Microsoft Defender for Identity vs Silverfort comparison

Microsoft and Silverfort are both solutions in the Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) category. Microsoft is ranked #3 with an average rating of 8.7, while Silverfort is ranked #12. Microsoft holds a 11.4% mindshare in ITDR, compared to Silverfort’s 5.0% mindshare. Additionally, 100% of Microsoft users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Silverfort users who would recommend it.

Microsoft Defender for Iden...

Read 28 Microsoft Defender for Identity reviews

6,602 Views
3,301 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Silverfort

Read 1 Silverfort review

2,644 Views
952 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Microsoft Defender for Iden...

Silverfort

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Download the report

Executive SummaryUpdated on Feb 8, 2026

Silverfort and Microsoft Defender for Identity are solutions competing in identity protection. While both offer unique strengths, Microsoft Defender for Identity may have an advantage due to its comprehensive feature set and seamless integration within the Microsoft ecosystem.

Features: Silverfort provides secure cross-platform authentication without agents, integrates seamlessly with hybrid environments, and secures non-web and legacy applications. Microsoft Defender for Identity offers real-time threat detection through deep Azure and Office 365 integration, supported by cloud intelligence, making it suitable for companies using these services.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Silverfort allows straightforward deployment with minimal infrastructure changes, supported by personalized customer service. Microsoft Defender for Identity integrates easily within the Microsoft ecosystem but may require additional setup for non-Microsoft environments, with customer support providing comprehensive guidance through the Microsoft support structure.

Pricing and ROI: Silverfort has a flexible pricing model, offering competitive costs across various business sizes and highlighting ROI through enhanced platform security. Microsoft Defender for Identity can be cost-effective for organizations invested in the Microsoft environment through bundled offerings, providing significant ROI via integrated security solutions.

To learn more, read our detailed Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) Report (Updated: March 2026).

Buyer's Guide

Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR)

March 2026

Download the complete report

Helped 884,933 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 Iden...

Ranking in Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR)

3rd

Average Rating

8.8

Reviews Sentiment

6.8

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) (8th), Microsoft Security Suite (5th)

Silverfort

Ranking in Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR)

12th

Average Rating

0.0

Reviews Sentiment

8.9

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) (7th), Non-Human Identity Management (NHIM) (10th), Identity Security and Posture Management (ISPM) (4th)

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2026, in the Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) category, the mindshare of Microsoft Defender for Identity is 11.4%, down from 18.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Silverfort is 5.0%, down from 5.3% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) Mindshare Distribution
Product	Mindshare (%)
Microsoft Defender for Identity	11.4%
Silverfort	5.0%
Other	83.6%

Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR)

Featured Reviews

Oluwa Adetunji

CyberSecurity Engineer | Information Security Management at Self Employed

Automation and threat intelligence streamline threat response and user management

In Microsoft Defender for Identity, I would appreciate improvements in providing information on conditional access. They have added more control that can be put in place, which was not present years ago. They have also integrated Azure Information Protection where policies can be configured. The Self-Service Password Reset (SSPR) allows users to reset their passwords, which is a valuable tool for remote workers. They have added more features into conditional access that integrate with other components, including SSPR and Identity Information Protection, trusted IPs, and locations. These configurations in trusted IP addresses are integrated into conditional access and control the applications I want to secure. Regarding impossible travel scenarios, I can either block the user or grant access while requesting multi-factor authentication. They should improve the automation for impossible travel detection. When connected to Wi-Fi and then to VPN, the system sometimes interprets the IP address change as impossible travel. If Microsoft could develop a feature that indicates when impossible travel is caused by VPN connections, it would prevent unnecessary password resets and session disruptions, especially for VIP users in organizations.

Read full review

reviewer2342856

Senior Solutions Specialist at a computer software company with 5,001-10,000 employees

Positive feedback highlights lightweight design and compatibility while suggesting more AI integration

Silverfort helps identify blind spots in your identity and access management, covering areas that traditional systems don't, such as command line tools. It checks your Active Directory authentication and continues only if the check is okay, plus it works with older protocols such as NTLM, which is a significant advantage. It's complementary to other tools you may have, whether they are TAM solutions such as Delinea or Xerox. Silverfort also has a lightweight adapter for domain controllers, and it finds gaps in security. Its capabilities are expanding regularly, with new features voted on every few months. For companies with large Active Directory implementations and zero staff, Silverfort provides instant results in identifying risks and blind spots. It also includes built-in virtual features, and while I don't know the exact pricing, it's not expensively priced, making it an attractive option.

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

"The most valuable features of Microsoft Defender for Identity are the simulations; whenever something happens, it provides complete step-by-step process details, including the hierarchy, how it happens in the environment, and the lateral movement, which is amazing."

"The solution’s alerting is fairly efficient."

"We use AD Connect to sync on-premises AD to Azure AD, and so far, it has been effective."

"The integration into the Microsoft Defender ecosystem is the most valuable feature of Microsoft Defender for Identity."

"The feature I like most is that you can create your own customized detection rules. It has a lot of default alerts and rules, but you can customize them according to your business needs."

"The most valuable feature is its hybrid artificial intelligence, which gathers forensic data to track and counteract security threats, much like the CSI series in effect."

"All the integration it has with different Microsoft packages, like Teams and Office, is good."

"Auto-remediation is a valuable feature applied to Microsoft Defender for Identity, reducing the burden of investigating false positives."

More Microsoft Defender for Identity pros

"Silverfort helps identify blind spots in your identity and access management, covering areas that traditional systems don't, such as command line tools."

Cons

"The impact of the sensors on the domain controllers can be quite high depending on your loads. I don't know if there's any room for improvement there, but that's one of the things that might be improved."

"One potential area for improvement could be exploring flexibility in the installation of Microsoft Defender for Identity agents."

"Fixing the solution isn't very seamless."

"One improvement I would recommend is the integration of an admin application within Teams, allowing easy access to attack information on a mobile platform to promptly alert affected users and their friends."

"We observe a lot of false positives. Sometimes, when we go for a coffee break, we lock our screens. Locking the screen has a separate Windows event ID and sometimes I see it is detected as a failed login."

"The documentation provided by Microsoft is often seen as a waste of time."

"They should improve the automation for impossible travel detection. When connected to Wi-Fi and then to VPN, the system sometimes interprets the IP address change as impossible travel."

"I would like to be able to do remediation from the platform because it is just a scanner right now. If you onboard a device, it shows you what is happening, but you can't use it to fix things. You need to go into the system to fix it instead."

More Microsoft Defender for Identity cons

"If Silverfort could integrate a gentle type of AI similar to Microsoft Copilot or enable workflow creation similar to Salesforce, it would further improve user navigation, even though the platform is already simple."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"You won't be able to change your tenants from where you deploy them. For example, if you select Canada, they will charge you based on Canadian pricing. If you are also in London, when you deploy in Canada, the pound is higher than Canadian dollars, but your platform resources are billable in Canadian dollars. Using your pounds to pay for any of these things will be cheaper. Or, if you deploy in London, they will charge you based on your local currency."

"Microsoft Defender for Identity comes as part of the Microsoft E5 licensing stack."

"The product is costly, and we had multiple discussions with accounting to receive a discounted rate. However, on the open market, the tool is expensive."

"It is very affordable considering that other SIEM solutions are much more expensive and have many more licensing restrictions and fees."

"Defender for Identity is a little more expensive than other Microsoft products. Identity and Microsoft Defender for Cloud are both a bit costly."

Information not available

See which vendors are best for you

Use our free recommendation engine to learn which Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) solutions are best for your needs.

See recommendations

884,933 professionals have used our research since 2012.

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Financial Services Firm

12%

Computer Software Company

11%

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

Financial Services Firm

15%

Computer Software Company

10%

Manufacturing Company

Retailer

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	8
Midsize Enterprise	4
Large Enterprise	14

No data available

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with Microsoft Defender for Identity?

I really would have to sit down to think about how Microsoft Defender for Identity can be improved. I didn't take stock in what needs to be improved because I appreciated having the tools right the...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Microsoft Defender for Identity?

My main use cases for Microsoft Defender for Identity include Conditional Access, checking risky users, remediating risky users, and user sign-ins. I can easily remediate or determine what the user...

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering Microsoft Defender for Identity?

I don't really use Microsoft Defender for Identity a lot because my new role doesn't allow me to take time to do so. I don't really use the threat intelligence feature of Microsoft Defender for Ide...

See all answers

What needs improvement with Silverfort?

I think Silverfort is actually a really good product. I might suggest adding more AI to it, which I believe could enhance its functionality. If Silverfort could integrate a gentle type of AI simila...

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Silverfort?

I'm calling from PeerSpot, and we're resellers in the identity space, offering products such as Savient, SailPoint, CyberArk, and Silverfort. We are resellers, and I work in presale, focusing on fi...

See all answers

What advice do you have for others considering Silverfort?

I prefer to remain anonymous. Please don't use my name; just label it as anonymous. I would prefer both my name and the company name to be kept anonymous. If you could just put identity presales sp...

See all answers

Comparisons

CrowdStrike Falcon vs Microsoft Defender for Identity

Compared 10% of the time

Microsoft Purview Insider Risk Management vs Microsoft Defender for Identity

Compared 9% of the time

Microsoft Entra ID Protection vs Microsoft Defender for Identity

Compared 7% of the time

BloodHound Enterprise vs Microsoft Defender for Identity

Compared 5% of the time

Microsoft Entra ID vs Microsoft Defender for Identity

Compared 3% of the time

More Microsoft Defender for Identity Competitors

CrowdStrike Falcon vs Silverfort

Compared 9% of the time

CyberArk Privileged Access Manager vs Silverfort

Compared 6% of the time

Cisco Duo vs Silverfort

Compared 4% of the time

SailPoint Identity Security Cloud vs Silverfort

Compared 4% of the time

Microsoft Entra ID Protection vs Silverfort

Compared 3% of the time

More Silverfort Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Defender for Identity

March 2026

Download Microsoft Defender for Identity product report

Buyer's Guide

Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR)

March 2026

Download Silverfort product report

Also Known As

Azure Advanced Threat Protection, Azure ATP, MS Defender for Identity

No data available

Overview

Microsoft Defender for Identity offers real-time threat detection and protection for hybrid Active Directory environments. It integrates with Microsoft 365 components for seamless security and monitors advanced behaviors, enhancing identity protection across cloud and on-premises environments.

Microsoft Defender for Identity provides detailed threat insights and user behavior analytics to detect unauthorized access and notify anomalies. It allows setting custom detection rules, enhancing threat response automation. While it needs improvements in cloud security, SIEM integration, and access controls, users leverage its ability to mitigate identity threats like suspicious logins and ransomware. Enhanced integration with Microsoft security products ensures a coordinated threat response for identity control and privilege management.

What are the key features of Microsoft Defender for Identity?

Active Directory Federation: Seamlessly integrates with Microsoft 365 for comprehensive security.
Real-time Security Monitoring: Provides immediate insights into advanced user behaviors and potential threats.
Threat Insights: Delivers detailed analysis of threats with the ability to customize detection rules.
User Behavior Analytics: Analyzes user activities to detect anomalies and potential risks.
Identity Protection: Offers comprehensive protection in both cloud and on-premises environments.

What benefits should users expect from reviews of Microsoft Defender for Identity?

Unauthorized Access Prevention: Identifies potential unauthorized activities with advanced detection mechanisms.
Anomaly Notification: Alerts users to unexpected activities within their environments.
Threat Response Automation: Facilitates rapid response to threats with automated solutions.
Enhanced Cloud Security: Strengthens identity management across hybrid and cloud frameworks.

In specific industries, organizations implement Microsoft Defender for Identity to secure on-premises and hybrid Active Directory environments through user and entity behavior analytics, malicious activity detection, and integration with Microsoft security tools. This approach enhances security posture assessment and helps mitigate identity threats like identity harvesting and unauthorized access.

Microsoft

Silverfort is a unified identity protection platform that helps organizations protect their networks and cloud environments from identity-based attacks. The platform uses agentless and proxyless technology to continuously monitor all access of users and service accounts across both cloud and on-premise environments, analyze risk in real time using an AI-based engine, and enforce adaptive authentication and access policies.

Silverfort has been praised by real users for its ability to protect against a wide range of identity-based threats, including ransomware, credential theft, and lateral movement. The platform has also been shown to be effective in meeting the requirements of cyber insurance policies.

Some of the key features of Silverfort include:

Silverfort can be deployed without the need to install agents on endpoints or proxies in the network. This makes it easy to deploy and manage, and it also reduces the risk of introducing security vulnerabilities.
Silverfort uses an AI-based engine to continuously analyze all access and identify suspicious activity. This allows organizations to respond quickly to threats before they can cause damage.
Silverfort can enforce adaptive authentication and access policies based on real-time risk assessments. This helps to prevent unauthorized access and mitigate the risk of data breaches.

Here are some additional details about Silverfort that may be helpful for you:

Priocing: Silverfort is a subscription-based service. Pricing is based on the number of users and assets protected.
Customer Support: Silverfort offers 24/7 support via phone, email, and chat.
Integrations: Silverfort integrates with a wide range of third-party security solutions, including SIEMs, firewalls, and identity providers.

Silverfort

Sample Customers

Microsoft Defender for Identity is trusted by companies such as St. Luke’s University Health Network, Ansell, and more.

Singtel, Egan, Agilisys, Reliance Worldwide Corporation, Indosat, ZOL Hospital

Buyer's Guide

Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR)

March 2026

Download Free Report

Find out what your peers are saying about CrowdStrike, Microsoft, Huntress and others in Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR). Updated: March 2026.

DOWNLOAD NOW

884,933 professionals have used our research since 2012.

See our list of best Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) vendors.

We monitor all Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) 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.