Security & Cybersecurity · head to head
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs Tenable Nessus
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
Security & Cybersecurity
Enterprise endpoint security built into Microsoft 365
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Only Tenable Nessus has a free tier, so it costs nothing to try first.
- Each has a real cost: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint pricing not published on public websites; quote required from Microsoft sales; Tenable Nessus nessus Professional is $4,790 for one year, sold as an annual licence rather than a per scan or usage based fee
- They diverge on capability: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint covers Threat & vulnerability management, Tenable Nessus covers Network scanning.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and Tenable Nessus actually diverge.
| Attribute | Microsoft Defender for Endpoint | Tenable Nessus |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | On request | Free |
| Pricing model | quote | subscription |
| Free tier | No | Yes |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | Windows, Linux, Macos, Cloud |
| Founded | 1975 | 2002 |
Identical on both: user rating (Not yet rated), category (Security & 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 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 Tenable Nessus
- Network scanning
- Vulnerability detection
- Configuration assessment
- Malware detection
- Compliance checking
- Cloud security assessment
- Mobile scanning
- API access
Both cover
- ServiceNow
- ISO 27001
- GDPR
- Cloud deployment
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 Tenable Nessus
- Small and medium-sized businesses using Microsoft Defender for Business as alternativenot Tenable Nessus
- Organisations using Microsoft 365 E5 which includes Defender for Endpoint Plan 2not Tenable Nessus
Tenable Nessus
- Vulnerability scanning of servers, network devices and web applicationsnot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Configuration and compliance auditing against hardening benchmarksnot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
- Point in time assessments by consultants and penetration testersnot 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
Tenable Nessus
- Nessus Professional is $4,790 for one year, sold as an annual licence rather than a per scan or usage based fee
- Support beyond the base entitlement costs an extra $400 per year for Advanced Support with 24x365 phone and chat access
- The on demand training course is a separate $275 purchase for a single person for one year
- Multi year discounts require paying for two or three years up front
Pricing, plan by plan
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
On requestNo published plan breakdown. See the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint review.
Tenable Nessus
Free- Nessus EssentialsFree
- Up to 16 ips
- Network scanning
- Vulnerability assessment
- Nessus Professional$2600/year
- Unlimited targets
- Enterprise features
- Advanced analytics
- Nessus Expert$5200/year
- All Professional features
- Cloud integration
- Advanced reporting
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 Tenable Nessus if
- You need network scanning.
- You want to start without paying.
- You work on Windows, Linux, Macos, Cloud.
- You also want vulnerability detection.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft Defender for Endpoint or Tenable Nessus better?
- Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint starts at On request and Tenable Nessus at Free, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint or Tenable Nessus?
- Tenable Nessus has a free tier; the other does not. Paid plans start at On request for Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and Free for Tenable Nessus.
- Does Microsoft Defender for Endpoint or Tenable Nessus run on more platforms?
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android. Tenable Nessus runs on Windows, Linux, Macos, Cloud.
- Can I use Tenable Nessus for free?
- Yes. Tenable Nessus has a free tier, so you can try it without paying. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint starts at On request.
- 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 Tenable Nessus is typically brought in for.
- What can Microsoft Defender for Endpoint do that Tenable Nessus cannot?
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint covers Threat & vulnerability management, Attack surface reduction, Next-gen protection, EDR. Tenable Nessus covers Network scanning, Vulnerability detection, Configuration assessment, Malware detection. Both handle ServiceNow, ISO 27001, GDPR, Cloud deployment.
Related pages
More on Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
More on Tenable Nessus
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