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Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting vs Sophos MDR comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

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 Experts ...
Ranking in Managed Detection and Response (MDR)
19th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
5.6
Number of Reviews
4
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Sophos MDR
Ranking in Managed Detection and Response (MDR)
5th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.0
Number of Reviews
34
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of February 2026, in the Managed Detection and Response (MDR) category, the mindshare of Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting is 1.7%, up from 1.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Sophos MDR is 4.2%, down from 5.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Managed Detection and Response (MDR) Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Sophos MDR4.2%
Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting1.7%
Other94.1%
Managed Detection and Response (MDR)
 

Featured Reviews

Mondher-Smii - PeerSpot reviewer
Cybersecurity Manager at Insomea
Has supported clients in managing incidents through clear pricing and hybrid deployment options
What really stands out about Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting is that it's easy to use. The cost is clear, and the pricing is transparent. The onboarding of the product on the customer's environment is straightforward. We can use it in a hybrid environment, in the cloud, or on-premise environment. This is the main advantage regarding this product. If it's configured correctly, everything will be good, resilient, and secure, which supports threat mitigation efforts depending on the configuration on the tenant and the parameters on Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting. Threat intelligence updates have some impact on our overall security posture. They give us external eyes regarding threat actors, which is good. It's very helpful to enrich the SIEM, which is Microsoft Sentinel. It's a good feature that we can include threat intel on the product.
Ahmed_Fahmy - PeerSpot reviewer
Operations Technical Lead at IT Supporters
Comprehensive management and support continuously enhance threat detection and response
Based on user feedback and reviews, here are some areas where Sophos MDR could be improved and suggestions for additional features that could be included in future releases: Areas for Improvement: ---------------------- * Resource Utilization: Some users have noted that Sophos MDR can be resource-intensive, which may impact system performance. Optimizing the software to be less demanding on system resources could enhance the overall user experience. * Support Responsiveness: While the dedicated MDR team is highly praised, the standard support has received mixed. Improving the responsiveness and effectiveness of the general support team could address this concern. * Integration with Other Tools: Enhancing integration capabilities with a wider range of third-party security tools and platforms could provide a more seamless experience for users who rely on multiple security. Suggested Additional Features: ------------------------------ * Advanced Reporting and Analytics: Introducing more detailed and customizable reporting and analytics features could help organizations better understand their security posture and the effectiveness of the MDR service. * Automated Incident Response Playbooks: Providing automated playbooks for common security incidents could help organizations respond more quickly and effectively to. * Enhanced Threat Intelligence: Incorporating more advanced threat intelligence capabilities, including real-time updates and predictive analytics, could help organizations stay ahead of emerging. * User Training and Awareness Programs: Offering integrated user training and awareness programs as part of the MDR service could help organizations improve their overall security culture and reduce the risk of human error

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"Easy to use is what my customers say is the biggest benefit of Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting for them."
"The best feature of this solution is that it is an integrated and comprehensive solution for the entire Microsoft ecosystem."
"The solution helps to detect some suspicious items for us and our clients."
"What really stands out about Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting is that it's easy to use, the cost is clear, and the pricing is transparent, with straightforward onboarding in hybrid, cloud, or on-premise environments."
"What really stands out about Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting is that it's easy to use, the cost is clear, and the pricing is transparent, with straightforward onboarding in hybrid, cloud, or on-premise environments."
"Sophos MDR enhances our clients' cybersecurity."
"We receive multiple benefits from Sophos MDR, including cloud monitoring integrated, which means it's not necessary that we need to connect to the device."
"The important mechanism is the dilation of the desktop. It quarantines and removes threats from the network. Sometimes, security devices similar to firewalls are used. It also creates dynamic rules to protect against attacks. The security cross-synchronization is very important."
"It provides reliable protection and clear data on its performance metrics, enabling straightforward communication of its capabilities."
"The product’s most valuable feature is rapid response."
"The authentication it offers minimizes the risk of access."
"I like Sophos MDR's inbuilt feature for DLP (Data Loss Prevention)."
"The product’s most valuable feature is ease of use."
 

Cons

"We tried the proactive threat hunting feature, but it was not a good experience with Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting. It created more trouble than expected with false positives and non-expected answers."
"The solution’s user interface could be improved."
"There is a lot of change in a small period. This might not be helpful for IT administrators and users."
"There is a lot of change in a small period. This might not be helpful for IT administrators and users."
"Multitenancy features of Sophos Managed Threat Response should be improved. You cannot use the solution for multiple clients."
"Sophos MDR's support and basic training of their devices could be improved."
"The solution's integration should be made easier because it is difficult."
"Endpoint protection is very slow."
"Support could provide a faster response."
"Sophos is not integrating the same console and umbrella with its product."
"There could be improvement in features like more detailed reporting for the end customer."
"The solution is expensive for customers."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available
"Sophos MDR could be more affordable."
"I rate Sophos MDR’s pricing a seven or eight out of ten."
"Sophos MDR is not a cheap product. Compared with other solutions in the market, Sophos MDR is available at a good price, especially considering its performance."
"The price falls somewhere in the middle range."
"MDR is a complete enterprise solution, and compared to other OEMs, it is one of the cheapest."
"The cost of the solution is based on how many users use it."
"The solution has subscription-based pricing plans."
"Sophos MDR is less expensive than other products like Fortinet or Palo Alto."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
20%
Financial Services Firm
8%
Energy/Utilities Company
7%
Comms Service Provider
7%
Computer Software Company
13%
Manufacturing Company
11%
Comms Service Provider
6%
Educational Organization
5%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business24
Midsize Enterprise4
Large Enterprise7
 

Questions from the Community

What needs improvement with Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting?
Microsoft now changes a lot in products, which might be a disadvantage right now. There is a lot of change in a small period. This might not be helpful for IT administrators and users. New features...
What is your primary use case for Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting?
Right now we manage some firewalls using Microsoft products. In regard to Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting, I have been working with this product so far. Mainly and basically for incident han...
What advice do you have for others considering Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting?
The pricing, engineers behind Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting, changes, and support services make the difference compared to other products. In terms of pricing, the solution is good, and th...
What do you like most about Sophos MDR?
The user doesn't need a technician; it offers 24/7 support to identify and manage your infrastructure and take complete care of any technological incidents.
What needs improvement with Sophos MDR?
Based on user feedback and reviews, here are some areas where Sophos MDR could be improved and suggestions for additional features that could be included in future releases: Areas for Improvement: ...
What advice do you have for others considering Sophos MDR?
I would recommend Sophos MDR because it is one of the leaders in Managed Detection and Response services and it is suitable for small, medium, and enterprise companies. I rate Sophos MDR between ni...
 

Also Known As

No data available
Sophos Managed Threat Response
 

Overview

Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting vs. Sophos MDR and other solutions. Updated: January 2026.
881,757 professionals have used our research since 2012.