Best Endpoint Security & EDR Software · 2026

Cisco Secure Endpoint logoCisco Secure Endpoint vs Microsoft Defender for Business logoMicrosoft 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.

Cisco Secure Endpoint

7.9/10
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
Visit Cisco Secure Endpoint →
Our pick

Microsoft Defender for Business

8.2/10
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
Visit Microsoft Defender for Business →

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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 →

EditorialUser reviewsAdoptionAffordabilityFeature breadthEase of trial
Cisco Secure EndpointMicrosoft Defender for Business
CriterionCisco Secure EndpointMicrosoft Defender for Business
Editorial 7.4 7.8
User reviews 8.8 8.8
Adoption 5.8 6.6
Affordability 5.0 7.8
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 vs Microsoft Defender for Business — specs and pricing
Cisco Secure EndpointMicrosoft 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

Cisco Secure Endpoint pricing · review

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

Microsoft Defender for Business pricing · review

In depth

Pricing: Microsoft Defender for Business vs Cisco Secure Endpoint

Microsoft Defender for Business bills on a per user model from $3/user/mo (yes trial), while Cisco Secure Endpoint uses a quote model from Custom quote (yes trial). Because the models differ, the cheaper option flips depending on your fleet size — model both at your seat/endpoint count.

Features & deployment

Microsoft Defender for Business ships 5 headline capabilities (EDR for SMB, Next-gen AV, Threat & vulnerability mgmt, Auto-investigation) and deploys Cloud. Cisco Secure Endpoint ships 4 (EDR with Talos intel, SecureX/XDR integration, Threat hunting, Sandboxing), deploying Cloud.

Ratings & verdict

Microsoft Defender for Business holds 4.4/5 (~300 G2 reviews); Cisco Secure Endpoint holds 4.4/5 (~150 G2 reviews). On our data-weighted score, Microsoft Defender for Business edges ahead (7.8 vs 7.4/10). Pick Cisco Secure Endpoint instead when cisco-centric enterprises wanting integrated edr. See Microsoft Defender for Business alternatives or Cisco Secure Endpoint alternatives.

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 June 16, 2026. Sources: cisco.com, microsoft.com. Figures are pulled from public vendor and security data and refreshed automatically.