I primarily use this solution for the safety of my PC. It protects me against ransomware and other types of viruses.
Professional Prospect List Building Service Provider, Email Sourcer, Virtual Assistant at Freelance
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."
- "Lowering the price would be an improvement."
What is our primary use case?
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.
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
June 2025

Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: June 2025.
860,632 professionals have used our research since 2012.
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.

Technical Project Manager at a computer software company with 10,001+ employees
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.
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
June 2025

Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: June 2025.
860,632 professionals have used our research since 2012.
System Engineer at Dr. Marc Daenen
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.
Consultant at Rpc Data
Easy to configure, feature-rich, and easy to use
Pros and Cons
- "The protection that it provides is quite good."
- "The user interface could use some improvement."
What is our primary use case?
We use Microsoft Defender Antivirus as part of our security solution.
How has it helped my organization?
I have set Microsoft Windows Defender up to notify me when there is a problem. I open it up and then decide what to do. The interface has all of the important things that I want to be able to do.
What is most valuable?
It is easy to use and the only thing you need to do is make sure that you have internet, and keep your organization schema up to date. There is not much to do in terms of configuration.
The protection that it provides is quite good.
What needs improvement?
The user interface could use some improvement.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Microsoft Defender Antivirus since 2015.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I had been using AVG prior to Microsoft Defender.
How was the initial setup?
There is no installation, as it comes pre-configured on the computer.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
For most people, the price of the license is not something that they have to worry about.
What other advice do I have?
This is a product that I have recommended to my friends and I will continue to do so.
Overall, this is a good product and I have never been disappointed with it. That said, there is always something that can be improved.
I would rate this solution a ten out of ten.
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Consulting Director at a tech services company with 5,001-10,000 employees
Reliable protection included with Windows Operating System
Pros and Cons
- "It's stable."
- "I would like to see fewer pop messages and alerts."
What is our primary use case?
I'm a consultant and I don't use these solutions. We sell them and we do research for sales purposes.
I don't use it explicitly. Rather, it's there on my laptop filtering viruses. It's there to protect my laptop.
What needs improvement?
I have had a few minor issues on my laptop but nothing really big.
I would like to see fewer pop messages and alerts.
It's disturbing when you have that many alerts.
Even though it shows you it's working, I don't really need to see it. If it was running in the background and never showing that would be perfect for me.
For how long have I used the solution?
It's been a part of my laptop by default for two to three years.
I am probably not using the latest version. I don't follow the best practices in terms of updates. I may have an outdated product.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It's stable. There are no issues that I know of.
My laptop has been working.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
As it is for my personal use, this is an area that is not necessary for me to explore.
I am the only person using it.
I am a part of a tiny organization with a tiny team that is autonomous.
How are customer service and technical support?
I have not contacted technical support.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I have used Symantec Endpoint Protection. It was the standard choice in my previous company.
How was the initial setup?
From what I remember, the initial setup was transparent. I haven't had to deal with it.
I would say that the initial setup was straightforward.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
It's included with the Windows Operating System, I don't pay for any licensing fees.
What other advice do I have?
I would recommend using this solution. I haven't had any issues and it's been working fine for me.
I plan to continue using this product as long as it is not causing any problems.
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.
Technical Support Engineer at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Offers cloud protection and comes embedded with Windows, but isn't very robust
Pros and Cons
- "The solution's main antivirus capabilities are okay. So far, they have kept us safe."
- "The solution could use improvement on the interface."
What is our primary use case?
The solution is basically an antivirus and is used to protect users from a number of things. Mainly, the solution protects against cyber-attacks and defends a user from viruses so that files are protected. Of course, it will be very important to have a big antivirus in place so that companies are protected from big attacks. Windows Defender does not really do that.
What is most valuable?
The solution's main antivirus capabilities are okay. So far, they have kept us safe.
There is cloud protection as well, however, we don't utilize that very much.
What needs improvement?
The solution does not have deep protection. Sometimes you find that you have some virus attacks. Most times we're on the internet. As you search so many websites, chances are high you visit sites that are fraudulent. There could be cases like phishing, where software could be embedded in some websites or some other viruses could come into your PC under Windows Defender. The security is basically limited. It's not so strong, in my understanding. It could be more robust.
The solution could use improvement on the interface. Most different Defender software comes with a different graphical user interface and some tend to be a bit complex. They should work to make the interface more user-friendly for basic users. For myself, as an IT person, it's fine, however, for a layperson, the interface might be a bit confusing.
It would be nice if they would collect user ratings and feedback. It would help them find ways to better add features and add-ons in the future.
The dashboards always have room for improvement.
For how long have I used the solution?
We've been using the solution for over two years now.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
For the most part, free things are not as effective as licensing or something you purchase. That's why many times our clients ask for a licensed antivirus such as Kaspersky. Our clients do ask for licensed Kaspersky or BitDefender, or other antiviruses. Windows Defender, which is just a free version, is not as effective. It doesn't have deep support or deep protection.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
We have ten people in our office and everyone is currently using the solution. That's just in our Ugandan office. We have head office in India, for example, and they may use it there as well.
How are customer service and technical support?
I've never reached out to Microsoft's technical support. We haven't had issues that would require us to. I can't speak to their level of service.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We have clients that also ask to license Kaspersky or BitDefender for added protection.
How was the initial setup?
The initial setup is not complex. We don't have a deployment or installation process, as the solution comes pre-installed with Windows. It's just the default software. It's part of their offering. We don't have to do anything separately.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
There isn't really a licensing process. The solution was pre-installed by default. It simply comes with Microsoft Windows.
What other advice do I have?
We are Microsoft resellers.
The solution is not on the cloud. Our office is small. We use independent computers. It's not in a structured network environment. We just use a small wireless network. As individuals, we are using it on small computers.
In my region, I would not necessarily recommend this solution. I'd still advise my clients to have other antiviruses unless I get to know that there is a licensed version of Windows Defender that Microsoft is selling and licensing. I still go ahead to advise my clients to buy other antiviruses, which are more effective. Kaspersky, for example, is a good option.
I would rate the solution at a six out of ten. There are other more robust antiviruses on the market that you can license.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
Owner at a tech services company with 1-10 employees
A cloud delivered endpoint security solution that defends against various threats
Pros and Cons
- "The primary advantage is that you don't need to install it. It's included in the Windows 10 delivery."
- "Some integration components for Mac should be added. We use both Windows 10 desktops and Mac desktops, but presently, the Mac component is still lagging a bit behind."
What is our primary use case?
We use this solution and we also implement it for customers. We mainly use it for its anti-malware and threat protection capabilities. If a client comes to us who uses Office 365, then we suggest this solution.
At the moment we have between 10 to 50 customers.
We definitely plan to keep using this solution. We're currently just pushing out all other solutions because they're not integrated and they have additional deployment costs. The only thing which is a bit peculiar is that you need to convince the customer that you're not talking about an antivirus solution. If we do, then they end up comparing things that are incomparable.
What is most valuable?
The primary advantage is that you don't need to install it. It's included in the Windows 10 delivery.
It's part of the Microsoft 365 suite, so it's integrated. We also use it for collaboration with other components within the suite. These two things are the most important for us at the moment.
What needs improvement?
Some integration components for Mac should be added. We use both Windows 10 desktops and Mac desktops, but presently, the Mac component is still lagging a bit behind. However, I think this is a temporary case.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Microsoft Defender for roughly one year.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
On Mac, it's quite unstable and unusable; however, it's very stable for Windows. We're content with what it does and how it works.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It's on the cloud, so scalability is not an issue.
How are customer service and technical support?
We've had no problems with customer support.
How was the initial setup?
There's no installation to be done on the device itself, so it's quite easy. Configuration takes roughly two to three days.
What about the implementation team?
Our company acts as both a consultant and integrator.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Licensing options vary. Some customers buy it as an enterprise agreement and pay yearly. Others buy it as a CSP, so they pay per month. It completely depends on the customer's needs.
What other advice do I have?
Overall, on a scale from one to ten, I would give this solution a rating of nine. Some integration components on Mac should be improved. It should be more stable on Mac. If they fixed this, I would give it a rating of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
Systems Administrator at The Port Authority of Jamaica
Delivers comprehensive, ongoing, and real-time protection against a number of threats
Pros and Cons
- "The antivirus features are very useful."
- "We encountered some issues when we were trying to enable automatic updates from our group policy."
What is our primary use case?
Within our company, there are roughly 400-500 users of this solution.
What is most valuable?
The antivirus features are very useful.
What needs improvement?
We encountered some issues when we were trying to enable automatic updates from our group policy.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
We have onboarded a number of machines without any issues.
We find that Microsoft Defender Antivirus is very stable. We've experienced complications with other solutions in the past and found that this is one of the most stable solutions. It's also very scalable, too.
How are customer service and technical support?
Marine data systems also handle our support. If we have any issues, we come to them first. Their support has been really good.
How was the initial setup?
At first, the initial setup was a bit complex, but after we had some experience with it, it wasn't a problem.
What about the implementation team?
Marine data systems is a partner of ours and they helped us with deployment — they're excellent.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We have evaluated and used Mindset before. We also evaluated Kaspersky. We decided to go with Microsoft Defender Antivirus because of its onboarding capabilities and automatic updating.
What other advice do I have?
Before settling on this solution, you should explore more than one form of ATP. Overall, Microsoft Defender Antivirus is a very good application.
On a scale from one to ten, I would give this solution a rating of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Hybrid Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Other
Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.

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Updated: June 2025
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