Cybersecurity · head to head
Drata vs Microsoft Defender
Drata
Cybersecurity
Agentic trust management with compliance automation.
- 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: Drata no published pricing for any tier; requires contacting sales team for quotes; Microsoft Defender defender Suite requires existing Microsoft 365 E3 or equivalent base licensing
- Prices and features above were last checked on 29 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Drata and Microsoft Defender actually diverge.
| Attribute | Drata | Microsoft Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | $12/month |
| Platforms | Web, API | Web |
Identical on both: pricing model (subscription), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Cybersecurity).
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Drata
- SaaS companies automating SOC 2 certification for enterprise salesnot Microsoft Defender
- Organisations managing multi-framework compliance simultaneouslynot Microsoft Defender
- Vendor management programmes requiring third-party security assessmentsnot Microsoft Defender
- Enterprises implementing AI governance and monitoring AI systemsnot Microsoft Defender
- Organisations seeking continuous compliance monitoring rather than point-in-time auditsnot Microsoft Defender
Microsoft Defender
- Endpoint security and threat protectionnot Drata
- Identity and access securitynot Drata
- Email threat protectionnot Drata
- SaaS application security monitoringnot Drata
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Drata
- No published pricing for any tier; requires contacting sales team for quotes
- Solution tiers (Startup, Growth, Enterprise) are marketing categories with no corresponding published prices or feature differentiation
- No transparency on cost per framework, per user, or based on organisational size
- AI questionnaire automation claims 375+ hours saved annually but does not publish per-questionnaire costs or limits
- Compared directly with Vanta by customers, but pricing opaque for cost-benefit analysis
Microsoft Defender
- Defender Suite requires existing Microsoft 365 E3 or equivalent base licensing
- Some Defender products use pay-as-you-go pricing with variable costs
- Prices vary based on Microsoft agreements, requiring sales contact for custom quotes
Pricing, plan by plan
Drata
On request- Startup$undefined/variable
- 'Launch Trust Fast' with automated evidence collection
- SOC 2 and other framework support
- Basic compliance automation
- Growth$undefined/variable
- 'Accelerate Trust Smoothly' as teams expand
- Multi-framework compliance
- Enhanced AI automation
- Enterprise$undefined/variable
- 'Command Trust at Scale' for complex needs
- Advanced GRC capabilities
- Dedicated support
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 Microsoft Defender if
Nothing in the data separates Microsoft Defender from Drata on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Questions people ask
- Is Drata or Microsoft Defender better?
- Neither clearly leads. Drata 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, Drata or Microsoft Defender?
- Drata starts at On request and Microsoft Defender at $12/month.
- Does Drata or Microsoft Defender run on more platforms?
- Drata runs on Web, API. Microsoft Defender runs on Web.
- What is Drata best used for?
- Drata is most often used for saas companies automating soc 2 certification for enterprise sales, organisations managing multi-framework compliance simultaneously, vendor management programmes requiring third-party security assessments, enterprises implementing ai governance and monitoring ai systems. Of those, saas companies automating soc 2 certification for enterprise sales and organisations managing multi-framework compliance simultaneously are not what Microsoft Defender is typically brought in for.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Drata: What compliance frameworks does Drata support?
Drata supports multiple frameworks including SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, HIPAA, PCI DSS and others, with multi-framework management capabilities.
SourceMicrosoft 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.
SourceDrata: Does Drata automate questionnaires?
Yes. Drata's AI uses approved content to draft consistent responses, automating questionnaire completion and saving claimed 375+ hours per year.
SourceMicrosoft 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.
SourceDrata: How many customers does Drata have?
Drata serves 8,500+ global customers ranging from startups to enterprises, with a 4.8/5.0 rating on G2.
SourceMicrosoft 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 Microsoft Defender
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