pushing out security and critical updates."

"WithSecure Elements Endpoint Protection is good and easy to set up."

"On the cloud management page, the solution scales up very highly."

Cons

"If there were more template queries in the library, that would make it much easier. They could have basic things, like, "Where's the IP for this user?" or, "What file was downloaded from this user?" If there were more of those basic queries that would help."

"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."

"The solution could use improvement on the interface."

"They should come up with pre-built inner workflows."

"Sometimes, there are difficulties in downloading a file considered as malicious."

"The time it takes to restore the application could be improved. It has a lot of dependencies. It's not like the Microsoft security that comes with the OS. Updating through the command prompt, most of the time, it takes some time to download some of these dependencies."

"With the XDR dashboard, when you're doing an investigation and you're drilling down to obtain further details it tends to open many different tabs that take you away from your main tabs. You can end up having 10 tabs open for one investigation. This is another area for improvement because you can end up getting lost in the multiple tabs. Therefore, the central console can be improved so that it does not take you to several different pages for each investigation."

"If you have multi-cloud like Google and AWS, the native solutions are better for those particular cases."

More Microsoft Defender for Endpoint cons

"There is no technical support available in the Middle East."

"Resource consumption is suboptimal and could be improved."

"But the biggest one for us is patch management because this has been our top priority when looking at alternatives. Every solution needs to have patch management, if that's possible. It would cut costs on our side if that feature were included, so we don't need to pay for two separate pieces of software."

"The solution could improve by having more real-time responses. For example, when a license gets removed from a computer it does not update the records of the change. Additionally, when I installed Microsoft Windows Defender I was not able to send licenses through email to our tenants. The integration with other solutions could improve."

"The program and cloud service management is in English. It's not a problem for me, however, it might be for users who don't speak English or use it regularly."

"There could be a dedicated security partner with essential knowledge."

"One problem is that the solution takes too much RAM from the client."

"I would like the part of Hash Analysis by external sources to be improved."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The solution is free and comes with Windows."

"When compared with other vendors, the pricing is very high."

"Defender doesn't cost that much. When you use Microsoft technology, you can start with the free version and see how much the technology helps your organization solve security problems before you use the subscription. They also do this pay-as-you-go model, so you only pay when you use it."

"They are now doing it on an endpoint basis. It is based on the number of endpoints, which is good."

"This solution is part of an enterprise license we have."

"The solution is free."

"The price of Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is reasonable. Other solutions are more expensive, such as ClowdStrike."

"I'm not too familiar with costs as I'm an architect, though I know about online pricing, as I help two teams with online purchasing and procurement. Nowadays, everyone has an enterprise agreement, such as an E3 license, which we provide to our customers."

More Microsoft Defender for Endpoint pricing and cost advice

"The cost of the solution depends on the size of the company and where the licenses are being ordered from."

"If you purchase licenses in bulk the price of the licenses can decrease."

"The product has average pricing."

"We pay a yearly licensing fee of about €20 per computer."

"The price is comparable."

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

13%

Manufacturing Company

Government

Financial Services Firm

Comms Service Provider

22%

Computer Software Company

15%

University

Manufacturing Company

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	79
Midsize Enterprise	34
Large Enterprise	87

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	6
Large Enterprise	1

Questions from the Community

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, applies behavioral-based endpoint protection and response, and includes risk-ba...

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Which offers better endpoint security - Symantec or Microsoft Defender?

We use Symantec because we do not use MS Enterprise products, but in my opinion, Microsoft Defender is a superior solution. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is a cloud-delivered endpoint security s...

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How does Microsoft Defender for Endpoint compare with Crowdstrike Falcon?

The CrowdStrike solution delivers a lot of information about incidents. It has a very light sensor that will never push your machine hardware to "test", you don't have the usual "scan now" feature ...

See all answers

What do you like most about F-Secure Protection Service for Business?

The notifications and patch management features are valuable.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for F-Secure Protection Service for Business?

The pricing is scalable. We can purchase more licenses if needed. It's a more cost-effective solution compared to Darktrace, which requires a special device purchase.

See all answers

What needs improvement with F-Secure Protection Service for Business?

One problem is that the solution takes too much RAM from the client. It would help if it used less RAM in future versions.

See all answers

Comparisons

HP Wolf Security vs Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

Compared 5% of the time

CrowdStrike Falcon vs Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

Compared 5% of the time

F-Secure Total vs Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

Compared 4% of the time

Symantec Endpoint Security vs Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

Compared 4% of the time

Trellix Endpoint Security Platform vs Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

Compared 4% of the time

More Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Competitors

Sophos EPP Suite vs WithSecure Elements Endpoint Protection

Compared 12% of the time

ESET Endpoint Protection Platform vs WithSecure Elements Endpoint Protection

Compared 9% of the time

CrowdStrike Falcon vs WithSecure Elements Endpoint Protection

Compared 9% of the time

Bitdefender Total Security vs WithSecure Elements Endpoint Protection

Compared 9% of the time

Check Point Harmony Endpoint vs WithSecure Elements Endpoint Protection

Compared 7% of the time

More WithSecure Elements Endpoint Protection Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

October 2025

Download Microsoft Defender for Endpoint product report

Buyer's Guide

WithSecure Elements Endpoint Protection

October 2025

WithSecure Elements Endpoint Protection report

Download WithSecure Elements Endpoint Protection product report

Also Known As

Microsoft Defender ATP, Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection, MS Defender for Endpoint, Microsoft Defender Antivirus

F-Secure Elements Endpoint Protection, F-Secure Protection Service for Business

Interactive Demo

Microsoft

Demo not available

WithSecure

Overview

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.

Microsoft

WithSecure (formerly F-Secure) Elements Endpoint Protection is cloud-native, AI-powered endpoint protection that you can deploy instantly from your browser and manage easily from a single console. It integrates across all your endpoints, keeping your organization fenced in from attacks. WithSecure Elements Endpoint Protection is a module of the Elements cyber security platform. The cloud-based platform provides effective protection against ransomware and advanced attacks. Elements brings together vulnerability management, automated patch management, dynamic threat intelligence and continuous behavioral analytics. Use individual solutions for specific needs or combine them all seamlessly for maximum defense.

WithSecure

Sample Customers

Petrofrac, Metro CSG, Christus Health

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs. WithSecure Elements Endpoint Protection

September 2025

Free Report: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs. WithSecure Elements Endpoint Protection

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