Cybersecurity · head to head
Diligent vs Microsoft Defender
Diligent
Cybersecurity
Board management and enterprise GRC platform assembled from Galvanize, Steele and Diligent Boards
- 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: Diligent the platform is an assembly of acquisitions, with the analytics engine from ACL, risk from Rsam, ethics and third-party diligence from Steele and the board portal from Diligent itself, so cross-module reporting and consistent user experience should be tested in a proof of concept rather than assumed.; Microsoft Defender defender Suite requires existing Microsoft 365 E3 or equivalent base licensing
- Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Diligent and Microsoft Defender actually diverge.
| Attribute | Diligent | Microsoft Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | $12/month |
| Pricing model | quote | subscription |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, Windows | 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 Diligent
- Diligent Boards
- Entity management
- Audit and analytics
- Risk management
- Third-party risk
- Ethics and compliance
- ESG and sustainability
- Market intelligence
Only in Microsoft Defender
Nothing recorded that Diligent does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Diligent
- A listed company that wants board papers, entity records and the audit committee reporting pack produced from one governance systemnot Microsoft Defender
- An internal audit function moving from sampling to full-population transaction testing using the ACL heritage analytics enginenot Microsoft Defender
- A regulated firm consolidating a whistleblower hotline, third-party due diligence and policy attestation after an enforcement findingnot Microsoft Defender
- A group needing sustainability disclosure data collected with the same audit trail and controls as financial reportingnot Microsoft Defender
Microsoft Defender
- Endpoint security and threat protectionnot Diligent
- Identity and access securitynot Diligent
- Email threat protectionnot Diligent
- SaaS application security monitoringnot Diligent
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Diligent
- The platform is an assembly of acquisitions, with the analytics engine from ACL, risk from Rsam, ethics and third-party diligence from Steele and the board portal from Diligent itself, so cross-module reporting and consistent user experience should be tested in a proof of concept rather than assumed.
- Pricing is unpublished and consistently at the top of the market, and organisations that need only one capability, a board portal or an audit analytics tool, generally pay less and get more from a specialist.
- Renewal leverage is weak once the board portal is embedded, because directors are the least willing user group to be migrated and that dependency is well understood by the vendor at renewal time.
- The analytics engine expects real data skills, and audit teams without an analytics-capable member typically use a fraction of what they licensed while paying for all of it.
- Module-by-module implementation means the promised single view of governance and risk usually arrives years after the first purchase, if the later modules are ever funded.
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
Diligent
On request- Diligent One Platform$undefined/year
- Quoted by module and user count
- Board portal seats priced separately from GRC modules
- Annual subscription, commonly multi-year
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 Diligent if
- You need diligent boards.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, Windows.
- You also want entity management.
Choose Microsoft Defender if
Nothing in the data separates Microsoft Defender from Diligent on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Questions people ask
- Is Diligent or Microsoft Defender better?
- Neither clearly leads. Diligent 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, Diligent or Microsoft Defender?
- Diligent starts at On request and Microsoft Defender at $12/month.
- Does Diligent or Microsoft Defender run on more platforms?
- Diligent runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows. Microsoft Defender runs on Web.
- What is Diligent best used for?
- Diligent is most often used for a listed company that wants board papers, entity records and the audit committee reporting pack produced from one governance system, an internal audit function moving from sampling to full-population transaction testing using the acl heritage analytics engine, a regulated firm consolidating a whistleblower hotline, third-party due diligence and policy attestation after an enforcement finding, a group needing sustainability disclosure data collected with the same audit trail and controls as financial reporting. Of those, a listed company that wants board papers, entity records and the audit committee reporting pack produced from one governance system and an internal audit function moving from sampling to full-population transaction testing using the acl heritage analytics engine are not what Microsoft Defender is typically brought in for.
- What can Diligent do that Microsoft Defender cannot?
- Diligent covers Diligent Boards, Entity management, Audit and analytics, Risk management.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Diligent: Is Diligent One the same product as Galvanize?
It contains it. Diligent bought Galvanize, the ACL and Rsam merger, for around one billion dollars in April 2021, and its audit analytics and risk modules are that heritage rebranded into Diligent 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.
SourceDiligent: What does Diligent cost?
Not published. It is quoted by module and user, and board portal seats are priced differently from GRC seats. Expect an annual or multi-year enterprise agreement.
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.
SourceDiligent: Can you buy just the board portal?
Yes, Diligent Boards is sold on its own and is the most common entry point. The GRC modules are separate purchases.
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.
SourceDiligent: Does it replace a SOC 2 automation tool?
No. Diligent is aimed at enterprise audit, risk and governance, not at automated evidence collection for security certifications.
Related pages
More on Microsoft Defender
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