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Microsoft Defender XDR vs Microsoft Defender for Cloud comparison

Microsoft Defender for Cloud and Microsoft Defender XDR are both solutions in the Microsoft Security Suite category. Microsoft Defender for Cloud is ranked #7 with an average rating of 8.1, while Microsoft Defender XDR is ranked #5 with an average rating of 8.4. Microsoft Defender for Cloud holds a 5.5% mindshare in Microsoft Security Suite, compared to Microsoft Defender XDR’s 6.1% mindshare. Additionally, 93% of Microsoft Defender for Cloud users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 98% of Microsoft Defender XDR users who would recommend it.
Microsoft Defender for Cloud
Read 87 Microsoft Defender for Cloud reviews
  • 20,963 Views
  • 2,516 Comparison Views
93% willing to recommend
Microsoft Defender XDR
Read 106 Microsoft Defender XDR reviews
  • 10,762 Views
  • 2,583 Comparison Views
98% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Feb 8, 2026

Microsoft Defender for Cloud and Microsoft Defender XDR compete in the cybersecurity category, offering solutions for comprehensive security management. Microsoft Defender XDR appears to have the upper hand due to its integration capabilities and real-time attack prevention.

Features: Microsoft Defender for Cloud offers extensive visibility into security setups with AI-driven alerts and recommendations. Its seamless integration with Azure products is beneficial for mixed environments. Microsoft Defender XDR excels in integration, providing endpoint protection and real-time prevention of advanced attacks like ransomware, with a unified platform for centralized management.

Room for Improvement: Microsoft Defender for Cloud could improve integration and UI consistency, expand automation, and better support third-party MFA solutions. Users find policy management complex and desire faster agent feedback and reporting. Microsoft Defender XDR needs enhancements in identity integration and EDR capabilities, including threat intelligence specificity and UI responsiveness, with better troubleshooting support and broader device compatibility.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Microsoft Defender for Cloud supports hybrid and public cloud environments with flexibility in deployment, but customer service can be varied, with some users experiencing tiered support challenges. Microsoft Defender XDR is straightforward to deploy in Azure-focused environments, with appreciated ongoing support, though some note delays with complex issues.

Pricing and ROI: Microsoft Defender for Cloud offers a flexible pricing structure with various licenses, providing robust features at a potentially high cost for small businesses. It improves security posture and efficiency, justifying the price for many users. Microsoft Defender XDR, included in suites like E5, is competitively priced with strong ROI from streamlined operations and reduced breach risk, making both solutions cost-effective for the protection offered.

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To learn more, read our detailed Microsoft Defender XDR vs. Microsoft Defender for Cloud Report (Updated: December 2025).
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Defender XDR vs. Microsoft Defender for Cloud
December 2025
Download the complete report
Helped 881,733 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:
 

ROI

Sentiment score
6.9
Microsoft Defender for Cloud boosts security and efficiency, integrates with Azure, reduces costs, prevents breaches, and offers proactive defense.
Sentiment score
7.1
Microsoft Defender XDR provides high ROI by consolidating security tools, streamlining operations, and enhancing security, despite licensing costs.
Defender proactively indexes and analyzes documents, identifying potential threats even when inactive, enhancing preventative security.
Preston Cleary
Endpoint management at a government with 10,001+ employees
Identifying potential vulnerabilities has helped us avoid costly data losses.
SaulPatino
Manager at CBTS
Compared to not having Microsoft Defender for Cloud in place, we definitely saw an advantage by not having downtime due to a security threat.
Jason_Lane
Principal Microsoft Consultant at MicroAge
For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Defender for Cloud report
We can quarantine and isolate a device within minutes.
Agustin-Torres
Information Security Analyst at a educational organization with 10,001+ employees
Microsoft Defender XDR has saved me at least 50% of my time.
Kunle Oluwadiya
House security operator at Cypress Creek Renewables
It helped stop multiple intrusion points where we would have had millions in lost revenue if the attackers got in.
Joshua Hart
Network Technician at T. Baker Smith, LLC
For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Defender XDR report
PC
SaulPatino - PeerSpot reviewer
JL
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KO
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Customer Service

Sentiment score
6.3
Microsoft Defender for Cloud support is responsive at higher levels, but experiences vary with mixed satisfaction due to delays.
Sentiment score
6.1
Microsoft Defender XDR's support is timely and responsive, yet smaller organizations experience slower, less effective assistance than larger ones.
Since security is critical, we prefer a quicker response time.
SaulPatino
Manager at CBTS
The support team was very responsive to queries.
reviewer2564271
Programme Manager- Cyber Fusion- Group CISO at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
They understand their product, but much like us, they struggle with the finer details, especially with new features.
Preston Cleary
Endpoint management at a government with 10,001+ employees
For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Defender for Cloud report
You get stuck in low-level support for way longer than you should, instead of them escalating the issue up the chain.
Darrell Carr
Enterprise Application Engineer at a legal firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
It's critical to escalate SEV B issues immediately to a domestic engineer.
Ty Ryan
Infrastructure engineer at Cetera Financial Group
Once issues are escalated to the second or third layer, the support is much better.
Ankit-Joshi
Cyber Security Engineer at a financial services firm with 1-10 employees
For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Defender XDR report
SaulPatino - PeerSpot reviewerreviewer2564271 - PeerSpot reviewer
PC
Darrell Carr - PeerSpot reviewerTy Ryan - PeerSpot reviewerAnkit-Joshi - PeerSpot reviewer
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.4
Microsoft Defender for Cloud is scalable, integrating across environments effortlessly, suitable for all enterprise sizes with flexible performance.
Sentiment score
6.9
Microsoft Defender XDR scales well for various organizations, efficiently supporting growth and flexibility despite some network deployment challenges.
As we have reduced our on-premises infrastructure, it is about how we can migrate workloads to the cloud to make it easier, and then having everything fully encompassed and secured within that area makes it much easier for us to scale as needed and grow.
Jason_Lane
Principal Microsoft Consultant at MicroAge
We are using infrastructure as a code, so we do not have any scalability issues with Microsoft Defender for Cloud implementation because our cloud automatically does it.
Vibhor Goel
Senior Cloud Platform Engineer at Deutsche Börse
It has multiple licenses and features, covering infrastructures from a hundred to five hundred virtual machines, without any issues.
Syed Abid
Snr. Infrastructure Architect (Data Centre) at LogicEra
For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Defender for Cloud report
My concern is about the scale of events and alerts being generated, and the product is doing a very good job of only surfacing the important items for us.
reviewer2315544
Vice President, Information Technology at a construction company with 201-500 employees
Microsoft Defender XDR shows tremendous scalability, much more so than on-premises solutions.
Ty Ryan
Infrastructure engineer at Cetera Financial Group
Microsoft Defender XDR scales pretty well.
Agustin-Torres
Information Security Analyst at a educational organization with 10,001+ employees
For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Defender XDR report
JL
Vibhor Goel - PeerSpot reviewerSyed Abid - PeerSpot reviewerreviewer2315544 - PeerSpot reviewerTy Ryan - PeerSpot reviewer
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Stability Issues

Sentiment score
7.5
Microsoft Defender for Cloud is stable and reliable, with minimal issues mainly during updates, ensuring strong user satisfaction.
Sentiment score
8.1
Microsoft Defender XDR is praised for high stability, reliable performance, minimal issues, frequent updates, and prompt issue resolution.
Defender's stability has been flawless for us.
reviewer2595948
Engineer at a computer software company with 201-500 employees
Microsoft Defender for Cloud is very stable.
Martin Welen
Cloud architect at a tech vendor with 1,001-5,000 employees
Microsoft sometimes changes settings or configurations without transparency.
Vibhor Goel
Senior Cloud Platform Engineer at Deutsche Börse
For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Defender for Cloud report
The service has remained consistently online, with any issues isolated to specific components, suggesting a well-designed and modular architecture.
reviewer2595618
Senior System Engineer at a sports company with 5,001-10,000 employees
The services within our ecosystem have been reliable, meeting their SLAs.
Ty Ryan
Infrastructure engineer at Cetera Financial Group
It provides high-fidelity signals.
Agustin-Torres
Information Security Analyst at a educational organization with 10,001+ employees
For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Defender XDR report
reviewer2595948 - PeerSpot reviewer
MW
Vibhor Goel - PeerSpot reviewerreviewer2595618 - PeerSpot reviewerTy Ryan - PeerSpot reviewer
AT
 

Room For Improvement

Microsoft Defender for Cloud users seek better automation, clarity, integration, AI features, and comprehensive analytics for improved security management.
Microsoft Defender XDR requires enhancements in speed, integration, automation, AI, ease-of-use, and industry-specific threat intelligence.
Microsoft, in general, could significantly improve its communication and support.
Preston Cleary
Endpoint management at a government with 10,001+ employees
It would be beneficial to streamline recommendations to avoid unnecessary alerts and to refine the severity of alerts based on specific environments or environmental attributes.
John Tzamtzis
Works at Coca-Cola HBC
The artificial intelligence features could be expanded to allow the system to autonomously manage security issues without needing intervention from admins.
Javier_Rodriguez
Cloud Consultant at i-Community AG
For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Defender for Cloud report
The licensing process needs improvement and clarification.
reviewer2595324
Owner at a consultancy with 11-50 employees
Improvements are needed in automated response capabilities.
Soumitra_Chakraborty
Security manager at a consultancy with 10,001+ employees
Some inconsistencies exist between blades, which could be improved for a more seamless user and UI experience.
Ty Ryan
Infrastructure engineer at Cetera Financial Group
For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Defender XDR report
PC
JT
Javier_Rodriguez - PeerSpot reviewerreviewer2595324 - PeerSpot reviewer
SC
Ty Ryan - PeerSpot reviewer
 

Setup Cost

Microsoft Defender for Cloud is scalable, offering free and paid versions with costs averaging $15 monthly per server.
Microsoft Defender XDR pricing is seen as complex but fair, with high costs alleviated in bundled Microsoft 365 packages.
Security has essentially no cost when compared to the cost of a breach.
David Birhange
Director, Cloud and Modern Workplace at Informanix Technology Group
Every time we consider expanding usage, we carefully evaluate the necessity due to cost concerns.
reviewer2564271
Programme Manager- Cyber Fusion- Group CISO at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
We appreciate the licensing approach based on employee count rather than a big enterprise license.
Antonio Andres
Manager, Microsoft Technology Alliance at Silverfort
For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Defender for Cloud report
There are certainly savings when using Microsoft Defender XDR, which can range from 30%, 40%, and even up to 50%.
Clay Bowlin
Director, Sales at a tech vendor with 201-500 employees
I would rate the pricing as eight out of ten, indicating it is a reasonable cost for the product.
Soumitra_Chakraborty
Security manager at a consultancy with 10,001+ employees
Microsoft purposefully obfuscates this through marketing ploys to hide costs.
reviewer2595618
Senior System Engineer at a sports company with 5,001-10,000 employees
For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Defender XDR report
David Birhange - PeerSpot reviewerreviewer2564271 - PeerSpot reviewerAntonio Andres - PeerSpot reviewer
CB
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reviewer2595618 - PeerSpot reviewer
 

Valuable Features

Microsoft Defender for Cloud enhances security with AI-based threat detection, multi-cloud support, and a unified portal for comprehensive management.
Microsoft Defender XDR integrates tools for comprehensive security, offering threat detection, automation, identity protection, and enhanced efficiency.
The most valuable feature for me is the variety of APIs available.
reviewer2564271
Programme Manager- Cyber Fusion- Group CISO at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
This feature significantly aids in threat detection and enhances the user experience by streamlining security management.
Javier_Rodriguez
Cloud Consultant at i-Community AG
The most valuable feature is the recommendations provided on how to improve security.
Martin Welen
Cloud architect at a tech vendor with 1,001-5,000 employees
For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Defender for Cloud report
With Microsoft threat intelligence information, it detects various types of threats, including insider attacks, malicious content, and data exfiltration.
Soumitra_Chakraborty
Security manager at a consultancy with 10,001+ employees
This allows us to secure our systems in advance and proactively improve security, rather than waiting for incidents to occur.
A Roy
Works at Hometrack
Once we have it on the security dashboard, we can see a real-time storyline.
Agustin-Torres
Information Security Analyst at a educational organization with 10,001+ employees
For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Defender XDR report
reviewer2564271 - PeerSpot reviewerJavier_Rodriguez - PeerSpot reviewer
MW
SC
AR
AT
 

Categories and Ranking

Microsoft Defender for Cloud
Ranking in Microsoft Security Suite
7th
Average Rating
8.0
Reviews Sentiment
6.8
Number of Reviews
87
Ranking in other categories
Vulnerability Management (8th), Container Management (7th), Container Security (7th), Cloud Workload Protection Platforms (CWPP) (1st), Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) (4th), Cloud-Native Application Protection Platforms (CNAPP) (4th), Data Security Posture Management (DSPM) (5th), Compliance Management (4th), Cloud Detection and Response (CDR) (2nd)
Microsoft Defender XDR
Ranking in Microsoft Security Suite
5th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.1
Number of Reviews
106
Ranking in other categories
Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) (7th), Extended Detection and Response (XDR) (4th)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of February 2026, in the Microsoft Security Suite category, the mindshare of Microsoft Defender for Cloud is 5.5%, down from 7.1% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft Defender XDR is 6.1%, up from 5.1% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Microsoft Security Suite Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Microsoft Defender XDR6.1%
Microsoft Defender for Cloud5.5%
Other88.4%
Microsoft Security Suite
 

Featured Reviews

David Birhange - PeerSpot reviewer
David Birhange
Director, Cloud and Modern Workplace at Informanix Technology Group
Brings together cloud security insights through a unified view and supports agentless protection for virtual machines
Copilot and similar features are already being used, though not necessarily for Microsoft Defender for Cloud specifically. We are trying to get more experience before rolling out most of Microsoft Defender for Cloud's AI capabilities. This is definitely on our to-do list, and the priority is urgent as we seek to learn more about these capabilities. The GenAI threat protection from Microsoft Defender for Cloud has not been enabled yet. There are many unknowns with AI applications. AI agents will operate while you're not present, whether you are sleeping or awake, and it's unclear whether there would be any exfiltration of data or how data is being managed. Microsoft Purview is being used extensively, and there is significant development going on with DSPM that will be rolled out to address security concerns. Data labeling and proper demarcation for sensitivity of data before it is received are being actively pursued.
Read full review
KO
Kunle Oluwadiya
House security operator at Cypress Creek Renewables
Advanced threat hunting saves significant time in tracking and responding to incidents
Microsoft Defender XDR could be improved with a lower price. My main suggestion would essentially be what Copilot is providing, which is a single pane of glass, so I don't have to go to different windows. That's just a workflow consideration for me. It would be great to have all the information centralized into one particular data app. If I need to open up extra ones, I can, however, I would appreciate a future where everything I need is right there on one single pane of glass. Beyond that, there's really nothing else I see that I would want Microsoft to improve.
Read full review
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
13%
Computer Software Company
11%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Government
6%
Computer Software Company
13%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Comms Service Provider
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business27
Midsize Enterprise10
Large Enterprise49
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business47
Midsize Enterprise25
Large Enterprise38
 

Questions from the Community

How is Prisma Cloud vs Azure Security Center for security?
Azure Security Center is very easy to use, integrates well, and gives very good visibility on what is happening across your ecosystem. It also has great remote workforce capabilities and supports a...
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft Defender for Cloud?
My experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing for Microsoft Defender for Cloud was pretty straightforward. We did have a consultation with a third party to go over different tiers and produ...
See all answers
What needs improvement with Microsoft Defender for Cloud?
Microsoft Defender for Cloud can be improved. An additional feature that should be included in the next release is Zero Trust, similar to ThreatLocker software.
See all answers
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?
My experience with pricing, setup, costs, and licensing of Microsoft Defender XDR is tied to our E5 subscription, which is very straightforward for us. We also purchase the uplift for our mobile us...
See all answers
What needs improvement with Microsoft 365 Defender?
I am not aware of a mobile app that would be available for my team. With a single analyst, if she is ever away, it would be beneficial to have easier access. While she can use the web portal, the e...
See all answers
 

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Compared 2% of the time
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Compared 11% of the time
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Compared 8% of the time
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Compared 4% of the time
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Compared 3% of the time
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Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Defender for Cloud
January 2026
Microsoft Defender for Cloud reportDownload Microsoft Defender for Cloud product report
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Defender XDR
January 2026
Microsoft Defender XDR reportDownload Microsoft Defender XDR product report
 

Also Known As

Microsoft Azure Security Center, Azure Security Center, Microsoft ASC, Azure Defender
Microsoft 365 Defender, Microsoft Threat Protection, MS 365 Defender
 

Interactive Demo

Microsoft
Demo not available
Microsoft
 

Overview

Microsoft Defender for Cloud is a comprehensive security solution that provides advanced threat protection for cloud workloads. It offers real-time visibility into the security posture of cloud environments, enabling organizations to quickly identify and respond to potential threats. With its advanced machine learning capabilities, Microsoft Defender for Cloud can detect and block sophisticated attacks, including zero-day exploits and fileless malware.

The solution also provides automated remediation capabilities, allowing security teams to quickly and easily respond to security incidents. With Microsoft Defender for Cloud, organizations can ensure the security and compliance of their cloud workloads, while reducing the burden on their security teams.

Microsoft

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
 

Sample Customers

Microsoft Defender for Cloud is trusted by companies such as ASOS, Vatenfall, SWC Technology Partners, and more.
Accenture, Deloitte, ExxonMobil, General Electric, IBM, Johnson & Johnson and many others.
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Defender XDR vs. Microsoft Defender for Cloud
December 2025
Free Report: Microsoft Defender XDR vs. Microsoft Defender for Cloud
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