Cybersecurity · head to head
BeyondTrust vs Microsoft Defender
BeyondTrust
Cybersecurity
Privileged access management, endpoint privilege management and secure remote access
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
Microsoft Defender
Cybersecurity
Always-on protection for you and your family's data and devices
- From
- $12/month
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: BeyondTrust the product lines came from separate origins and still have separate consoles, so buying the suite does not deliver the single pane of glass the bundle implies.; Microsoft Defender defender Suite requires existing Microsoft 365 E3 or equivalent base licensing
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which BeyondTrust and Microsoft Defender actually diverge.
| Attribute | BeyondTrust | Microsoft Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | $12/month |
| Pricing model | quote | subscription |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, Web | Web |
Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Cybersecurity).
What each one covers
Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.
Only in BeyondTrust
- Password Safe
- Endpoint Privilege Management
- Privileged Remote Access
- Remote Support
- Discovery
- Session recording
Only in Microsoft Defender
Nothing recorded that BeyondTrust does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
BeyondTrust
- An organisation removing local administrator rights across thousands of Windows endpoints without swamping the service desknot Microsoft Defender
- A utility required to record every privileged session on operational systems for regulatory auditnot Microsoft Defender
- A firm giving external maintenance vendors access to specific servers without handing over credentialsnot Microsoft Defender
- A helpdesk consolidating remote support and privileged access onto one audited path rather than an unmanaged remote toolnot Microsoft Defender
Microsoft Defender
- Endpoint security and threat protectionnot BeyondTrust
- Identity and access securitynot BeyondTrust
- Email threat protectionnot BeyondTrust
- SaaS application security monitoringnot BeyondTrust
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
BeyondTrust
- The product lines came from separate origins and still have separate consoles, so buying the suite does not deliver the single pane of glass the bundle implies.
- Licensing metrics differ between products, per managed account, per endpoint, per concurrent session, which makes multi-product quotes hard to compare with competitors and hard to forecast as you grow.
- Self-hosted deployments carry real infrastructure and upgrade burden, and organisations without a dedicated PAM administrator find the system drifts out of maintenance.
- Endpoint privilege management requires sustained rule authoring as applications change, so the first-year saving in helpdesk tickets erodes if nobody owns the policy afterwards.
- Discovery finds far more privileged accounts than most organisations expect, which is valuable but converts a licence purchase into a longer remediation programme before the control is real.
Microsoft Defender
- Defender Suite requires existing Microsoft 365 E3 or equivalent base licensing
- Some Defender products use pay-as-you-go pricing with variable costs
- Prices vary based on Microsoft agreements, requiring sales contact for custom quotes
Pricing, plan by plan
BeyondTrust
On request- BeyondTrust Platform$undefined/year
- Password Safe priced by managed asset or account
- Endpoint Privilege Management priced per endpoint
- Remote access products priced per concurrent licence or endpoint
Microsoft Defender
$12/month- Microsoft Defender Suite$12/month
- Endpoint protection
- Identity threat detection
- Email security
- Microsoft 365 E5 with Defender$60/month
- Includes Defender Suite
- Microsoft Teams included
- Comprehensive security and compliance
- Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management Add-on$2/month
- Vulnerability scanning and management
- One-month free trial available
- Annual commitment required
Which should you pick?
Choose BeyondTrust if
- You need password safe.
- You work on Windows, macOS, Linux, Web.
- You also want endpoint privilege management.
Choose Microsoft Defender if
Nothing in the data separates Microsoft Defender from BeyondTrust on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Questions people ask
- Is BeyondTrust or Microsoft Defender better?
- Neither clearly leads. BeyondTrust starts at On request and Microsoft Defender at $12/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, BeyondTrust or Microsoft Defender?
- BeyondTrust starts at On request and Microsoft Defender at $12/month.
- Does BeyondTrust or Microsoft Defender run on more platforms?
- BeyondTrust runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Web. Microsoft Defender runs on Web.
- What is BeyondTrust best used for?
- BeyondTrust is most often used for an organisation removing local administrator rights across thousands of windows endpoints without swamping the service desk, a utility required to record every privileged session on operational systems for regulatory audit, a firm giving external maintenance vendors access to specific servers without handing over credentials, a helpdesk consolidating remote support and privileged access onto one audited path rather than an unmanaged remote tool. Of those, an organisation removing local administrator rights across thousands of windows endpoints without swamping the service desk and a utility required to record every privileged session on operational systems for regulatory audit are not what Microsoft Defender is typically brought in for.
- What can BeyondTrust do that Microsoft Defender cannot?
- BeyondTrust covers Password Safe, Endpoint Privilege Management, Privileged Remote Access, Remote Support.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
BeyondTrust: Is endpoint privilege management sold separately from the vault?
Yes. They are distinct products with distinct licensing metrics, and many customers buy only one.
Microsoft Defender: How much does Microsoft Defender Suite cost?
Microsoft Defender Suite costs $12/user/month (paid yearly), but requires existing Microsoft 365 E3 or equivalent base licensing. It includes endpoint protection, identity threat detection, email security, and SaaS application monitoring.
SourceBeyondTrust: Can it record vendor sessions?
Yes, with credential injection so the third party never learns the password, and full video and keystroke recording for audit.
Microsoft Defender: What add-ons are available for Microsoft Defender?
Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management Add-on costs $2/user/month with annual commitment and includes a one-month free trial. Additional pay-as-you-go products include External Attack Surface Management, Cloud Security Posture Management, and Sentinel.
SourceBeyondTrust: Is there a FedRAMP option?
BeyondTrust offers FedRAMP-authorised deployments for United States government buyers, which is often the deciding factor in that sector.
Microsoft Defender: Is Defender included in Microsoft 365 E5?
Yes, Microsoft Defender Suite is included in Microsoft 365 E5 at $60/user/month (paid yearly with Teams). Prices may vary based on Microsoft agreements, requiring contact with Sales for customized quotes.
SourceRelated pages
More on BeyondTrust
More on Microsoft Defender
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