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Microsoft BitLocker vs Sophos SafeGuard comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Feb 3, 2025

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Categories and Ranking

Microsoft BitLocker
Ranking in Endpoint Encryption
1st
Ranking in Mobile Data Protection
1st
Average Rating
8.2
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
65
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
Sophos SafeGuard
Ranking in Endpoint Encryption
2nd
Ranking in Mobile Data Protection
2nd
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.2
Number of Reviews
42
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the Endpoint Encryption category, the mindshare of Microsoft BitLocker is 40.2%, up from 39.9% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Sophos SafeGuard is 1.9%, down from 3.8% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Endpoint Encryption
 

Featured Reviews

Douglas Curry - PeerSpot reviewer
Users can easily deploy and manage it
The solution's most valuable feature is that it is simple to deploy and manage. I can't say what features of the tool I like since it is very much a deploy-and-forget product. We don't use any advanced features of the tool in my company. The tool's recovery options are good, especially since it integrates with Active Directory, making everything a simple process. The product's integration capabilities are good.
ManelAlvarez - PeerSpot reviewer
Protects user data and offers data control and has an easy deployment
The most valuable feature is encryption control. If you have a laptop, it guarantees that the data is not missing or lost. It’s easy to deploy and has a central console where you can see whether the laptops are encrypted, updated, and protected. It protects devices, including USB and other external devices, and guarantees data loss protection. Additionally, with device control, you can ensure that no ransomware is introduced into the network. For me, this is of very high value.

Quotes from Members

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Pros

"Microsoft BitLocker can be used to ensure that stolen PCs or laptops do not lose their data."
"The solution is included in Windows 11."
"The most valuable feature is the simplicity and integration with the Microsoft Clouds platform."
"The most valuable feature of this solution is the protection and ease of use."
"I like BitLocker because it gives us strong encryption to protect our data."
"The solution has a feature that automatically asks the users to upgrade their password once we set up the process."
"The best thing about it is the encryption type and the way it requires TPM when someone tries to access the drive."
"It's my understanding that the initial setup is straightforward."
"It's the best solution on the market."
"The solution can block a virus attack and prevent it from moving across the system."
"The most valuable features of the solution are the fact that they are able to encrypt the hard disk and to encrypt USB sticks."
"The most valuable feature of the solution stems from the fact that the GUI is easy to use."
"For general data protection and GDPR requirements, which are relevant because we work with European companies, SafeGuard helps us stay compliant."
"I like its ease of use the most. The management console is really nice. I like having one pane of glass that does everything. It does the Sophos anti-virus and encryption. Everything that you need is in one place. It is easy to use, and it is also pretty fast. It provides some pretty good details, and it lets you know who has access to a file. You can also add additional people to the encrypted documents, which is pretty good. Its stability and performance are also very good."
"The setup process is straightforward."
"It's easy to use. You have to pay extra for additional, but the basic product is fantastic. It will be a good solution for you, depending on your requirements."
 

Cons

"The solution needs to have better protection and improve its pricing."
"BitLocker should be available on standard Windows. We need to spend money on a Pro license to get BitLocker because it's essential to protect our customers' data. We don't want that to fall into the wrong hands."
"The product must improve the centralization of keys."
"We recently found some stability issues with Microsoft BitLocker."
"The solution lacks the ability to allow its user to provide limited access to someone."
"They should offer better login capabilities that are more secure."
"The encryption takes a long time to complete, and our system runs very slowly while it is encrypting."
"The integration between Active Directory and BitLocker could be better."
"Sophos SafeGuard is a German product. Sophos isn't really active in Europe. The Middle East, Africa, South Africa works with Sophos but their primary users aren't in Europe. They should market and push this solution to the European market."
"If it's possible, they should make all the features available because it's got a lot of features on offer, but you have to buy the license in order to add those features to the normal Endpoint. If they could make all those features available and/or offer a bundling option it would be better."
"Technical support could be a bit better."
"The solution's ability to integrate with other solutions, such as a DLP, should be addressed."
"It would be ideal if the solution had different features within one agent."
"Sophos could improve transparency around licensing and renewal costs. Unexpected costs have arisen during license renewals, impacting our budget planning."
"The recovery process could be improved."
"Sometimes, multiple updates and crashes happen in the tool, making it an area where improvements are required."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The product's cost is included in Windows."
"Microsoft BitLocker's pricing is included in the Microsoft license, and you don't have to pay an additional fee for it."
"We can activate the product at no cost."
"It is a totally free solution."
"This solution is included with Microsoft Server and my clients did not have to pay for anything extra."
"BitLocker is included in our license and doesn't cost us anything extra."
"I think it's reasonably priced because I've never heard any complaints from my company about its costs."
"The tool is cheap compared to the products offered by competitors. If one is cheap and ten is expensive, I rate the tool's price as one."
"There is a need to make annual payments towards the licensing charges attached to the product."
"Regarding pricing, it's a middle-priced solution. We typically use Sophos SafeGuard with the Sophos firewall, which includes VPN connections. The cost depends on the number of users, with some customers requiring hundreds of connections and others needing around a thousand."
"The platform is reasonably priced considering its functionality and adaptability. It is subscription-based."
"Pricing for Sophos SafeGuard should be transparent. If you want to get support for Sophos SafeGuard, you don't get pricing information about support costs, and in the end, you'll get charged more."
"I rate the product price a six on a scale of one to ten, where one is a low price, and ten is a high price."
"We pay around $10 a year for each endpoint, including support."
"Pricing for Sophos SafeGuard could be improved because it could reach a thousand dollars depending on the product, edition, and software key purchased."
"The pricing is good and now they offer three year and five year plans. After that if one lokes the service they can choose the lifetime service."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
12%
Government
10%
Manufacturing Company
9%
Financial Services Firm
9%
Financial Services Firm
15%
Computer Software Company
11%
Healthcare Company
11%
Real Estate/Law Firm
9%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What should one take into account when replacing PGP with Microsoft BitLocker?
Beware to make backup of useful data, then use reverse decryption policy from Symantec panel/McAfee ePO to decrypt the DE partitions while it is sometimes more straightforward and faster to reinsta...
Would you choose Microsoft BitLocker or McAfee Complete Data Protection?
Microsoft BitLocker is very intuitive and easy to maintain. It is basically the global standard solution for drive encryption and successfully fulfills regulatory needs in terms of data protection....
How does Microsoft BitLocker compare with Symantec Endpoint Encryption?
Microsoft BitLocker is very intuitive and easy to maintain. It is basically the global standard solution for drive encryption and it successfully fulfills regulatory needs in terms of data protecti...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Sophos SafeGuard?
I cannot compare prices precisely, so I would give it a five out of ten rating. I am uncertain. Sophos is slightly more expensive than some other vendors. A bundle might be an option for cost-consc...
What needs improvement with Sophos SafeGuard?
I cannot think of any improvements right now.
 

Also Known As

BitLocker, MS BitLocker
SafeGuard, SafeGuard Encryption
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

ACV, Proaxis Therapy, Choice Hotels International, adnymics GmbH, Intermedia, NMBS/SNCB
Rushmoor Borough Council
Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft BitLocker vs. Sophos SafeGuard and other solutions. Updated: April 2025.
848,716 professionals have used our research since 2012.