Cisco Secure Endpoint
7.4/10
MSP Compared score
- Starting price
- Custom quote
- Reviews
- 4.4/5 (~150 G2 reviews)
- Free trial
- Free trial
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Best for
- Cisco-centric enterprises wanting integrated EDR
Best Endpoint Security & EDR Software · 2026
Cisco Secure Endpoint vs 
Microsoft Defender for Business Cisco Secure Endpoint vs Microsoft Defender for Business: on our data-weighted scoring, Microsoft Defender for Business edges ahead (7.8 vs 7.4/10). Cisco Secure Endpoint starts at Custom quote and is best for cisco-centric enterprises wanting integrated EDR; Microsoft Defender for Business starts at $3/user/mo and is best for SMBs already on Microsoft 365 wanting bundled EDR. Choose Microsoft Defender for Business for the stronger overall track record; consider Cisco Secure Endpoint if its pricing model or fit matches your environment better. Side-by-side table below.
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Microsoft Defender for Business
7.8/10
MSP Compared score
- Starting price
- $3/user/mo
- Reviews
- 4.4/5 (~300 G2 reviews)
- Free trial
- Free trial
- Deployment
- Cloud
- Best for
- SMBs already on Microsoft 365 wanting bundled EDR
Strengths at a glance
Six criteria, each scored 0–10 on the same scale from real review data, public pricing and feature coverage. See our methodology →
| Criterion | Cisco Secure Endpoint | Microsoft Defender for Business |
|---|---|---|
| Editorial | 7.4 | 7.8 |
| User reviews | 8.8 | 8.8 |
| Adoption | 5.8 | 6.6 |
| Affordability | 5.0 | 7.6 |
| Feature breadth | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| Ease of trial | 6.0 | 6.0 |
Cisco Secure Endpoint vs Microsoft Defender for Business: head-to-head
| Cisco Secure Endpoint | Microsoft Defender for Business | |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | Custom quote | $3/user/mo |
| Pricing model | quote | per user |
| Free trial / tier | Free trial | Free trial |
| Best for | Cisco-centric enterprises wanting integrated EDR | SMBs already on Microsoft 365 wanting bundled EDR |
| Deployment | Cloud | Cloud |
| G2 rating | 4.4/5 (150) | 4.4/5 (300) |
| Capterra rating | — | — |
| Our score | 7.4 | 7.8 |
Choose Cisco Secure Endpoint if…
You need cisco-centric enterprises wanting integrated edr.
✓ Pros
- Talos threat intelligence
- Integrates with Cisco stack
- Solid detection
✕ Cons
- Best within Cisco ecosystem
- Quote pricing
- Heavier admin
Choose Microsoft Defender for Business if…
You need smbs already on microsoft 365 wanting bundled edr.
✓ Pros
- Cheap if you have M365
- Solid detection
- Per-user (covers multiple devices)
✕ Cons
- Best within Microsoft ecosystem
- Licensing nuances
- Tuning needed
In depth
Pricing
| Aspect | Microsoft Defender for Business | Cisco Secure Endpoint |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Per-user/month | Custom quote |
| Starting Price | $3 USD/user/mo (annual) | Not publicly disclosed |
| Free Trial | Yes | Yes |
| Best Value | M365 subscribers (often bundled in Business Premium) | Cisco-heavy environments |
Microsoft wins on transparency and affordability for SMBs. At $3/user/month, it’s a straightforward cost that scales linearly. Cisco’s quote model requires sales engagement and typically favors larger deployments integrated with other Cisco security products.
Features & Deployment
Both run cloud-native, but serve different constituencies:
| Feature | Defender for Business | Cisco Secure Endpoint |
|---|---|---|
| Core EDR | ✓ | ✓ |
| Next-Gen AV | ✓ | ✓ (via Talos) |
| Threat & Vuln Mgmt | ✓ | – |
| Auto-Investigation | ✓ | – |
| Threat Hunting | – | ✓ |
| Sandboxing | – | ✓ |
| Native Ecosystem | Microsoft 365 | Cisco SecureX/XDR |
Defender for Business shines for lightweight, M365-integrated workflows—auto-remediation and vulnerability management out-of-the-box. Cisco Secure Endpoint excels in threat-hunting scenarios and environments already committed to Cisco’s broader security fabric (SecureX, ISE, Meraki). Sandboxing gives Cisco an edge for advanced malware analysis.
Ratings & Verdict
Both hold 4.4/5.0 on G2, though Defender for Business has twice the review volume (300 vs. 150), suggesting broader adoption among SMBs. Our scoring reflects the gap: Defender 7.8 vs. Cisco 7.4.
Choose Defender for Business if:
- You run M365 or Microsoft 365 Business Premium
- Budget matters and you want predictable per-user costs
- You need threat management without extensive tuning
- SMB simplicity is a priority
Choose Cisco Secure Endpoint if:
- Your org is Cisco-centric (firewalls, ISE, network visibility)
- Advanced threat hunting and sandboxing justify higher cost
- You want tighter XDR/SIEM integration via SecureX
- Enterprise scale and customization are non-negotiable
Bottom line: Defender for Business is the pragmatic SMB default—cheap, bundled, and competent. Cisco Secure Endpoint rewards existing Cisco investments but demands deeper pockets and operational sophistication.
Frequently asked questions
- Cisco Secure Endpoint vs Microsoft Defender for Business: which is better?
- Cisco Secure Endpoint vs Microsoft Defender for Business: on our data-weighted scoring, Microsoft Defender for Business edges ahead (7.8 vs 7.4/10). Cisco Secure Endpoint starts at Custom quote and is best for cisco-centric enterprises wanting integrated EDR; Microsoft Defender for Business starts at $3/user/mo and is best for SMBs already on Microsoft 365 wanting bundled EDR.
- Is Cisco Secure Endpoint cheaper than Microsoft Defender for Business?
- Cisco Secure Endpoint starts at Custom quote and Microsoft Defender for Business starts at $3/user/mo (see the pricing rows for models and limits).
Data as of September 17, 2026. Sources: cisco.com, microsoft.com. Figures are pulled from public vendor and security data and refreshed automatically.