Cybersecurity · head to head
March Networks vs Microsoft Defender
March Networks
Cybersecurity
Banking and retail video with transaction overlay, sold by a Canadian firm that changed from Chinese to Taiwanese ownership
- 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: March Networks the ownership history is a live compliance question: Chinese-owned via Infinova from 2011, with a PRC government entity as controlling shareholder by January 2020, before the December 2021 sale to Delta Electronics of Taiwan, and any US federal or contractor buyer should expect to document that chain during a procurement review.; 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 March Networks and Microsoft Defender actually diverge.
| Attribute | March Networks | Microsoft Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | $12/month |
| Pricing model | quote | subscription |
| Platforms | Windows, 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 March Networks
- Command Enterprise
- Searchlight
- Hybrid recording
- X-Series hybrid NVRs
- Health monitoring
- ATM and teller integration
- Retail loss prevention analytics
- Evidence export
Only in Microsoft Defender
Nothing recorded that March Networks does not also cover.
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
March Networks
- A bank investigating a disputed ATM withdrawal who needs the clip for that transaction, not two hours of timelinenot Microsoft Defender
- A credit union refreshing 200 branches in phases where analogue and IP cameras must coexist on one recordernot Microsoft Defender
- A restaurant chain overlaying till exceptions on video across hundreds of locationsnot Microsoft Defender
- A transit operator needing video retrieval from vehicles and stations without shipping terabytes over the networknot Microsoft Defender
Microsoft Defender
- Endpoint security and threat protectionnot March Networks
- Identity and access securitynot March Networks
- Email threat protectionnot March Networks
- SaaS application security monitoringnot March Networks
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
March Networks
- The ownership history is a live compliance question: Chinese-owned via Infinova from 2011, with a PRC government entity as controlling shareholder by January 2020, before the December 2021 sale to Delta Electronics of Taiwan, and any US federal or contractor buyer should expect to document that chain during a procurement review.
- NDAA compliance is stated at the product level and rests on American system-on-chip processors in the majority of cameras and in specific recorder lines, which means it must be confirmed per model rather than assumed across the catalogue.
- The platform is engineered around banking and retail workflows, so buyers outside those verticals pay for transaction integration they will never use and get a less developed general security experience than from a Genetec or Milestone.
- No pricing is published and everything is quoted through integrators, so a multi-hundred-site estate cannot be budgeted without a design exercise and there is no benchmark against which to test a quote.
- Hybrid recording means a recorder in every branch, which is hardware to install, monitor, service and eventually replace at every location, and that refresh cycle is a recurring capital event that cloud rivals avoid entirely.
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
March Networks
On request- Command Enterprise and Searchlight$undefined/year
- Per-recorder and per-channel licensing quoted through integrators
- Searchlight business intelligence licensed separately
- X-Series hybrid recorders purchased per site
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 March Networks if
- You need command enterprise.
- You work on Windows, Web, iOS, Android.
- You also want searchlight.
Choose Microsoft Defender if
Nothing in the data separates Microsoft Defender from March Networks on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Questions people ask
- Is March Networks or Microsoft Defender better?
- Neither clearly leads. March Networks 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, March Networks or Microsoft Defender?
- March Networks starts at On request and Microsoft Defender at $12/month.
- Does March Networks or Microsoft Defender run on more platforms?
- March Networks runs on Windows, Web, iOS, Android. Microsoft Defender runs on Web.
- What is March Networks best used for?
- March Networks is most often used for a bank investigating a disputed atm withdrawal who needs the clip for that transaction, not two hours of timeline, a credit union refreshing 200 branches in phases where analogue and ip cameras must coexist on one recorder, a restaurant chain overlaying till exceptions on video across hundreds of locations, a transit operator needing video retrieval from vehicles and stations without shipping terabytes over the network. Of those, a bank investigating a disputed atm withdrawal who needs the clip for that transaction, not two hours of timeline and a credit union refreshing 200 branches in phases where analogue and ip cameras must coexist on one recorder are not what Microsoft Defender is typically brought in for.
- What can March Networks do that Microsoft Defender cannot?
- March Networks covers Command Enterprise, Searchlight, Hybrid recording, X-Series hybrid NVRs.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
March Networks: Who owns March Networks?
Delta Electronics of Taiwan, which acquired it in December 2021 for 114 million US dollars. Before that it was owned by Chinese manufacturer Infinova, which by January 2020 had a PRC government entity as controlling shareholder.
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.
SourceMarch Networks: Is March Networks NDAA compliant?
The company states it is, citing American system-on-chip processors in the majority of its cameras and in its Command Recording Server bundles and X-Series hybrid NVRs. Verify per model, and expect the ownership history to be raised in a federal procurement review.
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.
SourceMarch Networks: What is Searchlight?
The layer that overlays ATM, teller and point of sale transaction data on video so investigators search by transaction rather than by time.
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.
SourceMarch Networks: Is video stored in the cloud?
No, it is hybrid. Video is recorded on a recorder at each site and only required clips move centrally, which is why it suits large branch estates on modest connections.
Related pages
More on March Networks
More on Microsoft Defender
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