Cybersecurity · head to head
Microsoft Defender vs Saviynt
Microsoft Defender
Cybersecurity
Always-on protection for you and your family's data and devices
- From
- $12/month
- Rated
- -
Saviynt
Cybersecurity
Cloud identity governance with privileged access in the same platform
- From
- On request
- Rated
- -
The short version
- Each has a real cost: Microsoft Defender defender Suite requires existing Microsoft 365 E3 or equivalent base licensing; Saviynt implementation typically runs a year or more with a partner, and the cost of that work regularly exceeds the first year subscription, which is rarely in the initial business case.
- Prices and features above were last checked on 1 September 2026.
Where they differ
Only the attributes on which Microsoft Defender and Saviynt actually diverge.
| Attribute | Microsoft Defender | Saviynt |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $12/month | On request |
| Pricing model | subscription | quote |
Identical on both: free tier (No), platforms (Web), 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 Microsoft Defender
Nothing recorded that Saviynt does not also cover.
Only in Saviynt
- Identity governance
- Access certification
- Segregation of duties
- Privileged access
- Cloud entitlements
- Third party access
- Access request
What people use each for
The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.
Microsoft Defender
- Endpoint security and threat protectionnot Saviynt
- Identity and access securitynot Saviynt
- Email threat protectionnot Saviynt
- SaaS application security monitoringnot Saviynt
Saviynt
- An enterprise with an audit finding that privileged administrative accounts are excluded from access reviewsnot Microsoft Defender
- A healthcare system governing clinician access to Epic alongside corporate applications in one certification campaignnot Microsoft Defender
- A company that has to prove segregation of duties in SAP to an external auditor every yearnot Microsoft Defender
- A federal contractor needing an identity governance service with FedRAMP authorisationnot Microsoft Defender
Where each one falls short
Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.
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
Saviynt
- Implementation typically runs a year or more with a partner, and the cost of that work regularly exceeds the first year subscription, which is rarely in the initial business case.
- Governance quality is limited by HR and application data quality, so organisations with inconsistent joiner records spend the early phases correcting source data rather than certifying access.
- Pricing is per governed identity, so counting contractors, service accounts and non-employee identities materially changes the bill and the definition is worth negotiating explicitly.
- The privileged access module is younger than the governance core and is not a full substitute for a dedicated PAM product in estates with heavy session recording or credential rotation requirements.
- Connectors to less common applications require custom development, and each one adds a maintenance burden that reappears every time the target application changes its API.
Pricing, plan by plan
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$2/month
- Vulnerability scanning and management
- One-month free trial available
- Annual commitment required
Saviynt
On request- Saviynt Identity Cloud$undefined/year
- Priced per governed identity per year
- Modules for governance, privileged access and cloud entitlements
- SaaS delivery with FedRAMP authorised offering available
Which should you pick?
Choose Microsoft Defender if
Nothing in the data separates Microsoft Defender from Saviynt on the points above - pick on price and on how each one feels to use.
Questions people ask
- Is Microsoft Defender or Saviynt better?
- Neither clearly leads. Microsoft Defender starts at $12/month and Saviynt at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
- Which is cheaper, Microsoft Defender or Saviynt?
- Microsoft Defender starts at $12/month and Saviynt at On request.
- Does Microsoft Defender or Saviynt run on more platforms?
- Both run on Web, so platform support will not decide this one for you.
- What is Microsoft Defender best used for?
- Microsoft Defender is most often used for endpoint security and threat protection, identity and access security, email threat protection, saas application security monitoring. Of those, endpoint security and threat protection and identity and access security are not what Saviynt is typically brought in for.
- What can Microsoft Defender do that Saviynt cannot?
- Saviynt covers Identity governance, Access certification, Segregation of duties, Privileged access.
Answered from the vendors’ own pages
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.
SourceSaviynt: Does Saviynt replace a PAM vendor?
It can for time-bound privileged access, but organisations with heavy session recording, credential rotation or legacy server access requirements often keep a dedicated PAM product alongside it.
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.
SourceSaviynt: Is there a FedRAMP authorised version?
Yes, Saviynt offers a FedRAMP authorised government cloud offering, which matters where that is an eligibility requirement rather than a preference.
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.
SourceSaviynt: How is it priced?
Per governed identity per year, quoted. Define carefully whether service accounts and contractors count toward the identity total.
Related pages
More on Microsoft Defender
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