Review of MS Defender
April 11, 2025

Review of MS Defender

Michael Miller | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User

Overall Satisfaction with Microsoft Defender for Business

We use Microsoft Defender for Business as an across-the-board antivirus agent for our servers and PCs. The software replaced a Sophos install that was not meeting our business needs. Microsoft Defender for Business was a less expensive option and provided more in-depth analysis of devices and threats, and protection for our organization. We also utilize it for information security and compliance.

Pros

  • Already integrated with Windows
  • Allows for folder and executable-specific exceptions when combined with Intune.
  • Incident response and analytics are fantastic.

Cons

  • Finding blocked programs in the UI is not intuitive if the alert message is dismissed.
  • The admin portal changes often with features coming and going.
  • Admin portal interface is cluttered and sometimes not intuitive.
  • Because of its integration into Microsoft 365, we were able to completely remove the paid antivirus software renewal, saving several thousand dollars a year.
  • Malware infections have plummeted from 30-40 to less than 5 a year.
  • The automated incident response system can analyze, respond, and report incidents as soon as they are detected; allowing security and IT staff to be notified and respond to threats 24/7.
Once PCs are enrolled to the system it becomes very easy to manage and report on the security profile of the company. The recommendations from the admin portal allows our team to identify and respond to the most pressing risks, giving us a clear road map to securing the company's data.
Microsoft Defender for Business has better reporting and incident response. There is limited client rollout due to being integrated with Windows. Microsoft Defender for Business is much better at identifying asset risks and giving a broad security overview. Because we moved to Microsoft 365 to access the Office applications and Exchange online, Microsoft Defender for Business was essentially cost free to us. Where Microsoft Defender for Business falls short in comparison to Sophos is that it requires integration with Intune to enforce many of the physical controls that Sophos offers in their client.

Do you think Microsoft Defender for Business delivers good value for the price?

Yes

Are you happy with Microsoft Defender for Business's feature set?

Yes

Did Microsoft Defender for Business live up to sales and marketing promises?

Yes

Did implementation of Microsoft Defender for Business go as expected?

Yes

Would you buy Microsoft Defender for Business again?

Yes

Microsoft Defender for Business is well suited for any size organization using the Microsoft 365 Suite. As an included feature in the mid and upper tiers of the 365 suites, it can quickly address antivirus protection for any sized company. It's compliance and security dashboards can help guide sole proprietorship owners in better understanding their security standing. The software also scales to give mid-sized and enterprise originations the in-depth information needed for compliance.

Microsoft Defender for Business Feature Ratings

Endpoint Security
9.0
Anti-Exploit Technology
9
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR)
10
Centralized Management
8
Hybrid Deployment Support
8
Infection Remediation
8
Vulnerability Management
10
Malware Detection
10

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