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Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence vs VirusTotal comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive SummaryUpdated on Aug 11, 2024
 

Categories and Ranking

Microsoft Defender Threat I...
Ranking in Threat Intelligence Platforms
4th
Average Rating
8.4
Reviews Sentiment
7.4
Number of Reviews
30
Ranking in other categories
Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) (11th), Microsoft Security Suite (16th)
VirusTotal
Ranking in Threat Intelligence Platforms
3rd
Average Rating
8.8
Reviews Sentiment
7.3
Number of Reviews
11
Ranking in other categories
Anti-Malware Tools (3rd)
 

Mindshare comparison

As of December 2024, in the Threat Intelligence Platforms category, the mindshare of Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence is 3.2%, up from 2.7% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of VirusTotal is 6.2%, up from 5.6% compared to the previous year. It is calculated based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Threat Intelligence Platforms
 

Featured Reviews

Renju  Varghese - PeerSpot reviewer
Blocks incoming threats on the local PC or any cloud-based threats
We have an available agent running on our PCs that sends us notifications. We have a team that looks through the console, identifies the threats, and determines what needs to be done. The solution enables us to be on top of any upcoming threats. The solution also helps us to be proactive before threats impact several users. Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence is deployed on the cloud in our organization. I would recommend the solution to other users. They should evaluate other products before choosing Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence. The solution is good, but there are better products than Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence. I rate the solution between seven and eight out of ten for its accuracy and the timeline of the threat intelligence data provided by the solution. The main benefit of using the solution is that it works well with a lot of other Microsoft products we are using. Overall, I rate the solution a seven or eight out of ten.
Chinmay Banerjee - PeerSpot reviewer
Helps businesses collect threat data while keeping privacy in mind and apable of detecting, blocking, and removing viruses and malware
There are two gray areas I still need to explore. I have worked with VirusTotal because it easily integrates with over seventy antivirus scanners and blacklisting services. In addition to those there is much scope to improve and add other services or integrations. The areas for improvement are that VirusTotal is not using much AI or generative AI models, while other competitors are starting to build them. For example, VirusTotal's work is based on the setup done by their engineers. If you want to do scanning or protection activities for a specific site, app, or device, that is the area VirusTotal is currently focused on. But other competitors are building AI models that can do things like left-side scanning and provide auto-generated reports. VirusTotal has predefined reports, but there is a lot of manual effort involved. Secondly, the API is very limited if I want to integrate VirusTotal with other applications. They need to build more connectors and provide support for Webhook connectors for the API. If you can't build your own connector, it's always good to have provisions for Webhook setup connectors across platforms. Thirdly, Kaspersky, a competitor of VirusTotal, is using a methodology called "gatekeeper." A gatekeeper is a security system that protects the inside of a building from outside threats. This is the model Kaspersky is currently using. You have your website set up, but the entire army of VirusTotal or Kaspersky is standing guard, protecting you from the first gate itself. Right now, VirusTotal detects threats from your domain, but it is always better to verify inside the domain and protect it from the first level when people or malware are entering. This first level of protection is lacking in VirusTotal right now. The security bridge and protection gate are missing.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"The global review and remediation of malicious code is probably the most valuable feature."
"It just runs in the background. I don't have to worry about, making sure it's Intelligence. So, you know, this kind of makes it very easy, have to worry about installing. It is easy to use."
"The product's anti-spam and malware-scanning features are useful. We scan email attachments, documents, and malicious codes."
"The technical support services are excellent."
"The product’s most valuable feature is the ability to provide threat detection and protection simultaneously."
"I rate the tool's stability a ten out of ten."
"The solution is one suite covering everything from email protection to threat intelligence and vulnerability scanning."
"Microsoft's integration into the security stack works quite well."
"It allows us to see if there have been previous reports on certain indicators of compromise, providing insights from other security professionals."
"The feature I like the most is the ability to see the MD5 or SHA-256 signature of the file, and also the composition of the file according to its segments."
"It provides detailed insights into possible malicious behavior, dropped files, and TCP connections."
"The initial setup is easy."
"VirusTotal provides 95% to 98% accurate information."
"With VirusTotal, I can check for any hash, malware, file, domain, IP URL, or malicious URL, and Kaspersky stays clean."
"The most valuable feature is the worldwide malware information database."
"VirusTotal provides 95% to 98% accurate information."
 

Cons

"There could be a better notification system."
"A stable licensing model is absent"
"One area that can be improved is reducing false positives."
"I would like for there to be extra confirmation that there aren't viruses. Even if the virus detection software is always running there could be hidden applications that are using the computer."
"While the current setup meets our needs, Microsoft can constantly improve customization and adaptability to rapidly evolving cybersecurity threats."
"The product's dashboard and incident reports functionality needs enhancement."
"It takes time for the support team to understand the issue, and they then respond with a delay at times, which causes a lot of trouble."
"It would be beneficial to enhance the pricing structure and make it more affordable."
"They can improve the telemetry. Whenever we handle a sample, they cannot provide any information about a victim."
"The platform could improve in the areas of endpoints and networks."
"There should be room for improvement, particularly in the API side of things."
"I would like to see improvements in the score consistency and accuracy."
"They can improve the telemetry. Whenever we handle a sample, they cannot provide any information about a victim."
"I would like to see improvements in the score consistency and accuracy."
"VirusTotal has predefined reports, but there is a lot of manual effort involved."
"I would like to see an improved user interface and some automation."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"The tool is expensive as a stand-alone solution. However, it is not cheap when you purchase it as a bundle."
"Considering Microsoft is constantly changing licensing, I would give it a seven out of ten. It can be difficult to get your head around it, especially for small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)."
"The solution is relatively expensive; however, our status as a gold partner provides us with several complimentary licenses, which offsets the cost."
"The product is a part of my Microsoft 365 subscription, so there is no additional cost. It is cost-effective."
"It's reasonably priced, though there's room for further improvement."
"Microsoft's pricing structure involves annual fees."
"It is an expensive product."
"There is a need to make yearly payments towards the licensing charges attached to the product."
"The pricing is reasonable."
"VirusTotal is an expensive solution."
"The pricing is very economical."
"We are using VirusTotal with free licenses, managing the license limits across three or four accounts, thus incurring no costs."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
18%
Financial Services Firm
11%
Educational Organization
10%
Government
9%
Computer Software Company
16%
Financial Services Firm
10%
Government
10%
Manufacturing Company
7%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence?
It just runs in the background. I don't have to worry about, making sure it's Intelligence. So, you know, this kind of makes it very easy, have to worry about installing. It is easy to use.
What needs improvement with Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence?
There are weaknesses, and Microsoft is working on addressing them. Over the past three to four years, the ATP and other components have improved significantly, and the integration has also advanced...
What is your primary use case for Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence?
The product helps us monitor business devices for authentication and response on all endpoints, servers, passwords, and plans.
What do you like most about VirusTotal?
With VirusTotal, I can check for any hash, malware, file, domain, IP URL, or malicious URL, and Kaspersky stays clean.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for VirusTotal?
I do not know about the pricing or licensing as our organization services VirusTotal for our clients.
What needs improvement with VirusTotal?
I would like to see improvements in the score consistency and accuracy. VirusTotal should add more details like those from competitors such as URL Void or Symantec URL Checker, which show the categ...
 

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Overview

Find out what your peers are saying about Microsoft Defender Threat Intelligence vs. VirusTotal and other solutions. Updated: December 2024.
824,067 professionals have used our research since 2012.