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Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs Qualys VMDR

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint logo

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

Software

Enterprise endpoint security built into Microsoft 365

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Qualys VMDR logo

Qualys VMDR

Software

Vulnerability management, detection, and response

From
$3/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint pricing not published on public websites; quote required from Microsoft sales; Qualys VMDR listed on UK G-Cloud at £18.75 to £61.58 per device per year for the Qualys Cloud Platform and VMDR, via reseller Barrier Networks Limited
  • They diverge on capability: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint covers Threat & vulnerability management, Qualys VMDR covers Vulnerability scanning.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and Qualys VMDR actually diverge.

Attributes where Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and Qualys VMDR differ
AttributeMicrosoft Defender for EndpointQualys VMDR
Starting priceOn request$3/month
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, AndroidWeb, Cloud, Api
Founded19751999

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated), category (Unknown).

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 Qualys VMDR

  • Vulnerability scanning
  • Threat detection
  • Asset discovery
  • Compliance checking
  • Remediation tracking
  • Cloud asset visibility
  • API access
  • Custom policies

Both cover

  • ServiceNow
  • ISO 27001
  • FedRAMP
  • GDPR

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 Qualys VMDR
  • Small and medium-sized businesses using Microsoft Defender for Business as alternativenot Qualys VMDR
  • Organisations using Microsoft 365 E5 which includes Defender for Endpoint Plan 2not Qualys VMDR

Qualys VMDR

  • Vulnerability Managementnot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
  • Asset Managementnot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
  • Compliancenot 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

Qualys VMDR

  • Listed on UK G-Cloud at £18.75 to £61.58 per device per year for the Qualys Cloud Platform and VMDR, via reseller Barrier Networks Limited

Pricing, plan by plan

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

On request

No published plan breakdown. See the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint review.

Qualys VMDR

$3/month
  • VMDR$3/month
    • Per asset
    • Vulnerability scanning
    • Detection
  • VMDR+$5/month
    • All VMDR features
    • Advanced analytics
    • Cloud integration
  • VMDR Complete$7/month
    • All VMDR+ features
    • Threat intel
    • Response automation

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.
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint review

Choose Qualys VMDR if

  • You need vulnerability scanning.
  • You work on Web, Cloud, Api.
  • You also want threat detection.
Qualys VMDR review

Questions people ask

Is Microsoft Defender for Endpoint or Qualys VMDR better?
Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint starts at On request and Qualys VMDR at $3/month, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint or Qualys VMDR?
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint starts at On request and Qualys VMDR at $3/month.
Does Microsoft Defender for Endpoint or Qualys VMDR run on more platforms?
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android. Qualys VMDR runs on Web, Cloud, Api.
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 Qualys VMDR is typically brought in for.
What can Microsoft Defender for Endpoint do that Qualys VMDR cannot?
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint covers Threat & vulnerability management, Attack surface reduction, Next-gen protection, EDR. Qualys VMDR covers Vulnerability scanning, Threat detection, Asset discovery, Compliance checking. Both handle ServiceNow, ISO 27001, FedRAMP, GDPR.
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