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CrowdStrike Falcon vs Microsoft Defender for Business comparison

CrowdStrike and Microsoft are both solutions in the Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) category. CrowdStrike is ranked #2 with an average rating of 8.7, while Microsoft is ranked #28 with an average rating of 7.5. CrowdStrike holds a 11.2% mindshare in EPP, compared to Microsoft’s 1.9% mindshare. Additionally, 96% of CrowdStrike users are willing to recommend the solution, compared to 84% of Microsoft users who would recommend it.
CrowdStrike Falcon
Read 126 CrowdStrike Falcon reviews
  • 27,775 Views
  • 20,397 Comparison Views
96% willing to recommend
Microsoft Defender for Busi...
Read 16 Microsoft Defender for Business reviews
  • 4,056 Views
  • 2,956 Comparison Views
84% willing to recommend
 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

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Executive SummaryUpdated on Jan 5, 2025

CrowdStrike Falcon and Microsoft Defender for Business compete in the cybersecurity space. CrowdStrike Falcon has the upper hand in scalability and low system impact, making it ideal for complex environments.

Features: CrowdStrike Falcon provides advanced AI capabilities for threat detection, real-time monitoring, and a low resource footprint. It integrates seamlessly with other security solutions and offers ease of deployment. Microsoft Defender for Business offers robust threat detection and response capabilities, integrates well within the Microsoft ecosystem, and benefits from extensive threat intelligence.

Room for Improvement: CrowdStrike Falcon could improve technical support responsiveness, documentation accessibility, and interface intuitiveness. Microsoft Defender for Business could enhance threat detection sensitivity, third-party integration, and user interface.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: CrowdStrike Falcon supports deployment in on-premises, hybrid, and cloud environments but faces challenges in responsive support. Microsoft Defender, integrated with Microsoft 365, is deployable in hybrid and cloud setups, and premium support services receive positive feedback.

Pricing and ROI: CrowdStrike Falcon is considered a premium product, justifying its high cost with significant ROI in threat prevention. Microsoft Defender is competitively priced within its ecosystem and provides value when bundled with Microsoft 365 subscriptions, offering a cost-effective option.

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To learn more, read our detailed CrowdStrike Falcon vs. Microsoft Defender for Business Report (Updated: January 2025).
Buyer's Guide
CrowdStrike Falcon vs. Microsoft Defender for Business
January 2025
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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
7.5
CrowdStrike Falcon improves ROI by cutting costs and increasing productivity through efficient threat management and strong security measures.
Sentiment score
8.1
Microsoft Defender boosts ROI by enhancing productivity, consolidating costs, and integrating services for better security and time efficiency.
No quotes available
For more quotes and insights, download the CrowdStrike Falcon report
Using Microsoft Defender for Business results in cost reductions as it consolidates various features under one product, saving around 20% to 30% of the budget.
It is pretty good because it offers various features such as Exchange, OfficeSuite, OneDrive, and SharePoint.
For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Defender for Business report
 

Customer Service

Sentiment score
7.1
Customers generally praise CrowdStrike Falcon's responsive, knowledgeable support, despite occasional slow responses and limited expertise concerns.
Sentiment score
5.7
Microsoft Defender for Business support is generally effective, though experiences vary in response times, expertise, and communication quality.
The CrowdStrike team is very efficient; I would rate them ten out of ten.
For more quotes and insights, download the CrowdStrike Falcon report
It is rated ten out of ten for its quality and assistance.
The onboarding support is exceptional, ensuring seamless integration and implementation.
There are challenges with the knowledge and experience of the support staff.
For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Defender for Business report
Sumanth Kandanuru - PeerSpot reviewer
NS
AG
KK
 

Scalability Issues

Sentiment score
7.9
CrowdStrike Falcon excels in scalable, seamless deployment across various organizations, with flexible licensing and minimal disruption during expansion.
Sentiment score
8.2
Microsoft Defender for Business is a scalable, cloud-driven solution efficiently supporting diverse organizations and thousands of users, despite some configuration delays.
It has adequate coverage and is easy to deploy.
When it comes to scalability, it is entirely based on premium models according to demand.
For more quotes and insights, download the CrowdStrike Falcon report
The cloud-based nature of the solution ensures high scalability.
The scalability of Microsoft Defender for Business is rated as ten, indicating it is very scalable.
In terms of scalability, I find Microsoft Defender for Business to be good and reliable.
For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Defender for Business report
Shubham Sinha. - PeerSpot reviewerSumanth Kandanuru - PeerSpot reviewer
NS
MK
Wondimu Almu - PeerSpot reviewer
 

Stability Issues

Sentiment score
8.2
CrowdStrike Falcon offers stable, reliable performance with minor update issues and high user satisfaction ratings for protection.
Sentiment score
8.0
Microsoft Defender for Business is highly stable, reliable, and rated highly for performance, with minimal minor bug issues reported.
I have never seen instability in the CrowdStrike tool.
We are following N-1 versions across our environment, which is stable.
For more quotes and insights, download the CrowdStrike Falcon report
No customer complaints about its functionality or reliability.
Threat detection capabilities could be improved.
For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Defender for Business report
Sumanth Kandanuru - PeerSpot reviewerShubham Sinha. - PeerSpot reviewer
NS
KK
 

Room For Improvement

Users desire improved dashboard functionality, integration, machine learning, and interface enhancements with cost-effective options for better threat management.
Microsoft Defender for Business has usability challenges, lacks integration, and needs improved detection, support, and configuration options.
Simplifying the querying process, such as using double quote queries or directly obtaining logs based on IP addresses or usernames, would be beneficial.
Another concern is CrowdStrike's GUI. It changes annually, making it hard to work and find options.
Threat prevention should be their first priority.
For more quotes and insights, download the CrowdStrike Falcon report
Microsoft should provide batch management solutions with the application, integrating pass management with roles.
Features related to Advanced Persistent Threat detection vectors and cyber kill chain integrations are not available out-of-the-box.
There can be improvements in the user interface to make it more intuitive.
For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Defender for Business report
Sumanth Kandanuru - PeerSpot reviewerShubham Sinha. - PeerSpot reviewerBhim Arora - PeerSpot reviewer
NS
KK
Wondimu Almu - PeerSpot reviewer
 

Setup Cost

CrowdStrike Falcon is pricier than competitors but valued for strong security, flexible features, and excellent support.
Microsoft Defender for Business offers competitive security solutions but can be costly for small organizations, with better pricing for nonprofits.
It is expensive compared to SentinelOne, but as the market leader, it is worth it.
For more quotes and insights, download the CrowdStrike Falcon report
Single-year pricing remains good.
The pricing is quite affordable at the enterprise level with no extra expenses noted.
The package with Business Premium is good for what you get for the price.
For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Defender for Business report
Shubham Sinha. - PeerSpot reviewer
NS
MK
Vincent Gagnon - PeerSpot reviewer
 

Valuable Features

CrowdStrike Falcon excels with real-time threat detection, cloud-native flexibility, and seamless integration, enhancing endpoint security and management.
Microsoft Defender for Business offers strong security, integration, and ease of use, ideal for small and medium-sized businesses.
I can investigate by accessing the customer's host based on the RTR environment and utilize host search to know details for the past seven days, including logins, processes, file installations, malicious processes, and network connections.
The machine learning behavior for anomaly detection is a valuable feature.
Real-time response (RTR) is a feature of EDR.
For more quotes and insights, download the CrowdStrike Falcon report
The threat detection capabilities are robust, with a dedicated research team and a continuously updated threat feed.
Its vulnerability management is regarded as one of the best in the industry.
The most effective features of Microsoft Defender for Business include its threat detection and response capabilities in managing vulnerabilities and ransomware attacks.
For more quotes and insights, download the Microsoft Defender for Business report
Sumanth Kandanuru - PeerSpot reviewerShubham Sinha. - PeerSpot reviewerBhim Arora - PeerSpot reviewerWondimu Almu - PeerSpot reviewer
NS
MK
 

Categories and Ranking

CrowdStrike Falcon
Ranking in Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP)
2nd
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
126
Ranking in other categories
Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) (6th), Identity Management (IM) (6th), Threat Intelligence Platforms (2nd), Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) (1st), Active Directory Management (2nd), Extended Detection and Response (XDR) (1st), Attack Surface Management (ASM) (1st), Ransomware Protection (1st), Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR) (3rd), AI-Powered Cybersecurity Platforms (1st)
Microsoft Defender for Busi...
Ranking in Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP)
28th
Average Rating
7.8
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
16
Ranking in other categories
Microsoft Security Suite (15th)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of March 2025, in the Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP) category, the mindshare of CrowdStrike Falcon is 11.2%, up from 8.8% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Microsoft Defender for Business is 1.9%, up from 1.2% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Endpoint Protection Platform (EPP)
 

Featured Reviews

Chintan-Vyas - PeerSpot reviewer
Easy to set up with good behavior-based analysis but needs a single-click recovery option
Most organizations are currently looking for a scheduled scan to meet their compliance needs. Other players like Symantec and Trend Micro, FireEye, et cetera, are still providing the signature-based regular scheduled scans also, which is not available in CrowdStrike. That is one parameter that we feel should be there in CrowdStrike. CrowdStrike is only working on the dynamic or the files under execution. CrowdStrike is not scanning the static files. The product could be more accurate in terms of performance. We'd like to have a single-click recovery option. With some machines getting corrupted by malware, we need an easy way to start with a blank slate if things happen. That one feature should be there in the EDR.
Read full review
Vincent Gagnon - PeerSpot reviewer
Better security with comprehensive features but has a high cost
I have a lot of clients and I use Microsoft Defender for Business when we have certain types of licenses. It comes with Microsoft Business Premium. However, it is not available for many of my clients due to the high license cost, which makes it difficult to sell. I have a couple of clients who use…
Read full review
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
15%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Government
7%
Computer Software Company
18%
Comms Service Provider
7%
Retailer
6%
Government
6%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

Comparing CrowdStrike Falcon to Cortex XDR (Palo Alto)
Cortex XDR by Palo Alto vs. CrowdStrike Falcon Both Cortex XDR and Crowd Strike Falcon offer cloud-based solutions that are very scalable, secure, and user-friendly. Cortex XDR by Palo Alto offers ...
See all answers
How does Crowdstrike Falcon compare with Darktrace?
Both of these products perform similarly and have many outstanding attributes. CrowdStrike Falcon offers an amazing user interface that makes setup easy and seamless. CrowdStrike Falcon offers a cl...
See all answers
How does Microsoft Defender for Endpoint compare with Crowdstrike Falcon?
The CrowdStrike solution delivers a lot of information about incidents. It has a very light sensor that will never push your machine hardware to "test", you don't have the usual "scan now" feature ...
See all answers
What do you like most about Microsoft Defender for Business?
A few things are valuable. One is the alerting we see when any kind of intrusion is happening, any kind of malware is being deployed across the endpoints, or any kind of suspicious activity is goin...
See all answers
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft Defender for Business?
The package with Business Premium is good for what you get for the price. The standalone license's cost is a bit higher, and I would rate it as an eight out of ten for pricing.
See all answers
What needs improvement with Microsoft Defender for Business?
It is not quick to make exclusions or specific configurations compared to other antiviruses on the market. It is less quick than Microsoft Defender or other antivirus solutions.
See all answers
 

Comparisons

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs CrowdStrike Falcon Logo
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs CrowdStrike Falcon
Compared 6% of the time
Kaspersky Endpoint Detection and Response vs CrowdStrike Falcon Logo
Kaspersky Endpoint Detection and Response vs CrowdStrike Falcon
Compared 5% of the time
Microsoft Defender XDR vs CrowdStrike Falcon Logo
Microsoft Defender XDR vs CrowdStrike Falcon
Compared 5% of the time
Darktrace vs CrowdStrike Falcon Logo
Darktrace vs CrowdStrike Falcon
Compared 4% of the time
Symantec Endpoint Security vs CrowdStrike Falcon Logo
Symantec Endpoint Security vs CrowdStrike Falcon
Compared 3% of the time
More CrowdStrike Falcon Competitors
HP Wolf Security vs Microsoft Defender for Business Logo
HP Wolf Security vs Microsoft Defender for Business
Compared 26% of the time
Trend Micro Worry-Free Services Suites vs Microsoft Defender for Business Logo
Trend Micro Worry-Free Services Suites vs Microsoft Defender for Business
Compared 10% of the time
Microsoft Defender for Office 365 vs Microsoft Defender for Business Logo
Microsoft Defender for Office 365 vs Microsoft Defender for Business
Compared 9% of the time
Microsoft Defender XDR vs Microsoft Defender for Business Logo
Microsoft Defender XDR vs Microsoft Defender for Business
Compared 7% of the time
More Microsoft Defender for Business Competitors
 

Product Reports

Buyer's Guide
CrowdStrike Falcon
March 2025
CrowdStrike Falcon reportDownload CrowdStrike Falcon product report
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Defender for Business
February 2025
Microsoft Defender for Business reportDownload Microsoft Defender for Business product report
 

Also Known As

CrowdStrike Falcon, CrowdStrike Falcon XDR, CrowdStrike Falcon Threat Intelligence, CrowdStrike Identity Protection, CrowdStrike Falcon Surface
No data available
 

Overview

CrowdStrike Falcon provides endpoint protection and threat intelligence using a cloud-based platform for real-time detection and response. Its minimal impact on system performance and ease of deployment are key benefits along with advanced logging and reporting for compliance and forensic analysis.

CrowdStrike Falcon is known for its efficacy in identifying malware, ransomware, and sophisticated cyber threats. The platform's cloud-native architecture and advanced AI capabilities ensure comprehensive endpoint visibility and rapid response times. Users appreciate the lightweight agent and seamless deployment process, along with detailed reporting features. Integration with security tools and efficient customer support are essential features, although some users highlight high pricing, occasional detection delays, and challenges with integration. Frequent alerts and the mobile app's performance are areas for improvement.

What are the key features of CrowdStrike Falcon?

  • Real-time Threat Detection: Provides immediate threat identification and response.
  • Lightweight Agent: Minimal impact on system performance.
  • Cloud-native Architecture: Ensures flexibility and scalability.
  • Advanced AI Capabilities: Enhances threat detection and prevention.
  • Comprehensive Endpoint Visibility: Complete insight into endpoint activities.
  • Detailed Reporting: Facilitates compliance and forensic analysis.
  • Security Tool Integration: Seamless integration with other tools.
  • Efficient Customer Support: Robust support services.

What are the benefits or ROI of CrowdStrike Falcon?

  • Improved Threat Detection: Identifies sophisticated threats, reducing risk.
  • Enhanced System Performance: Lightweight agent ensures minimal disruption.
  • Faster Response Times: Swift reaction to incidents minimizes damage.
  • Better Compliance: Detailed logs meet regulatory requirements.
  • Streamlined Deployment: Easy to implement with minimal downtime.

In industries like finance, healthcare, and retail, CrowdStrike Falcon is often used for critical security due to its robust threat detection capabilities. Financial firms value its rapid response and detailed reporting for compliance, while healthcare providers appreciate the minimal system performance impact. Retailers benefit from its comprehensive endpoint visibility and integration with other security tools.

CrowdStrike

Microsoft Defender for Business is a new endpoint security solution that was designed especially for the small and medium-sized business (up to 300 employees). With this endpoint security solution, your company's devices are better protected from ransomware, malware, phishing, and other threats.

Microsoft
Buyer's Guide
CrowdStrike Falcon vs. Microsoft Defender for Business
January 2025
Free Report: CrowdStrike Falcon vs. Microsoft Defender for Business
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