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Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps pros and cons

Vendor: Microsoft
4.2 out of 5
Badge Leader

Pros & Cons summary

Buyer's Guide

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Prominent pros & cons

PROS

Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps offers seamless integration across different clouds, enabling effective management and security.
The tool enhances visibility into user activities, helping organizations make informed decisions about security controls and policies.
Its threat detection capabilities provide robust alerts for anomalies, increasing organizational preparedness for potential security issues.
Shadow IT discovery and policy implementation are valuable features that aid in identifying and controlling unauthorized applications.
Defender for Cloud Apps significantly impacts the organization's ability to assess and manage app-related risks by providing comprehensive visibility and compliance capabilities.

CONS

Pricing can be a concern, and improvement is needed in cost management and licensing options.
Integration with multi-cloud and hybrid environments requires additional configuration, particularly for non-Azure platforms.
Technical support services have room for improvement, including support for troubleshooting and configuration issues.
Reporting and insights could be enhanced, with more granularity and timely updates in documentation.
Integration into a single interface is desired for easier management of all security-related data.
 

Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps Pros review quotes

KZ
Information Technology Manager at a educational organization with 201-500 employees
Dec 30, 2019
The most valuable feature is the ease of management. It's important.
it_user1318380 - PeerSpot reviewer
Director Global Strategic Alliances at Larsen & Toubro Infotech Ltd.
Apr 2, 2020
The most valuable feature is the seamless integration across different clouds.
BD
Sr. Technical Engineer/ Sr. Executive at PSR
May 31, 2020
All of the features are valuable because all of the features are related.
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2026.
881,082 professionals have used our research since 2012.
it_user1548732 - PeerSpot reviewer
Cloud Security Architect at a tech services company with 501-1,000 employees
Apr 8, 2021
It is very easy to use, which is what we look for in these types of solutions.
GB
Enterprise System Engineer at a government with 501-1,000 employees
May 30, 2021
We have become more aware of what services our users are using, how often they are using them, and what data is being sent out of the organization and to which services. So, it is really a lot about visibility and helping us make decisions based on that. It drives some of our policy decisions for adding extra security controls.
RK
Cloud Security & Governance at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
Jun 15, 2021
The feature that helps us in detecting the sensitive information being shared has been very useful. In addition, the feature that allows MCAS to apply policies with SharePoint, Teams, and OneDrive is being used predominantly.
JR
Business System Analyst at a tech company with 201-500 employees
Jun 17, 2021
Better logging allows us to find problems and take appropriate steps to lock them out.
SS
Support Engineer at Microsoft
Aug 29, 2021
Threat detection is its key feature, and that's why we use this tool. It gives an alert if a PC is attacked or there is any kind of anomaly, such as there is a spike in sending emails or we see an unauthorized website being accessed. So, it keeps us on our toes. We get to know that there is something wrong, and we can isolate the user and find any issues with it. So, threat detection is very robust in this tool.
reviewer1662060 - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Cloud & Security Consultant at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Aug 31, 2021
The solution does not affect a user's workflow.
Anthony Alvarico - PeerSpot reviewer
Deliver Practice Director at DynTek
Sep 28, 2021
The ability to prevent users from using certain applications is one of the most valuable features. It doesn't require any configuration for implementation from the client perspective. It just works right away and gives you the information you need.
 

Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps Cons review quotes

KZ
Information Technology Manager at a educational organization with 201-500 employees
Dec 30, 2019
Generally, the pricing can always be improved along with the management system.
it_user1318380 - PeerSpot reviewer
Director Global Strategic Alliances at Larsen & Toubro Infotech Ltd.
Apr 2, 2020
The interface needs to be more user-friendly.
BD
Sr. Technical Engineer/ Sr. Executive at PSR
May 31, 2020
I would like for it to be available on Mac and for it to support all of the features of Microsoft financing products. It is really for Windows.
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2026.
881,082 professionals have used our research since 2012.
it_user1548732 - PeerSpot reviewer
Cloud Security Architect at a tech services company with 501-1,000 employees
Apr 8, 2021
This service would be better if it had a separate license, only for this service, that could be used to track usage.
GB
Enterprise System Engineer at a government with 501-1,000 employees
May 30, 2021
They should continue integration with all other Microsoft security-related products. The integration with all the other products is still ongoing.
RK
Cloud Security & Governance at a financial services firm with 10,001+ employees
Jun 15, 2021
It takes some time to scan and apply the policies when there is some sensitive information. After it applies the policies, it works, but there is a delay. This is something for which we are working with Microsoft.
JR
Business System Analyst at a tech company with 201-500 employees
Jun 17, 2021
In the future, I would like to see more plug-and-play capabilities that use AI to tell you what needs to be done. It would be helpful if it scanned our devices and made security suggestions, on a configuration basis.
SS
Support Engineer at Microsoft
Aug 29, 2021
The response time could be better. It will be helpful if the alerts are even more proactive and we can see more data. Currently, the data is a little bit weak. It is not complete. I can't just see it and completely know which user or which device it is. It takes some effort and time on my part to investigate and isolate a user. It would be great if it is more user-friendly or easy for people to understand.
reviewer1662060 - PeerSpot reviewer
Senior Cloud & Security Consultant at a tech services company with 11-50 employees
Aug 31, 2021
The integration with macOS operating systems needs to be better.
Anthony Alvarico - PeerSpot reviewer
Deliver Practice Director at DynTek
Sep 28, 2021
I believe it's only set to be integrated with Microsoft Defender for identity and identity protection. I would like to see it available for use with something like Office 365 Defender. I don't think it's integrated with that yet.