Cybersecurity · head to head
Diligent vs Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Diligent
Cybersecurity
Board management and enterprise GRC platform assembled from Galvanize, Steele and Diligent Boards
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Cybersecurity
Enterprise endpoint security built into Microsoft 365
- From
- On request
- 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 for Endpoint pricing not published on public websites; quote required from Microsoft sales
- They diverge on capability: Diligent covers Diligent Boards, 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 Diligent and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint actually diverge.
| Attribute | Diligent | Microsoft Defender for Endpoint |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, Windows | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Founded | Unknown | 1975 |
Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (quote), 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 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.
Diligent
- A listed company that wants board papers, entity records and the audit committee reporting pack produced from one governance systemnot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- An internal audit function moving from sampling to full-population transaction testing using the ACL heritage analytics enginenot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- A regulated firm consolidating a whistleblower hotline, third-party due diligence and policy attestation after an enforcement findingnot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- A group needing sustainability disclosure data collected with the same audit trail and controls as financial reportingnot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Enterprise endpoint security across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS via Plans 1 or 2not Diligent
- Small and medium-sized businesses using Microsoft Defender for Business as alternativenot Diligent
- Organisations using Microsoft 365 E5 which includes Defender for Endpoint Plan 2not 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 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
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 for Endpoint
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint review.
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 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 Diligent or Microsoft Defender for Endpoint better?
- Neither clearly leads. Diligent 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, Diligent or Microsoft Defender for Endpoint?
- Diligent starts at On request and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint at On request.
- Does Diligent or Microsoft Defender for Endpoint run on more platforms?
- Diligent runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android.
- 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 for Endpoint is typically brought in for.
- What can Diligent do that Microsoft Defender for Endpoint cannot?
- Diligent covers Diligent Boards, Entity management, Audit and analytics, Risk management. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint covers Threat & vulnerability management, Attack surface reduction, Next-gen protection, EDR.
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 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.
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 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.
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 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.
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 for Endpoint
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