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Microsoft Defender for IoT vs Palo Alto Networks IoT Security 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 Defender for IoT
Ranking in IoT Security
5th
Average Rating
8.6
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
2
Ranking in other categories
Operational Technology (OT) Security (6th), Microsoft Security Suite (28th)
Palo Alto Networks IoT Secu...
Ranking in IoT Security
4th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.0
Number of Reviews
10
Ranking in other categories
No ranking in other categories
 

Mindshare comparison

As of April 2025, in the IoT Security category, the mindshare of Microsoft Defender for IoT is 11.0%, up from 9.6% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Palo Alto Networks IoT Security is 6.7%, down from 6.9% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
IoT Security
 

Featured Reviews

William Tuleja - PeerSpot reviewer
Integration with existing tools boosts management efficiency
The only improvement I see is that some detection explanations are vaguely provided by Microsoft, resulting in generic IoT detections that alert me to an issue yet don't specify what's wrong. Often, it just links back to a generic KB article without additional information. When it happens, it requires extra detective work. This issue doesn't occur often but can be annoying.
Engineerinfosec67 - PeerSpot reviewer
Recognizing and classifying devices with AI and machine learning boosts security without extra network controls
Palo Alto Networks IoT Security ( /products/palo-alto-networks-iot-security-reviews ) integrates with a cloud-based engine that uses artificial intelligence and machine learning for device recognition and classification based on traffic types. This adaptability, which does not rely strictly on a static database, allows for identifying a wider range of devices. The behavior-based identification of devices enhances the capabilities of security controls, extending the network security platform's recognition capacity without deploying a separate network access control system.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"I find Microsoft Defender very effective in vulnerability management and it provides good attack reduction, making it a next-generation protection solution."
"Mainly, it is manageable and integrates with other Microsoft products, which is crucial for me."
"I believe it is best suited for cloud services and is unmatched by other cloud security solutions."
"It is manageable and integrates with other Microsoft products, which is crucial for me."
"It is simple to use. We just need to enable features and then configure IoT policies."
"Single-pass traffic processing enables very high throughput and low latency."
"I would recommend Palo Alto Networks IoT Security to any organization with automation plants or standard enterprise IT environments."
"I like the threat information, and we can share the logging data with Cortex Data Lake."
"The key strength of Palo Alto firewalls lies in their application-based approach, offering a much finer level of control compared to traditional firewalls."
"I find Palo Alto Networks IoT Security to be highly responsive, and its separate management and data planes are a major advantage."
"I like the Cortex Data Lake integration with security automation."
"From a security standpoint, it provides a comprehensive range of standard security features that align with our requirements."
 

Cons

"The primary area that needs improvement is compatibility with the latest IoT technologies."
"The only improvement I see is that some detection explanations are vaguely provided by Microsoft, resulting in generic IoT detections that alert me to an issue yet don't specify what's wrong."
"The only improvement I see is that some detection explanations are vaguely provided by Microsoft, resulting in generic IoT detections that alert me to an issue yet don't specify what's wrong."
"Customer service and support from Microsoft are costly. The execution by engineers is expensive, and the service is neither free nor toll-free, making it less accessible for customers."
"It would be beneficial to have a more centralized and user-friendly platform that could consolidate all the necessary information, which proved challenging during the initial POC phase."
"Palo Alto Networks IoT Security's reporting capabilities are less comprehensive and robust than those provided by Cisco."
"Essentially, this solution focuses on data analysis and cannot perform any physical actions."
"There can be more automation in terms of security and detection. It is already good."
"While not overly complex, its usability could be enhanced, making it a more intuitive experience for everyone."
"More application signatures are required."
"The support is in line with Palo Alto Networks services for other products but needs improvement."
"It would be beneficial if Palo Alto IoT Security could integrate with Let's Encrypt for free SSL certificates."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

Information not available
"The pricing for Palo Alto Networks IoT Security is a bit high."
"The successful migration trend suggests that Palo Alto provides a superior cost-benefit ratio for firewall solutions."
"While Palo Alto Networks IoT Security might cost more than some competitors, its features and effectiveness justify the price tag."
"The initial investment is substantial, but the renewal costs make it financially unsustainable."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
18%
Manufacturing Company
15%
Energy/Utilities Company
9%
Government
5%
Manufacturing Company
16%
Computer Software Company
16%
Energy/Utilities Company
6%
Comms Service Provider
5%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
No data available
 

Questions from the Community

What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft Defender for IoT?
The solution is relatively expensive with licensing being based on each device. The cost per license might not be affordable for every organization, and I would rate it around six out of ten on a s...
What needs improvement with Microsoft Defender for IoT?
The primary area that needs improvement is compatibility with the latest IoT technologies. Microsoft needs flexibility to ensure good compatibility with new IoT solutions, which frequently introduc...
What is your primary use case for Microsoft Defender for IoT?
My primary use case for Microsoft Defender for IoT is security. It helps with vulnerability management and provides significant attack reduction. It functions as a next-generation protection soluti...
What do you like most about Palo Alto Networks IoT Security?
From a security standpoint, it provides a comprehensive range of standard security features that align with our requirements.
What needs improvement with Palo Alto Networks IoT Security?
The major challenge is the integration with existing complex production lines. These architectures were developed with a focus on automation functionalities, not security. Finding the right integra...
What is your primary use case for Palo Alto Networks IoT Security?
I use Palo Alto Networks IoT Security ( /products/palo-alto-networks-iot-security-reviews ) for discovering automation devices and detecting various types of data traffic on automation infrastructu...
 

Also Known As

Azure Defender for IoT
No data available
 

Overview

Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft Defender for IoT vs. Palo Alto Networks IoT Security and other solutions. Updated: March 2025.
845,040 professionals have used our research since 2012.