Microsoft Defender for Cloud vs Microsoft Sentinel comparison

Microsoft Defender for Cloud and Microsoft Sentinel operate in the cybersecurity space, with each catering to different needs. Defender for Cloud excels in the Azure environment by integrating security insights, while Sentinel offers extensive integration capabilities. Overall, Microsoft Sentinel seems to have an upper hand due to its robust integration and threat detection capabilities.

Features: Microsoft Defender for Cloud provides an integrated view of an organization's security setup, ideal for monitoring Azure services. Its features include daily security recommendations, compliance policies, and vulnerability assessments. Microsoft Sentinel integrates with various log sources, offering comprehensive threat detection and incident management capabilities. It uses Logic Apps for automated responses, enhancing its security operations.

Room for Improvement: Microsoft Defender for Cloud could improve usability for non-technical users and offer better automation and real-time monitoring while reducing false positives using AI/ML. Its pricing model is complex, and transparency in security score calculations needs improvement. Microsoft Sentinel faces challenges with its complex configuration, particularly with on-premise systems, requiring simplified learning curves and expanded connectors. Both products should work on reducing false positives for a better user experience.

Ease of Deployment and Customer Service: Both Microsoft Defender for Cloud and Microsoft Sentinel offer flexible deployment options across public, private, and hybrid clouds. While Microsoft’s customer support is generally praised for responsiveness and knowledge, some users experience delays requiring escalation. Documentation is extensive, though more clarity is desired for complex scenarios.

Pricing and ROI: Microsoft Defender for Cloud's pricing is complex but deemed cost-effective within the Azure ecosystem, though small businesses may find it relatively expensive. Microsoft Sentinel is often perceived as expensive for data ingestion, but its features justify the pricing for large enterprises due to potential cost savings on threat management. Both products have flexible pricing structures that might be seen as costly in certain scenarios.