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reviewer1632729 - PeerSpot reviewer
QA Test Lead at a insurance company with 501-1,000 employees
Real User
Jul 30, 2021
Stable with good safeguarding against threats; additional security would be helpful
Pros and Cons
  • "Offers good protection."
  • "For the end user it's good to know that everything is safe and well protected."
  • "Additional security would be beneficial."
  • "I think the solution needs to be more on par with other antivirus products in the market."

What is our primary use case?

We use this solution mainly for safeguarding online use of laptops. 

What is most valuable?

For the end user it's good to know that everything is safe and well protected. 

What needs improvement?

I think the solution needs to be more on par with other antivirus products in the market. It should be able to deal with any threats so additional security would be helpful. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I've been using this solution for nearly three years. 

Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
July 2026
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: July 2026.
908,858 professionals have used our research since 2012.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

I've been using this solution for three years and haven't had any problems. 

How was the initial setup?

Installation came together with the operating system and I was able to implement on my laptop.  

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

There are no licensing costs connected to this solution. 

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend this solution and rate it a seven out of 10. 

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
IT Support Executive at a healthcare company with 51-200 employees
Real User
Jun 17, 2021
No need to purchase an additional solution because it comes bundled with Windows 10
Pros and Cons
  • "It is already integrated with Windows 10, so you don't need to worry about that."
  • "It has a good return on investment, especially since we are used to paying for antivirus, and now it is part of the Windows purchase."
  • "It is using a large space in your memory all the time. While an antivirus will use some of your memory, if they could reduce the load of the antivirus to some extent that would be good."
  • "It is using a large space in your memory all the time."

What is our primary use case?

It is an antivirus. It is like any other antivirus, except it comes with Windows and you don't need to install anything extra.

How has it helped my organization?

People will ask you, "My system does not have an antivirus," because it is so hidden and subtle. You don't feel like you have an antivirus. Many users will wonder and come to you, saying, "I don't have an antivirus installed. Is that company policy? Do we need to get it from outside and install it?" So, we have to tell them, "No, there is an antivirus. It is there."

It is so seamless that people don't even feel or see it. It is just protecting everybody. If you are some kind of techie or have some experience with Windows Operating System, only then do you know that this thing is already built-in. If you go into the Task Manager, you can find the antivirus using up a lot of memory and a bit of CPU power, then you will understand that is the antivirus doing this. Normally, many people don't realize this.

What is most valuable?

It is already integrated with Windows 10, so you don't need to worry about that. 

It is a basic firewall with some additional anti-exploit measures and parental controls already built in.

What needs improvement?

It is using a large space in your memory all the time. While an antivirus will use some of your memory, if they could reduce the load of the antivirus to some extent that would be good.

For how long have I used the solution?

We started using it when they started bundling it with Windows 10, which has been around three or four years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It is very stable.

You do not need to worry about maintenance. It is automatically updated. Sometimes it will show you a red marker to do a system scan. People normally kind of ignore that, but I suggest people do a system scan from time to time. Now, what happens is just a bubble icon showing a red cross sign, but that may not be enough. It should give a pop-up window to remind people to scan the system once a month or quarter. It should be built-in scanning, without asking anybody, once per month or quarter.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It is scalable.

There is no need to get an additional solution because it comes bundled with Windows. 

We are protecting around 60 to 70 endpoints in India. In the entire company, there may be around 400 to 500.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We have used other antiviruses, like McAfee and Avira Antivirus.

The same thing can be viewed as a pro and a con:

Pro: It is more than silent; you do not even realize that it is an antivirus. Any other antivirus third-party will nag you with pop ups for any small threats. They want to show that they are doing something because you pay them money. They are funny, colorful pop-ups, whatever color they use is like an advertisement for them, e.g., "They are doing it wrong, and we pointed it out." Windows Defender does not do that. In a way, this is good for the people who know the threat sender. They do not really need to be nagged by the antivirus every time you open a site or click on a file.

Con: For normal people who do not know anything about the security side, some pop ups should be there. Some pop-ups call people's attention that you are doing it the wrong way. For example, "This is potentially wrong. Don't visit this site. Don't potentially open this link, file, or attachment." This is missing in Windows Defender.

What was our ROI?

It has a good return on investment, especially since we are used to paying for antivirus. Now, it is part of the Windows purchase.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

You don't need to worry about the renewal and purchase of antivirus products. It is bundled with Windows 10, so you don't need to worry about separately purchasing any antiviruses. 

Which other solutions did I evaluate?

Whenever you purchase an antivirus, there are so many factors to consider, such as, weighing, doing a comparison, studying everything, and analyzing the cost-benefit factors. You don't need to consider any of this with Windows Defender because it all comes with it. So, you don't need to worry about it.

With Windows Defender, Microsoft is protecting their own operating system from hackers, viruses, malware, etc. It is better to use Windows Defender over other third-party providers. Microsoft knows what best is for the solutions.

What other advice do I have?

If your computers or users are limited and you are not worried about using your computers for a lot of other browsing purposes or a lot of communication from the public, then you can depend on Microsoft Defender as your only solution. However, when your company is a lot more public facing, then you get a lot of mail from the public and must interact with the public. Also, if you must connect your computer to other computers not in your company, then I would suggest going for either a top-of-the line antivirus solution or third-party solutions. Totally depending on Microsoft Defender is not going to work for a company who is facing a lot of public interactions with their computer system.

I would rate it as an eight out of 10.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
July 2026
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: July 2026.
908,858 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Consultor Senior at a consultancy with 51-200 employees
Real User
Jun 16, 2021
A free solution that performs well
Pros and Cons
  • "It performs well. The stability is seamless."
  • "We are totally satisfied with performance and price."
  • "Another concern is ransomware, whether people can penetrate and encrypt my data or steal my credit card/banking information."

What is most valuable?

I haven't experienced any problems.

What needs improvement?

They could improve the information about how they are dealing with people who could attack minors. This is my main concern. 

Another concern is ransomware, whether people can penetrate and encrypt my data or steal my credit card/banking information. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using it since 2019.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It performs well. The stability is seamless.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

Scalability is not a problem because we don't have servers. We don't do anything more with the computers than use them for studies, reading papers and books, watching movies, and communicating with our family. So, we don't need to scale up.

How are customer service and technical support?

If they could send me more information, then I could evaluate, read more, and give them opinions. For example, if someone tells me about a problem, then I can give solutions and also write to Microsoft regarding this information.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

From the beginning of the pandemic, we received another kind of software when we had to be at home, but it caused us problems with the performance. So, I decided to quit the other software. Then, I installed Windows Defender on all my computers, including my grandchildren's computers.

I was using Sophos previously, but it was causing problems with the performance. For example, when my grandchildren were trying to assume a session, they opened Excel or Word with a 4 GB computer using Windows 10 and then they always lost the connection or the continuities because the computer slowed down. However, when we decided to quit using Sophos and install all the features of Windows Defender, then those problems were resolved.

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup is very easy and straightforward.

My deployment process: I put some checks in the questions that they have. It was very easy. I read about it in the tutorial. I installed it on my entire family's computers (six computers) in less than half an hour.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

It is free.

What other advice do I have?

We are totally satisfied with performance and price. However, there is still the question, "Is it safe and secure enough for home, primary-school-age children, and minors?" Despite having a Masters degree in Computer Sciences and Mathematics, I have not been able to say if Microsoft is doing bad or good things.

Many companies may say that they have the best product, but I recommend always watching the news about what a company is doing. Stay informed. Don't be complacent. 

The solution is a nine out of 10.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Technical Team Lead at Alepo
Vendor
Jun 14, 2021
Effective firewall capabilities, regular antivirus updates, and it is preinstalled with Windows
Pros and Cons
  • "The most valuable features are the Windows Firewall and the regular virus definition updates. These features are very helpful and have helped to improve our security."
  • "We rely on this product for endpoint protection in our organization because we have not subscribed to any antivirus, apart from Microsoft Defender, and it has improved the way our organization functions because there have been no virus attacks to date on our laptops and it has not negatively affected our end-user experience."
  • "This solution needs to move beyond relying on virus definitions alone and protect the system using behavioral analysis of the processes that are running."
  • "Microsoft Defender protects the computer by using virus definitions that we download through regular updates but nowadays, cybersecurity attacks have become more intelligent."

What is our primary use case?

We use Microsoft Defender Antivirus for antivirus protection as part of our endpoint security solution. It protects our systems against attacks from any virus, malware, or trojan. 

How has it helped my organization?

We rely on this product for endpoint protection in our organization because we have not subscribed to any antivirus, apart from Microsoft Defender. It comes for free with our Windows subscription and it has improved the way our organization functions because there have been no virus attacks to date on our laptops.

It has not negatively affected our end-user experience.

What is most valuable?

This solution takes care of most of the infections that are found in the system, and it comes included with Windows. These are the two main advantages of using it.

The most valuable features are the Windows Firewall and the regular virus definition updates. These features are very helpful and have helped to improve our security.

What needs improvement?

Microsoft Defender protects the computer by using virus definitions that we download through regular updates but nowadays, cybersecurity attacks have become more intelligent. This solution needs to move beyond relying on virus definitions alone and protect the system using behavioral analysis of the processes that are running. These can be vulnerable points and if a process causes a glitch in the system, it should be quarantined. Moreover, enhancements of this type should not detract from system performance. There should be no slowdown on the laptop, for example.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Microsoft Defender Antivirus since I started using Windows 7, more than eight years ago.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Stability-wise, it is good, and it performs very nicely.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

The scalability is fine. We had more than 300 devices that are being protected.

How are customer service and technical support?

I have never had an opportunity to speak with technical support because everything has always worked very smoothly. As we have experienced no issues at all, we never contacted support.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

Prior to using Microsoft Defender, we used McAfee and Avast Antivirus.

One of the main reasons that we switched away from McAfee is that it required purchasing a subscription. With Microsoft Defender, it is included with Windows. When we install the operating system, it is already there and we don't have to purchase an additional antivirus product.

For security, aside from a traditional antivirus, we have purchased the SentinelOne Endpoint Security solution. This product is more enhanced when compared to an antivirus product. It is modern and has better threat intelligence than other products. I don't know SentinelOne very well yet, as we have just purchased the subscription, but I know that the difference between products is not based on virus definitions.

SentinelOne has intelligence on the cloud and many other security features including the blocking of domain names, and the blocking of USB drives that users plug into their laptops. Although it has many more features than legacy antivirus software, I have no complaints about the performance of Microsoft Defender.

One of the reasons we are more heavily relying on endpoint security is that everybody is working from home and using the internet for work. This transition was made within the last two or three months. When people were working in the office, the firewall afforded them protection. However, as it is now, the endpoints are more vulnerable to attack. This is why we now rely more heavily on SentinelOne.

How was the initial setup?

Microsoft Defender comes preinstalled with the Windows operating system, so we do not have to deploy it separately.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

The subscription is part of Windows, so we don't have to pay anything extra for this product.

What other advice do I have?

This is definitely a product that I recommend people use because first of all, you do not have to pay anything extra to use it. The performance is very smooth and it protects your system, which is very much needed. All in all, I would say that this is a good antivirus solution.

I would rate Microsoft Defender Antivirus an eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Professional Prospect List Building Service Provider, Email Sourcer, Virtual Assistant at Freelance
Real User
Jun 10, 2021
Easy to install, good performance, and offers strong protection
Pros and Cons
  • "A few years ago, when I was using a different product, I was affected by a virus that destroyed everything. Since using Microsoft Defender, I have not had this kind of problem."
  • "I would recommend my friends and colleagues use Microsoft Defender because it always protects us against ransomware and viruses."
  • "Lowering the price would be an improvement."

What is our primary use case?

I primarily use this solution for the safety of my PC. It protects me against ransomware and other types of viruses.

How has it helped my organization?

Microsoft Defender has indicated problems with some websites that I was able to remove.

A few years ago, when I was using a different product, I was affected by a virus that destroyed everything. Since using Microsoft Defender, I have not had this kind of problem.

What is most valuable?

The most valuable feature is that it helps protect me against any type of virus that might attack my system.

The performance is good.

What needs improvement?

Lowering the price would be an improvement.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Microsoft Defender Antivirus for the last three years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

Stability-wise, this is a strong product and it works better than other anti-virus solutions.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

Prior to this solution, I had used different anti-virus products. One of them was a solution by Kaspersky, which I used for a long time. When I was using it, my PC was running very slow. Sometimes, I was not able to access legitimate websites because Kaspersky blocked them. I found that it blocked many websites that were legally valid, which was frustrating.

Because of these reasons, I switched products.

I used another product after Kaspersky for one year but it was not good either.

How was the initial setup?

Installing this solution on the computer is easy to do.

What was our ROI?

While expensive, the service it provides is good, which is why we are using it.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

Microsoft Defender is an expensive product in my country.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend my friends and colleagues use Microsoft Defender because it always protects us against ransomware and viruses. 

In summary, this is a great product.

I would rate this solution an eight out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
IT Manager at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Jun 10, 2021
Quick and responsive support, stable, improves security, and requires little maintenance
Pros and Cons
  • "Microsoft's technical support is fantastic."
  • "This is a stable solution that has matured over the years."
  • "At times, the other antivirus products are now doing AI, in terms of understanding the behavior of the system and determining when there's an anomaly. This is something that Defender can improve on."

What is our primary use case?

We primarily use this product to get antivirus protection in a cost-effective way.

How has it helped my organization?

This product tends to detect a lot more issues than the other antivirus solutions. This is because it's essentially tuned to Microsoft. It has some inbuilt intelligence, so they tend to understand the Microsoft environment and we don't need to do as much exclusion. With other antivirus products, we need to exclude certain files from being scanned.

What is most valuable?

The malware detection feature is very good.

What needs improvement?

At times, the other antivirus products are now doing AI, in terms of understanding the behavior of the system and determining when there's an anomaly. This is something that Defender can improve on.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been working with Microsoft Defender Antivirus for between two and three years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

This is a stable solution that has matured over the years.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

We have approximately 7,000 machines and we have not needed to scale beyond our original implementation.

How are customer service and technical support?

Microsoft's technical support is fantastic.

We subscribe to the Microsoft Premier Support Package and they tend to respond to our queries very fast. When our engineers contact them, they respond in a very short time.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We currently use Cylance, in addition to Microsoft Defender. I'm not sure what the impact is of using two solutions, whether it is a good thing, or not. We do plan on narrowing this down to one solution in the future.

How was the initial setup?

This product was included with Windows 10, so we did not have to deploy it separately.

Once this product is set up, this solution requires very little maintenance.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

We already use Microsoft solutions and I found it cheaper to purchase the bundle, which includes Defender. By including the antivirus in the bundle, it makes it a little cheaper for us. If you purchase it outside of the bundle, it is a little bit expensive.

When you want the central administration functionality, it tends to be more expensive. The normal, standalone model is not expensive, but the enterprise model that includes the bundle with email and some web protection, is a bit more expensive.

What other advice do I have?

When we initially implemented Windows Defender, we were pessimistic about whether it would be good enough. However, it is a pretty mature product now.

My advice for anybody who is considering this product is that it's good, and it gets results early.

I would rate this solution an eight out of ten. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
it_user1216809 - PeerSpot reviewer
Information Security Engineer at a financial services firm with 1,001-5,000 employees
Real User
Jun 9, 2021
Has good stability but they update the platform too frequently
Pros and Cons
  • "It's pretty easy to scale."
  • "We used CrowdStrike but we switched to Microsoft because of the price."
  • "In terms of improvement, they update the platform it seems quite a bit. Every month something is in a new spot or something changed somewhere. There should be less of that."

What is our primary use case?

We use the most up-to-date version. 

Our primary use case is for basic EDRs for simple interfaces.

What needs improvement?

In terms of improvement, they update the platform it seems quite a bit. Every month something is in a new spot or something changed somewhere. There should be less of that.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Microsoft Defender for Endpoint for a couple of months. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

It seems stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

It's pretty easy to scale.

A handful of people with each in charge of different areas are involved in the maintenance of the solution. It's people in system admin.

How are customer service and technical support?

I have dealt with tech support a couple of times. They're usually pretty responsive. The first person might not know what the deal is, but they usually are able to get us to the right person, get a resolution for us, and answer our questions pretty quickly.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We used CrowdStrike but we switched to Microsoft because of the price. It's cheaper. There were other major differences. 

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was pretty complex in the way the various tools integrate. Trying to figure out permissions and getting access to certain things is complex. 

Global admin uses the tool, but then you have to get additional roles for the data loss stuff.

What other advice do I have?

Make sure you read the documentation and understand what else is required before you get started.

I would rate it a seven out of ten. 

I don't think that another tool is doing anything better, or this one doesn't. It's just about using it and seeing where to find the stuff.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Juan Jose Anaya - PeerSpot reviewer
Technical Manager at SAPEC
Real User
May 24, 2021
Light on resources, easy installation, and reliable
Pros and Cons
  • "One of the main features is the solution is very light on resources and we do not have any problems with it."
  • "There is room to improve the security of the solution."

What is our primary use case?

We use this solution for business security protection.

What is most valuable?

One of the main features is the solution is very light on resources and we do not have any problems with it.

What needs improvement?

There is room to improve the security of the solution.

We have plans to add an email security solution because this solution does not provide us with what we want.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using this solution for approximately three years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution is stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

I have found the scalability of the solution good.

Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?

We were previously using the Avast security solution.

How was the initial setup?

The installation is very easy, it takes only one day.

What about the implementation team?

We did the implementation ourselves. We have approximately 10 engineers able to do the deployments and maintenance. 

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

There is not a license required for this particular solution.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend this solution to others.

I rate Microsoft Defender Antivirus an eight out of ten.

Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
it_user1532022 - PeerSpot reviewer
Technical Project Manager at a computer software company with 10,001+ employees
Real User
May 20, 2021
Work autonomously, scalable, and reliable
Pros and Cons
  • "The main features of this solution are that it handles everything by itself and is well integrated."
  • "There could be an increase in security for the solution."

What is our primary use case?

I am using the solution for personal data protection.

What is most valuable?

The main features of this solution are that it handles everything by itself and is well integrated.

What needs improvement?

There could be an increase in security for the solution.

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using this solution for a couple of years.

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

The solution has been stable.

What do I think about the scalability of the solution?

In my experience, the solution has been scalable.

What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?

There is no license needed, the solution comes with Microsoft Windows.

What other advice do I have?

I would recommend this solution to others.

I rate Microsoft Defender Antivirus a nine out of ten.

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
System Engineer at Dr. Marc Daenen
Real User
May 3, 2021
A standard malware and antivirus solution — nothing more, nothing less
Pros and Cons
  • "Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is quite good. We haven't really experienced any issues with it."
  • "I personally haven't experienced any pain points, but some of my coworkers feel that it isn't secure enough."

What is our primary use case?

Just as the name states, we use this solution to defend endpoints. 

We're actually in the process of moving away from this solution. We are beginning to use SentinelOne.

What is most valuable?

For me, It's just a standard malware and antivirus solution — nothing more, nothing less. 

What needs improvement?

I personally haven't experienced any pain points, but some of my coworkers feel that it isn't secure enough.

It would be nice if they could guarantee that we'll always be safe and secure with them. 

For how long have I used the solution?

I have been using Microsoft Defender for Endpoint for roughly four years. 

What do I think about the stability of the solution?

For me, this solution is both reliable and stable. 

How are customer service and technical support?

I have never had to contact their technical support. 

How was the initial setup?

The initial setup was straightforward. 

What other advice do I have?

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is quite good. We haven't really experienced any issues with it.

I would recommend Microsoft Defender for Endpoint to other users. Overall, on a scale from one to ten, I would give this solution a rating of eight. 

Which deployment model are you using for this solution?

On-premises
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
PeerSpot user
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.
Updated: July 2026
Buyer's Guide
Download our free Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions.