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Sophos Endpoint vs Microsoft Defender for Business

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Our analysts compared Sophos Endpoint vs Microsoft Defender for Business based on data from our 400+ point analysis of Endpoint Security Software, user reviews and our own crowdsourced data from our free software selection platform.

Overview Pricing Benefits & Features User Ratings Analyst Summary Screenshots
Sophos Endpoint Software Tool
Microsoft Defender for Business Software Tool
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Product Basics

Sophos Endpoint is a comprehensive security software designed to protect devices against a wide range of cyber threats. It's particularly well-suited for businesses of all sizes that are looking to safeguard their digital environments. One of the key benefits of Sophos Endpoint is its ability to provide real-time protection against malware, ransomware, and phishing attempts, ensuring that an organization's data remains secure. Users appreciate its user-friendly interface and the depth of security features it offers, such as device control and application lockdown. When compared to similar products in the market, Sophos Endpoint stands out for its integration capabilities, allowing for seamless protection across multiple devices and platforms. Pricing considerations for Sophos Endpoint typically involve a subscription model, where costs are determined based on the number of devices protected. This flexible pricing structure makes it accessible for businesses with varying security needs and budgets.
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Microsoft Defender for Business is a comprehensive security solution designed to protect small to medium-sized businesses from cyber threats. It offers advanced threat protection, endpoint detection and response, and automated investigation and remediation capabilities. This software is particularly suited for industries such as healthcare, finance, and retail, where data security is paramount. Its unique benefits include simplified deployment, centralized management, and integration with other Microsoft services, providing a seamless security experience.

Key features include real-time threat detection, vulnerability management, and detailed reporting. Users appreciate its intuitive interface and robust protection mechanisms, which are often highlighted in user reviews. Compared to similar products, Microsoft Defender for Business stands out for its ease of use and comprehensive coverage. Pricing details can vary, so it's recommended to contact SelectHub for a tailored quote based on specific needs. This ensures businesses get the most accurate and relevant pricing information for their requirements.

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$28/User, Monthly
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$3/User, Monthly
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Product Assistance

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Email
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FAQ
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Knowledge Base
24/7 Live Support
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Product Insights

  • Protect All Your Devices: Sophos Endpoint Protection works across a vast range of devices and deployment schemas. Businesses can keep their assets safe — from cellphone to workstation and beyond. 
  • Flexible Deployment: Users can deploy on-premise or in the cloud, enabling flexible deployments for all business needs. 
  • Save Money: Malware and ransomware cost businesses thousands of dollars annually. Deploying endpoint software can help mitigate threats and save users money. Accenture reports that a cyber attack can cost a company $2.4 billion on average, which Sophos mitigates by deploying preemptive defense tactics. 
  • Top-rated Malware Detection: The product has received numerous awards from Gartner, Av-test.org, SE Labs and more. Users will receive a product that has won a Tech Innovator award from CRN, based on the uniqueness of their suite of features, which preemptively target malware, and offer superior device and policy management. 
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  • Enhanced Threat Detection: Microsoft Defender for Business leverages advanced AI and machine learning to identify and mitigate threats in real-time, reducing the risk of data breaches.
  • Automated Response: The software automates the response to detected threats, ensuring swift action to contain and neutralize potential security incidents without manual intervention.
  • Comprehensive Protection: It provides end-to-end security across devices, applications, and data, ensuring a holistic defense strategy for your business environment.
  • Cost Efficiency: By integrating multiple security functions into a single platform, Microsoft Defender for Business reduces the need for multiple security solutions, lowering overall costs.
  • Scalability: The solution is designed to grow with your business, easily scaling to accommodate increasing numbers of devices and users without compromising performance.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Helps businesses meet regulatory requirements by providing detailed reporting and audit trails, simplifying compliance with standards like GDPR and HIPAA.
  • Reduced Downtime: By quickly identifying and addressing threats, the software minimizes downtime and ensures business continuity, keeping operations running smoothly.
  • User-Friendly Interface: The intuitive dashboard and easy-to-navigate interface make it simple for IT teams to manage security tasks and monitor the overall security posture.
  • Integration with Microsoft 365: Seamlessly integrates with Microsoft 365, providing a unified security solution that enhances the protection of your existing Microsoft ecosystem.
  • Proactive Threat Hunting: Enables proactive threat hunting capabilities, allowing security teams to identify and address potential vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
  • Customizable Policies: Offers customizable security policies tailored to the specific needs of your business, ensuring optimal protection without unnecessary restrictions.
  • Expert Support: Access to Microsoft's extensive support network and resources ensures that your business can quickly resolve any security issues that arise.
  • Employee Training: Includes tools and resources to educate employees about security best practices, reducing the likelihood of human error leading to security incidents.
  • Real-Time Alerts: Provides real-time alerts and notifications, enabling immediate action to address potential threats and minimize impact.
  • Data Encryption: Ensures that sensitive business data is encrypted both in transit and at rest, protecting it from unauthorized access and breaches.
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  • Web Control: Category-based web filtering can be enforced on both on and off corporate-controlled networks. 
  • Device Controlled: Removable media and portable devices are managed under the Sophos system. System administrators can also remotely manage mobile devices. 
  • Data Control: Users can prevent major losses of data by utilizing the prebuilt rules built into the product. Custom rules can also be set to enhance data-loss prevention. 
  • Automatically Removes Other Software: This software will automatically detect and then safely remove third-party endpoint software, such as the endpoint system you used previously, preventing overlapping software and false-positives. 
  • Behavioral Analytics: Sophos determines suspicious behavior that can skirt underneath traditional malware detectors, keeping users safe from newer threats. 
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  • Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR): Provides advanced threat detection and response capabilities to identify and mitigate sophisticated attacks on endpoints.
  • Threat and Vulnerability Management: Continuously scans for vulnerabilities and provides actionable insights to prioritize and remediate risks.
  • Automated Investigation and Remediation: Uses AI and machine learning to automatically investigate alerts and remediate threats, reducing the burden on IT teams.
  • Next-Generation Antivirus: Offers real-time protection against malware, ransomware, and other malicious software using advanced heuristics and behavior analysis.
  • Attack Surface Reduction: Implements policies to minimize the attack surface by controlling the applications and scripts that can run on devices.
  • Integration with Microsoft 365: Seamlessly integrates with Microsoft 365 services, providing a unified security experience across email, documents, and collaboration tools.
  • Centralized Management Console: Provides a single pane of glass for managing security policies, monitoring threats, and viewing security reports.
  • Customizable Security Policies: Allows businesses to tailor security settings to meet their specific needs and compliance requirements.
  • Cloud-Based Threat Intelligence: Leverages Microsoft's vast threat intelligence network to stay ahead of emerging threats and provide up-to-date protection.
  • Device Control: Manages and restricts the use of external devices such as USB drives to prevent data leakage and malware introduction.
  • Incident Reporting and Analytics: Offers detailed incident reports and analytics to help businesses understand and respond to security events effectively.
  • Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Ensures that only authorized personnel have access to security settings and data, enhancing overall security posture.
  • Scalability: Designed to scale with your business, providing robust security for small to medium-sized enterprises without compromising performance.
  • Compliance Management: Helps businesses meet regulatory requirements by providing tools and reports for compliance management.
  • 24/7 Threat Monitoring: Offers continuous monitoring and alerting to ensure that threats are detected and addressed promptly, regardless of the time of day.
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Product Ranking

#7

among all
Endpoint Security Software

#68

among all
Endpoint Security Software

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User Sentiment Summary

Great User Sentiment 435 reviews
Fair User Sentiment 1 reviews
86%
of users recommend this product

Sophos Endpoint has a 'great' User Satisfaction Rating of 86% when considering 435 user reviews from 5 recognized software review sites.

60%
of users recommend this product

Microsoft Defender for Business has a 'fair' User Satisfaction Rating of 60% when considering 1 user reviews from 1 recognized software review sites.

4.4 (1)
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4.0 (114)
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4.5 (168)
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3.0 (1)
4.3 (105)
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4.4 (47)
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Synopsis of User Ratings and Reviews

Threat Analysis: It provides in-depth analysis of current and detected threats, as noted by more than 80% of reviewers who mention threat analysis.
Easy Configuration: All the reviewers who specify configuration note that it is easy to configure on top of existing products.
Zero-Day Threats: It is signature-free, which easily detects zero-day threats, as stated by around 70% of reviewers who refer to zero-day attacks.
Cloud Console: Its cloud-based console makes it easy to deploy and manage, as observed by 100% of the users who specify cloud console.
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Strong Protection: Safeguards your business from various threats like ransomware and malware, ensuring your data and operations remain secure.
Streamlined Management: Offers a single dashboard to monitor and manage security across all devices, simplifying administration for your IT team.
Proactive Defense: Identifies and addresses vulnerabilities before they can be exploited, minimizing the risk of successful attacks.
Automated Response: Takes immediate action against threats, even outside of business hours, ensuring continuous protection without manual intervention.
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Resource-Intensive: Around 60% of reviewers who mention resource utilization report that it is resource-intensive and uses a large amount of memory.
False Positives: It reports false positives during web filtering, as observed by all the users who note false positive detection.
Slow Performance: All the users who refer to speed state that it slows down the performance of devices.
Uninstall: The process of uninstalling this software is tedious, as noted by the reviewers who specify uninstallation.
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Complex Setup: Some users have reported that the initial configuration of Microsoft Defender for Business can be more complicated compared to other security solutions, potentially requiring additional time and resources.
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Sophos Endpoint Protection provides its users with AI-Powered deep learning malware detection capabilities to protect against advanced threats. It’s designed for small to large-sized organizations. It is a user-friendly solution that is easy to configure and protects against zero-day threats. Many reviewers have noted that it consumes a large number of system resources and affects the performance of devices. It can also distract users with false-positive detections. However, Sophos does offer an easily manageable cloud-based console to its users. It is a versatile tool for companies that need to protect multiple endpoint devices with a quick ROI.

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Is Microsoft Defender for Business truly a defender of businesses, or does it leave them vulnerable? User reviews from the last year reveal a mixed bag. On one hand, Defender for Business is praised for its robust security features, particularly its effectiveness in combating ransomware and malware. Users highlight its integration with other Microsoft products as a key strength, allowing for a centralized security management experience. For instance, its seamless compatibility with Microsoft 365 streamlines security workflows and reduces the need for third-party solutions. This integration is particularly valuable for businesses heavily reliant on the Microsoft ecosystem, offering a unified and cost-effective approach to security.However, the initial setup process is a common pain point, often described as complex and time-consuming. This complexity might pose a challenge for businesses lacking dedicated IT expertise. Additionally, while Defender for Business excels on Windows platforms, its performance on other operating systems like macOS or Linux is reportedly less impressive. This limitation could be a dealbreaker for businesses with diverse device ecosystems. Overall, Microsoft Defender for Business is best suited for small to medium-sized businesses heavily invested in the Microsoft ecosystem, prioritizing strong security features and seamless integration over cross-platform compatibility. Its robust protection against modern threats, combined with its user-friendly interface once set up, makes it a valuable asset for businesses seeking a comprehensive yet cost-effective security solution.

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Screenshots

Top Alternatives in Endpoint Security Software

Bitdefender GravityZone
Blackberry Cyber Suite
Carbon Black Cloud
Cisco Secure Endpoint
Cortex XDR
CrowdStrike Falcon
ESET PROTECT MDR
Kaspersky Endpoint Security For Business
Malwarebytes EDR
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Sophos Intercept X
Symantec Endpoint Security Complete
Trellix XDR
Trend Micro Vision One

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