Softwr

Software · head to head

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs Varonis Data Security Platform

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint logo

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

Software

Enterprise endpoint security built into Microsoft 365

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Varonis Data Security Platform logo

Varonis Data Security Platform

Software

Protect sensitive data with intelligent threat detection

From
$100/year
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; Varonis Data Security Platform pricing for all named Varonis products (DSPM, DLP, MDDR, Varonis Concierge, Athena AI among others) is gated behind a demo or free risk assessment request, with no figures published
  • They diverge on capability: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint covers Threat & vulnerability management, Varonis Data Security Platform covers Data classification.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and Varonis Data Security Platform actually diverge.

Attributes where Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and Varonis Data Security Platform differ
AttributeMicrosoft Defender for EndpointVaronis Data Security Platform
Starting priceOn request$100/year
Pricing modelquotesubscription
PlatformsWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, AndroidWeb, Desktop
Founded19752005

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 Varonis Data Security Platform

  • Data classification
  • Access governance
  • User behavior analytics
  • Threat detection
  • Ransomware protection
  • Automated remediation
  • Compliance reporting
  • Data discovery

Both cover

  • Microsoft 365
  • ISO 27001
  • HIPAA
  • 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 Varonis Data Security Platform
  • Small and medium-sized businesses using Microsoft Defender for Business as alternativenot Varonis Data Security Platform
  • Organisations using Microsoft 365 E5 which includes Defender for Endpoint Plan 2not Varonis Data Security Platform

Varonis Data Security Platform

  • Data Securitynot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
  • Insider Threatnot Microsoft Defender for Endpoint
  • Data Governancenot 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

Varonis Data Security Platform

  • Pricing for all named Varonis products (DSPM, DLP, MDDR, Varonis Concierge, Athena AI among others) is gated behind a demo or free risk assessment request, with no figures published

Pricing, plan by plan

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

On request

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

Varonis Data Security Platform

$100/year
  • Varonis Essentials$100/year
    • Data classification
    • Access visibility
    • Permission management
  • Varonis Professional$175/year
    • All Essentials features
    • Threat detection
    • User behavior analytics
  • Varonis Enterprise$300/year
    • All Professional features
    • Advanced analytics
    • Incident response

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 Varonis Data Security Platform if

  • You need data classification.
  • You work on Web, Desktop.
  • You also want access governance.
Varonis Data Security Platform review

Questions people ask

Is Microsoft Defender for Endpoint or Varonis Data Security Platform better?
Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint starts at On request and Varonis Data Security Platform at $100/year, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint or Varonis Data Security Platform?
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint starts at On request and Varonis Data Security Platform at $100/year.
Does Microsoft Defender for Endpoint or Varonis Data Security Platform run on more platforms?
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android. Varonis Data Security Platform runs on Web, Desktop.
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 Varonis Data Security Platform is typically brought in for.
What can Microsoft Defender for Endpoint do that Varonis Data Security Platform cannot?
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint covers Threat & vulnerability management, Attack surface reduction, Next-gen protection, EDR. Varonis Data Security Platform covers Data classification, Access governance, User behavior analytics, Threat detection. Both handle Microsoft 365, ISO 27001, HIPAA, GDPR.
ShareXLinkedInRedditWhatsAppEmail

Related pages

More on Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

More on Varonis Data Security Platform

Keep looking

Other head to heads