Cybersecurity · head to head
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs Periscope Holdings
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Cybersecurity
Enterprise endpoint security built into Microsoft 365
- From
- On request
- Free plan
- No
Periscope Holdings
Government
Statewide e-procurement systems and supplier networks for large public agencies
- From
- On request
- Free plan
- No
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint pricing not published on public websites; quote required from Microsoft sales; Periscope Holdings it is scaled and priced for statewide programmes, so a single city or county typically finds both the implementation effort and the cost out of proportion to its needs.
- They diverge on capability: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint covers Threat & vulnerability management, Periscope Holdings covers Sealed bid solicitation.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and Periscope Holdings actually diverge.
| Attribute | Microsoft Defender for Endpoint | Periscope Holdings |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | Web |
| Category | Cybersecurity | Government |
| Founded | 1975 | Unknown |
Identical on both: starting price (On request), pricing model (quote), free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated).
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 Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Threat & vulnerability management
- Attack surface reduction
- Next-gen protection
- EDR
- Auto investigation
- Microsoft Threat Experts
- Threat analytics
- Secure score
Only in Periscope Holdings
- Sealed bid solicitation
- Supplier registration network
- Contract catalogues
- Cooperative purchasing
- Spend and compliance reporting
- Supplier diversity tracking
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Enterprise endpoint security across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS via Plans 1 or 2not Periscope Holdings
- Small and medium-sized businesses using Microsoft Defender for Business as alternativenot Periscope Holdings
- Organisations using Microsoft 365 E5 which includes Defender for Endpoint Plan 2not Periscope Holdings
Periscope Holdings
- A state building a central procurement portal serving many agencies and local entitiesnot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- A large agency needing statutory sealed bidding with a public opening recordnot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- A purchasing programme that must report spend and supplier diversity across entitiesnot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- A state wanting local governments to buy from its awarded cooperative contractsnot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Periscope Holdings
- It is scaled and priced for statewide programmes, so a single city or county typically finds both the implementation effort and the cost out of proportion to its needs.
- The interface reflects the age and regulatory weight of the platform, and suppliers routinely describe registration and bidding as harder than on newer portals, which can suppress bid response.
- Ownership has changed twice since 2021, from independent to mdf commerce to KKR, so roadmap and support continuity should be written into the contract rather than assumed.
- Sibling products inside mdf commerce cover adjacent procurement ground, which means an apparently competitive shortlist may contain two products with the same owner.
- Statewide implementations are multi year projects with heavy configuration and change management, and the professional services cost commonly exceeds the software over the contract term.
Pricing, plan by plan
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint review.
Periscope Holdings
On request- BuySpeed$undefined/year
- Quoted per programme, scaled to entities served and transaction volume
- Multi year statewide contracts with implementation priced separately
- Supplier side registration fees form part of the commercial model on some programmes
Which should you pick?
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.
Choose Periscope Holdings if
- You need sealed bid solicitation.
- You also want supplier registration network.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft Defender for Endpoint or Periscope Holdings better?
- Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint starts at On request and Periscope Holdings at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint or Periscope Holdings?
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint starts at On request and Periscope Holdings at On request.
- Does Microsoft Defender for Endpoint or Periscope Holdings run on more platforms?
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android. Periscope Holdings runs on Web.
- What is Microsoft Defender for Endpoint best used for?
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is most often used for enterprise endpoint security across windows, macos, linux, android, and ios via plans 1 or 2, small and medium-sized businesses using microsoft defender for business as alternative, organisations using microsoft 365 e5 which includes defender for endpoint plan 2. Of those, enterprise endpoint security across windows, macos, linux, android, and ios via plans 1 or 2 and small and medium-sized businesses using microsoft defender for business as alternative are not what Periscope Holdings is typically brought in for.
- What can Microsoft Defender for Endpoint do that Periscope Holdings cannot?
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint covers Threat & vulnerability management, Attack surface reduction, Next-gen protection, EDR. Periscope Holdings covers Sealed bid solicitation, Supplier registration network, Contract catalogues, Cooperative purchasing.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
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.
SourcePeriscope Holdings: Who owns Periscope Holdings?
mdf commerce acquired it in 2021, and mdf commerce was itself acquired by KKR in 2024.
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.
SourcePeriscope Holdings: Is it suitable for a single city?
Usually not. It is built and priced for statewide or very large agency programmes.
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.
SourcePeriscope Holdings: What is BuySpeed?
The e-procurement platform behind its statewide deployments, covering solicitation through catalogue ordering and reporting.
Periscope Holdings: Can we see what a state paid?
Yes. State procurement awards are public records and typically disclose the full multi year contract value.
Related pages
More on Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
More on Periscope Holdings
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