Cybersecurity · head to head
DTiQ vs Microsoft Defender
DTiQ
Cybersecurity
Managed video loss prevention with human auditors for restaurants, convenience stores and retail
- 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: DTiQ you are buying labour, so the cost per site is far higher than a self-service video licence and it does not fall as camera prices do.; Microsoft Defender defender Suite requires existing Microsoft 365 E3 or equivalent base licensing
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which DTiQ and Microsoft Defender actually diverge.
| Attribute | DTiQ | Microsoft Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | $12/month |
| Pricing model | quote | subscription |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android | 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 DTiQ
- SmartAudit
- POS transaction linking
- 360iQ platform
- Exception alerting
- Drive-through timing
- Food safety and compliance checks
- Managed installation
Only in Microsoft Defender
Nothing recorded that DTiQ does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
DTiQ
- A multi-unit quick service franchisee who has no one available to review video across fifteen storesnot Microsoft Defender
- A convenience store chain investigating till fraud by matching voids to what actually happened at the counternot Microsoft Defender
- An operator enforcing drive-through service time standards across locations from evidence rather than anecdotenot Microsoft Defender
- A brand auditing food safety and cleanliness compliance at franchise sites without sending a field managernot Microsoft Defender
Microsoft Defender
- Endpoint security and threat protectionnot DTiQ
- Identity and access securitynot DTiQ
- Email threat protectionnot DTiQ
- SaaS application security monitoringnot DTiQ
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
DTiQ
- You are buying labour, so the cost per site is far higher than a self-service video licence and it does not fall as camera prices do.
- Audits are sampled, not continuous, so a problem outside the reviewed window is invisible and the score is a statistical impression rather than a complete record.
- Nothing is published on price and the commercial shape is a multi-year managed service agreement, which is harder to exit than a software subscription and typically involves bundled hardware you do not own.
- Ownership changed in a $200 million Digital Alpha led investment tied to a Cisco Meraki partnership, so the hardware and network roadmap may shift under an existing estate.
- It is built around restaurant, convenience and retail operating models, so an organisation outside those verticals gets a generic video product and pays for an audit methodology that does not fit its work.
Microsoft Defender
- Defender Suite requires existing Microsoft 365 E3 or equivalent base licensing
- Some Defender products use pay-as-you-go pricing with variable costs
- Prices vary based on Microsoft agreements, requiring sales contact for custom quotes
Pricing, plan by plan
DTiQ
On request- DTiQ managed service$undefined/month
- Priced per location as a managed service, not per camera
- Audit frequency and scope determine the rate
- Hardware and installation bundled into the service agreement
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 DTiQ if
- You need smartaudit.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want pos transaction linking.
Choose Microsoft Defender if
Nothing in the data separates Microsoft Defender from DTiQ on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Questions people ask
- Is DTiQ or Microsoft Defender better?
- Neither clearly leads. DTiQ 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, DTiQ or Microsoft Defender?
- DTiQ starts at On request and Microsoft Defender at $12/month.
- Does DTiQ or Microsoft Defender run on more platforms?
- DTiQ runs on Web, iOS, Android. Microsoft Defender runs on Web.
- What is DTiQ best used for?
- DTiQ is most often used for a multi-unit quick service franchisee who has no one available to review video across fifteen stores, a convenience store chain investigating till fraud by matching voids to what actually happened at the counter, an operator enforcing drive-through service time standards across locations from evidence rather than anecdote, a brand auditing food safety and cleanliness compliance at franchise sites without sending a field manager. Of those, a multi-unit quick service franchisee who has no one available to review video across fifteen stores and a convenience store chain investigating till fraud by matching voids to what actually happened at the counter are not what Microsoft Defender is typically brought in for.
- What can DTiQ do that Microsoft Defender cannot?
- DTiQ covers SmartAudit, POS transaction linking, 360iQ platform, Exception alerting.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
DTiQ: Is DTiQ a video management system?
Not primarily. It is a managed service where human auditors review your footage and deliver scored reports. The platform exists to support that service.
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.
SourceDTiQ: How is it priced?
Per location as a managed service, based on audit scope and frequency, with hardware and installation bundled. Nothing is published.
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.
SourceDTiQ: Who owns DTiQ?
Digital Alpha holds a majority stake following a $200 million investment that bought out Bain Capital, BV Investment Partners and others, alongside a Cisco Meraki partnership.
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.
SourceDTiQ: Does it integrate with my POS?
Yes, with major restaurant and convenience store point of sale systems, which is what allows transaction exceptions to be replayed on video.
Related pages
More on Microsoft Defender
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