Government · head to head
Bonfire vs Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Bonfire
Government
Public sector sourcing and bid evaluation software with scored, auditable award decisions
- From
- On request
- Free plan
- No
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Cybersecurity
Enterprise endpoint security built into Microsoft 365
- From
- On request
- Free plan
- No
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Bonfire it is a sourcing and evaluation tool rather than full procure to pay, so requisitions, purchase orders and invoicing stay in the finance system and the join between them is the agency's problem.; Microsoft Defender for Endpoint pricing not published on public websites; quote required from Microsoft sales
- They diverge on capability: Bonfire covers Solicitation posting, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint covers Threat & vulnerability management.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Bonfire and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint actually diverge.
| Attribute | Bonfire | Microsoft Defender for Endpoint |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Category | Government | Cybersecurity |
| Founded | Unknown | 1975 |
Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (quote), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated).
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 Bonfire
- Solicitation posting
- Sealed submission intake
- Scored evaluation workspace
- Audit trail
- Supplier portal
- Requirement matrices
Only in Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Threat & vulnerability management
- Attack surface reduction
- Next-gen protection
- EDR
- Auto investigation
- Microsoft Threat Experts
- Threat analytics
- Secure score
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Bonfire
- An agency that has lost or nearly lost a bid protest and needs a defensible evaluation recordnot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- A procurement team running scoring committees currently held together by spreadsheets and emailnot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- A university or health system applying public procurement rules without a public procurement systemnot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- An agency wanting suppliers to self register and receive addenda automatically rather than by mailing listnot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Enterprise endpoint security across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS via Plans 1 or 2not Bonfire
- Small and medium-sized businesses using Microsoft Defender for Business as alternativenot Bonfire
- Organisations using Microsoft 365 E5 which includes Defender for Endpoint Plan 2not Bonfire
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Bonfire
- It is a sourcing and evaluation tool rather than full procure to pay, so requisitions, purchase orders and invoicing stay in the finance system and the join between them is the agency's problem.
- Since the acquisition path from GTY to GI Partners to Euna Solutions, Bonfire sits in a portfolio alongside products it once competed with, which narrows a shortlist that appears independent.
- Suppliers must register on the portal to bid, and small local vendors reliably complain about the extra account, which can reduce responses on low value solicitations.
- Pricing is quoted rather than published and scales with solicitation volume, so an agency with a few very large procurements pays a model designed around throughput.
- Contract management after award is thin compared with dedicated contract lifecycle products, so agencies often buy a second system for the obligations the award created.
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Pricing not published on public websites; quote required from Microsoft sales
- Defender for Endpoint Plan 1 and Plan 2 do not include server licenses; additional licensing required for server protection
- Specific feature differences between Plan 1 and Plan 2 require consulting Microsoft documentation
Pricing, plan by plan
Bonfire
On request- Bonfire$undefined/year
- Quoted by agency size and annual solicitation volume
- Supplier side registration is free, which is how the vendor network grows
- Implementation and training quoted separately from subscription
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint review.
Which should you pick?
Choose Bonfire if
- You need solicitation posting.
- You also want sealed submission intake.
Choose Microsoft Defender for Endpoint if
- You need threat & vulnerability management.
- You work on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
- You also want attack surface reduction.
Questions people ask
- Is Bonfire or Microsoft Defender for Endpoint better?
- Neither clearly leads. Bonfire starts at On request and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Bonfire or Microsoft Defender for Endpoint?
- Bonfire starts at On request and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint at On request.
- Does Bonfire or Microsoft Defender for Endpoint run on more platforms?
- Bonfire runs on Web. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
- What is Bonfire best used for?
- Bonfire is most often used for an agency that has lost or nearly lost a bid protest and needs a defensible evaluation record, a procurement team running scoring committees currently held together by spreadsheets and email, a university or health system applying public procurement rules without a public procurement system, an agency wanting suppliers to self register and receive addenda automatically rather than by mailing list. Of those, an agency that has lost or nearly lost a bid protest and needs a defensible evaluation record and a procurement team running scoring committees currently held together by spreadsheets and email are not what Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is typically brought in for.
- What can Bonfire do that Microsoft Defender for Endpoint cannot?
- Bonfire covers Solicitation posting, Sealed submission intake, Scored evaluation workspace, Audit trail. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint covers Threat & vulnerability management, Attack surface reduction, Next-gen protection, EDR.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Bonfire: Who owns Bonfire?
Euna Solutions. Bonfire was acquired by GTY Technology in 2019, GTY was taken private by GI Partners in 2022, and the portfolio was rebranded Euna Solutions in 2023.
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint: How is Microsoft Defender for Endpoint priced?
Defender for Endpoint is bundled into Microsoft 365 enterprise subscriptions. Plan 1 is included in Microsoft 365 E3, and Plan 2 is included in Microsoft 365 E5. Individual pricing is not published separately.
SourceBonfire: Is it full procure to pay?
No. It covers sourcing and evaluation through award. Purchase orders and invoicing remain in the finance system.
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint: Does Microsoft Defender for Endpoint offer a trial?
Yes. A free trial is available for prospective customers to test the product before committing to a subscription.
SourceBonfire: What is the real value?
A defensible, time stamped evaluation record when an award is protested, which is the expensive failure mode in public procurement.
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint: What is the difference between Plan 1 and Plan 2?
Plan 1 (in E3) includes unified security tools, device controls, network protection, firewall, web/URL controls, APIs, SIEM connectors, and app controls. Plan 2 (in E5) adds endpoint detection and response, deception techniques, automatic attack disruption, exposure management, and threat intelligence.
SourceBonfire: Can we see what other agencies pay?
Yes. These contracts are public records. Read several comparable awards before negotiating.
Related pages
More on Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
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