Software · head to head
Cisco Duo vs Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Software
Enterprise endpoint security built into Microsoft 365
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Cisco Duo has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Cisco Duo free tier caps at 10 users; every paid tier requires a minimum of 10 users; Microsoft Defender for Endpoint pricing not published on public websites; quote required from Microsoft sales
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Cisco Duo and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint actually diverge.
| Attribute | Cisco Duo | Microsoft Defender for Endpoint |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Free | On request |
| Pricing model | freemium | quote |
| Free tier | Yes | No |
| Platforms | Web | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Founded | Unknown | 1975 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).
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 Cisco Duo
Nothing recorded that Microsoft Defender for Endpoint does not also cover.
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.
Cisco Duo
No use cases recorded yet. See the Cisco Duo review.
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Enterprise endpoint security across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS via Plans 1 or 2not Cisco Duo
- Small and medium-sized businesses using Microsoft Defender for Business as alternativenot Cisco Duo
- Organisations using Microsoft 365 E5 which includes Defender for Endpoint Plan 2not Cisco Duo
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Cisco Duo
- Free tier caps at 10 users; every paid tier requires a minimum of 10 users
- Licenses cannot be bought individually above the free tier: under 100 users they are sold in increments of 10, and over 100 users in increments of 25
- Duo Premier, the top tier with the most adaptive access controls, costs $9 per user per month on top of the per-increment purchase requirement
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
Cisco Duo
FreeNo published plan breakdown. See the Cisco Duo review.
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint review.
Which should you pick?
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 Cisco Duo or Microsoft Defender for Endpoint better?
- Neither clearly leads. Cisco Duo starts at Free 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, Cisco Duo or Microsoft Defender for Endpoint?
- Cisco Duo has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at Free for Cisco Duo and On request for Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.
- Does Cisco Duo or Microsoft Defender for Endpoint run on more platforms?
- Cisco Duo runs on Web. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
- Can I use Cisco Duo for free?
- Yes. Cisco Duo has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint starts at On request.
- What can Cisco Duo do that Microsoft Defender for Endpoint cannot?
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint covers Threat & vulnerability management, Attack surface reduction, Next-gen protection, EDR.
Related pages
More on Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
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