Microsoft Defender XDR vs Zscaler Client Connector comparison

Microsoft and Zscaler are both solutions in the Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) category. Microsoft is ranked #5 with an average rating of 8.4, while Zscaler is ranked #51 with an average rating of 8.0. Microsoft holds a 2.9% mindshare in EDR, compared to Zscaler’s 0.3% mindshare. Additionally, 97% of Microsoft users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 100% of Zscaler users who would recommend it.

Microsoft Defender XDR

Read 102 Microsoft Defender XDR reviews

10,986 Views
5,932 Comparison Views

97% willing to recommend

Zscaler Client Connector

Read 3 Zscaler Client Connector reviews

335 Views
328 Comparison Views

100% willing to recommend

Microsoft Defender XDR

Zscaler Client Connector

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jul 27, 2025

Microsoft Defender XDR and Zscaler Client Connector operate in the cybersecurity solutions sector. Microsoft Defender XDR is preferable for organizations needing tight integration and threat detection, whereas Zscaler stands out for secure remote access and flexibility.

Features: Microsoft Defender XDR provides robust threat intelligence, seamless integration with Microsoft 365, and advanced AI-driven threat detection. Zscaler Client Connector offers secure access with its cloud-based architecture, efficient zero trust security, and comprehensive protection for internet and SaaS applications.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Microsoft Defender XDR is easily deployed within the Microsoft ecosystem, enhanced by responsive customer service for Microsoft 365. Zscaler Client Connector's cloud-first method enables flexible deployment across platforms, supported by knowledgeable service helping diverse network environments.

Pricing and ROI: Microsoft Defender XDR's setup cost is competitive, maximizing ROI for Microsoft environments. Zscaler Client Connector balances its cost through substantial security improvements, ROI stemming from secure remote access and reduced latency, offering significant long-term benefits.

To learn more, read our detailed Microsoft Defender XDR vs. Zscaler Client Connector Report (Updated: September 2025).

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Defender XDR vs. Zscaler Client Connector

September 2025

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Helped 869,566 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 XDR

Ranking in Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)

5th

Average Rating

8.4

Reviews Sentiment

7.1

Number of Reviews

102

Ranking in other categories

Extended Detection and Response (XDR) (2nd), Microsoft Security Suite (4th)

Zscaler Client Connector

Ranking in Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)

51st

Average Rating

8.0

Reviews Sentiment

5.5

Number of Reviews

Ranking in other categories

No ranking in other categories

Mindshare comparison

As of October 2025, in the Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) category, the mindshare of Microsoft Defender XDR is 2.9%, down from 3.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Zscaler Client Connector is 0.3%. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) Market Share Distribution
Product	Market Share (%)
Microsoft Defender XDR	2.9%
Zscaler Client Connector	0.3%
Other	96.8%

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)

Featured Reviews

MohtesanShaikh

Business Development Executive at TechnoFirrm

Experience improves security management and simplifies threat protection

I have created automated investigations, and while they work, they operate rather slowly in the Microsoft portal. If I automate something, it takes considerable time; if I do it manually, I can complete it in a quarter of the time. The automation response being slow is the main concern; when an incident occurs or if I run a remediation, it takes significant time to complete the remediation. There are some limitations regarding the scalability of Microsoft Defender XDR with specific licensing. For SMB customers, there is only Microsoft Defender for Business, and if they want more features such as XDR features and automation investigation or incident response, they need to purchase Defender for Endpoint. We are currently using the EDR.

Read full review

Carlos Snel

Director at Aquila ICT Solutions

Allows our IT department to easily analyze any connection issues

There is room for improvement regarding the price of Zscaler Client Connector, as it is one of the most expensive solutions available. Additionally, more data centers are required globally to reduce latency, especially in areas like South America and Africa, though this does not directly relate to the Client Connector.

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

"Its most significant advantage lies in its affordability."

"The product integrates security into one tool instead of having third-party security tools."

"A crucial aspect for our team is the inclusion of identity and access management tools from the vendor."

"As a reseller and partner, the advantages of Microsoft Defender XDR are numerous; I have stopped many threats for many organizations using Defender alone, and I have saved significant IT management time by avoiding manual updates and manual work."

"The summarization of emails is a valuable feature."

"The integration between all the Defender products is the most valuable feature."

"The EDR and the way it automatically responds to ransomware and other attacks are valuable features."

"We are able to consolidate licences and make use of many Microsoft products using this solution. If we have any Microsoft customers, we encourage them to use this solution for enterprise defence."

More Microsoft Defender XDR pros

"I'd rate the solution nine out of ten."

"The best features of Zscaler Client Connector are that it gives the client a much more transparent experience, as they don't have to worry about connecting to a VPN."

"The solution operates in the background seamlessly without the user noticing."

"Zscaler Client Connector is quite scalable, and I would rate its scalability as nine or ten out of ten."

Cons

"Offboarding latency should be reduced. Even after a device has been successfully offboarded using a particular offboarding script, it still shows up as onboarded."

"One of the biggest downsides of Microsoft products, in general, is that the menus are often difficult to find, as they tend to move from place to place between versions."

"We should be able to use the product on devices like Apple, Linux, etc."

"The improvements to Microsoft Defender XDR would probably go on the Linux side. There's still some more work to be done there."

"Customers say they want absolutely seamless integration between other Microsoft solutions and Defender XDR, including the ability to change device settings within the Defender portal. They need to contact the IT team responsible for the device management tools to change some settings. They would prefer that those changes be initiated directly from the Defender portal or applied from Intune without involving the IT operations team."

"The patching capability should be there. Patching is something that you cannot do even though you see the vulnerabilities present in your environment. For patching, you have to depend on another solution."

"The customer support aspect can be better because it's the biggest complaint I hear about Microsoft."

"The automation response being slow is the main concern; when an incident occurs or if I run a remediation, it takes significant time to complete the remediation."

More Microsoft Defender XDR cons

"There is a hard learning curve for Zscaler Client Connector; their support isn't the greatest all the time."

"The stability of Zscaler Client Connector needs improvement, as it often disconnects and reconnects."

"There is room for improvement regarding the price of Zscaler Client Connector, as it is one of the most expensive solutions available."

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The most valuable licensing option is expensive, so pricing could be improved. Licensing options for this solution also need to be consolidated, because they frequently change."

"Its licensing and pricing are handled by someone else. My role is limited to incidents or issues with the portal, but you get what you pay for. It is worth the cost."

"I find the pricing to be quite competitive, especially considering its inclusion in our E5 subscription, which provides a comprehensive set of functionalities."

"We have a lot of problems in Latin America regarding the price of Microsoft 365 Defender, because the relationship between dollars and the money of the different countries, it's is a lot. Many customers that have small businesses say that they would like the solution but it is too expensive. However, large companies do not find the cost an issue."

"The pricing of Microsoft 365 Defender is definitely on the costly side, but with the features and services that Microsoft provides, such as the seamless integration of all the Defender tools, while the price is on the higher side, there is no alternative."

"Microsoft Defender XDR is priced high."

"It can be complex to navigate since customers have varying licensing agreements across Microsoft. If they go straightforward with E5 for all users, it's simple, but combinations based on budget constraints can complicate things."

"I believe that the pricing of the licensing is fair."

More Microsoft Defender XDR pricing and cost advice

Information not available

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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews

Computer Software Company

16%

Financial Services Firm

Manufacturing Company

Comms Service Provider

No data available

Company Size

By reviewers

Large Enterprise

Midsize Enterprise

Small Business

By reviewers
Company Size	Count
Small Business	46
Midsize Enterprise	23
Large Enterprise	37

No data available

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Microsoft 365 Defender?

Microsoft Defender XDR provides strong identity protection with comprehensive insights into risky user behavior and potential indicators of compromise.

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft 365 Defender?

The pricing for Microsoft Sentinel operates on a pay-as-you-go model based on data ingestion. I recall that Defender XDR pricing is based on the number of endpoints.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Microsoft 365 Defender?

See all answers

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Zscaler Client Connector?

Zscaler Client Connector is notably costly, with pricing rated at five out of ten in terms of affordability, reflecting the premium pricing of the solution.

See all answers

What needs improvement with Zscaler Client Connector?

The stability of Zscaler Client Connector needs improvement, as it often disconnects and reconnects. An enhancement to increase stability would be beneficial.

See all answers

What is your primary use case for Zscaler Client Connector?

I use Zscaler Client Connector ( /products/zscaler-client-connector-reviews ) when working from home to access my work applications. It allows me to connect to the VPN, enabling access to internal ...

See all answers

Comparisons

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Compared 11% of the time

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Compared 9% of the time

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Compared 9% of the time

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs Microsoft Defender XDR

Compared 4% of the time

Trend Vision One vs Microsoft Defender XDR

Compared 4% of the time

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Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs Zscaler Client Connector

Compared 44% of the time

Tanium vs Zscaler Client Connector

Compared 27% of the time

Trellix Endpoint Security Platform vs Zscaler Client Connector

Compared 16% of the time

Huntress Managed EDR vs Zscaler Client Connector

Compared 13% of the time

More Zscaler Client Connector Competitors

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Defender XDR

September 2025

Download Microsoft Defender XDR product report

Buyer's Guide

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)

January 2025

Download Zscaler Client Connector product report

Also Known As

Microsoft 365 Defender, Microsoft Threat Protection, MS 365 Defender

No data available

Overview

Microsoft Defender XDR is a comprehensive security solution designed to protect against threats in the Microsoft 365 environment.

It offers robust security measures, comprehensive threat detection capabilities, and an efficient incident response system. With seamless integration with other Microsoft products and a user-friendly interface, it simplifies security management tasks.

Users have found it effective in detecting and preventing various types of attacks, such as phishing attempts, malware infections, and data breaches.

Watch the Microsoft demo video here: Microsoft Defender XDR demo video.

Microsoft

Zscaler Client Connector streamlines secure remote access by addressing security needs with scalable solutions, improving network performance. It is crucial for businesses seeking comprehensive network protection and seamless connectivity.

Zscaler Client Connector provides secure remote access enhancements by integrating security capabilities within a unified platform. This ensures that users remain protected while accessing applications or data from any location. The deployment of Zscaler Client Connector enables organizations to efficiently manage remote workforce security, enhance network visibility, and reduce latency issues. By refining user access controls, businesses can minimize risks and safeguard sensitive information without compromising performance.

What are the most important features of Zscaler Client Connector?

Seamless Integration: Simplifies the integration with existing IT infrastructure for quick deployment.
Cloud Scalability: Offers scalable solutions to accommodate growing network demands.
Real-time Visibility: Provides detailed insights into network traffic and user activity.
Advanced Threat Protection: Blocks malware and unauthorized access attempts.

What benefits or ROI should users consider?

Improved Security: Enhanced protection reduces the risk of data breaches.
Cost Efficiency: Lowers operational costs by reducing reliance on traditional infrastructure.
Performance Optimization: Streamlines connectivity to boost productivity.
User Satisfaction: Simplifies remote access, enhancing user experience.

In industries such as finance and healthcare, integrating Zscaler Client Connector ensures compliance with stringent data protection standards while maintaining operational efficiency. The scalable design allows businesses to adapt to varying demands, providing a robust security framework suitable for dynamic environments.

Zscaler

Sample Customers

Accenture, Deloitte, ExxonMobil, General Electric, IBM, Johnson & Johnson and many others.

Information Not Available

Buyer's Guide

Microsoft Defender XDR vs. Zscaler Client Connector

September 2025

Free Report: Microsoft Defender XDR vs. Zscaler Client Connector

Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft Defender XDR vs. Zscaler Client Connector and other solutions. Updated: September 2025.

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