Cybersecurity · head to head
Entrust Identity as a Service vs Microsoft Defender
Entrust Identity as a Service
Cybersecurity
Workforce and customer authentication from a certificate authority
- From
- $2/month
- 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: Entrust Identity as a Service the application integration catalogue is smaller than that of the dedicated identity vendors, so uncommon SaaS applications more often need custom SAML configuration rather than a template.; 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 Entrust Identity as a Service and Microsoft Defender actually diverge.
| Attribute | Entrust Identity as a Service | Microsoft Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $2/month | $12/month |
| Pricing model | Per user per month | subscription |
| Platforms | Web, iOS, Android, Windows, Linux | 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 Entrust Identity as a Service
- Multi-factor authentication
- Single sign-on
- Adaptive authentication
- Passwordless login
- Credential lifecycle
- Derived PIV credentials
- Directory integration
Only in Microsoft Defender
Nothing recorded that Entrust Identity as a Service does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Entrust Identity as a Service
- A government agency needing derived mobile credentials from an existing PIV smart card estatenot Microsoft Defender
- A bank that must support hardware tokens for corporate treasury users alongside push authentication for staffnot Microsoft Defender
- An organisation already buying Entrust certificates that wants credential issuance and authentication from one vendornot Microsoft Defender
- A defence supplier required to use certificate-based authentication that mainstream cloud identity products handle poorlynot Microsoft Defender
Microsoft Defender
- Endpoint security and threat protectionnot Entrust Identity as a Service
- Identity and access securitynot Entrust Identity as a Service
- Email threat protectionnot Entrust Identity as a Service
- SaaS application security monitoringnot Entrust Identity as a Service
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
Entrust Identity as a Service
- The application integration catalogue is smaller than that of the dedicated identity vendors, so uncommon SaaS applications more often need custom SAML configuration rather than a template.
- Developer experience for customer identity use cases is behind the specialists, and teams building consumer signup flows will find the APIs and documentation less complete.
- Advanced capabilities including adaptive authentication and credential management sit above the published entry price, so the two dollar figure rarely reflects what a regulated buyer actually spends.
- There are two overlapping products, Identity as a Service and Identity Enterprise, and choosing wrongly at the start means a migration later rather than a licence change.
- Identity governance, access certification and privileged access are not covered, so an organisation with audit-driven access review requirements needs a second vendor alongside it.
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
Entrust Identity as a Service
$2/month- Workforce Standard$2/month
- Multi-factor authentication
- Single sign-on
- Directory integration
- Higher tiers$undefined/month
- Adaptive risk-based authentication
- Certificate and smart card credential management
- Derived PIV credentials
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 Entrust Identity as a Service if
- You need multi-factor authentication.
- You work on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, Linux.
- You also want single sign-on.
Choose Microsoft Defender if
Nothing in the data separates Microsoft Defender from Entrust Identity as a Service on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Questions people ask
- Is Entrust Identity as a Service or Microsoft Defender better?
- Neither clearly leads. Entrust Identity as a Service starts at $2/month and Microsoft Defender at $12/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Entrust Identity as a Service or Microsoft Defender?
- Entrust Identity as a Service starts at $2/month and Microsoft Defender at $12/month.
- Does Entrust Identity as a Service or Microsoft Defender run on more platforms?
- Entrust Identity as a Service runs on Web, iOS, Android, Windows, Linux. Microsoft Defender runs on Web.
- What is Entrust Identity as a Service best used for?
- Entrust Identity as a Service is most often used for a government agency needing derived mobile credentials from an existing piv smart card estate, a bank that must support hardware tokens for corporate treasury users alongside push authentication for staff, an organisation already buying entrust certificates that wants credential issuance and authentication from one vendor, a defence supplier required to use certificate-based authentication that mainstream cloud identity products handle poorly. Of those, a government agency needing derived mobile credentials from an existing piv smart card estate and a bank that must support hardware tokens for corporate treasury users alongside push authentication for staff are not what Microsoft Defender is typically brought in for.
- What can Entrust Identity as a Service do that Microsoft Defender cannot?
- Entrust Identity as a Service covers Multi-factor authentication, Single sign-on, Adaptive authentication, Passwordless login.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
Entrust Identity as a Service: Is MFA included or extra?
Multi-factor authentication is included in the workforce bundles rather than sold separately, which is not true of every competitor. Adaptive risk-based authentication sits in higher tiers.
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.
SourceEntrust Identity as a Service: Does it do identity governance?
No. Access certification, role mining and joiner-mover-leaver governance require a separate product such as SailPoint or Saviynt.
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.
SourceEntrust Identity as a Service: Why choose this over Okta or Entra ID?
Almost always because of PKI, smart cards or derived credentials. Without that requirement the mainstream platforms are the stronger general purpose choice.
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.
SourceRelated pages
More on Entrust Identity as a Service
More on Microsoft Defender
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