I have been working with the Defender suite since 2020 and Microsoft have put a lot of effort to make it one of the best XDR solutions out there with continuous improvements. I have not used other XDR solutions so I cannot compare it against other products. My only advise would be avoiding all these YouTube videos where they run multiple ransomware files against Defender, as neither the devices used in the test nor Defender have been hardened properly. Answer from ernie-s on reddit.com
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TrustRadius
trustradius.com › compare-products › microsoft-defender-for-endpoint-vs-microsoft-defender-xdr
Compare Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs Microsoft Defender XDR on TrustRadius | Based on reviews & more
Compare Microsoft Defender for Endpoint vs Microsoft Defender XDR. 444 verified user reviews and ratings of features, pros, cons, pricing, support and more.
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Microsoft
microsoft.com › en-us › security › business › security-101 › edr-vs-xdr
EDR vs. XDR: What Is the Difference? | Microsoft Security
With EDR, security teams can monitor endpoints in real time, analyze data, and develop a detailed understanding of each individual device. Depending on the risk profile, security needs, and existing digital infrastructure of your business, XDR systems, like Microsoft Defender XDR, may be a better fit.
People also ask

What is the difference between XDR and EDR?
The main difference lies in the scope of protection. While EDR focuses exclusively on endpoints, XDR expands its scope to include identities, emails, cloud infrastructure, and network traffic. Additionally, XDR allows for analysis and correlation of signals from various sources to provide a complete and unified view of attacks.
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dev4side.com
dev4side.com › en › blog › microsoft-defender-xdr
Microsoft Defender XDR: the suite to defend your digital assets
What is Microsoft Defender XDR?
Microsoft Defender XDR is a comprehensive suite for enterprise protection against cyber threats. It works both before and after an attack and includes several integrated tools such as Defender for Endpoint, Defender for Office 365, Defender for Identity, and Defender for Cloud. Thanks to this integration, it offers extended defense that covers endpoints, identities, emails, applications, network, and cloud environments.
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dev4side.com
dev4side.com › en › blog › microsoft-defender-xdr
Microsoft Defender XDR: the suite to defend your digital assets
Is Defender XDR compatible with non-Windows systems?
Yes, in addition to Windows, Defender for Endpoint also supports Linux, macOS, and mobile devices. This allows organizations with mixed environments to centralize security management while maintaining high levels of protection regardless of the operating system in use.
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dev4side.com
dev4side.com › en › blog › microsoft-defender-xdr
Microsoft Defender XDR: the suite to defend your digital assets
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Gartner
gartner.com › reviews › market › endpoint-protection-platforms › compare › product › cortex-xdr-vs-microsoft-defender-for-endpoint
Cortex XDR vs Microsoft Defender for Endpoint 2025 | Gartner Peer Insights
Based on verified reviews from real users in the Endpoint Protection Platforms market. Cortex XDR has a rating of 4.6 stars with 634 reviews. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint has a rating of 4.4 stars with 1888 reviews.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/paloaltonetworks › cortex xdr vs microsoft defender
r/paloaltonetworks on Reddit: Cortex XDR vs Microsoft Defender
July 7, 2023 -

We are setting up a new site and getting upsold on XDR. I understand that it is probably a superior product than Microsoft (which is currently included on our E5 license) but our SOC consists of just me following up on alerts. Curious about any experience with XDR vs other EDRs. Is it more for active monitoring SOC teams?

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Dev4Side
dev4side.com › en › blog › microsoft-defender-xdr
Microsoft Defender XDR: the suite to defend your digital assets
The main difference lies in the extent of protection. While EDR focuses exclusively on endpoints, XDR broadens the scope of action to also include identity, email, cloud infrastructure, and network traffic.
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Packtpub
subscription.packtpub.com › book › security › 9781804615461 › 5 › ch05lvl1sec29 › clarifying-the-difference-between-edr-and-xdr
Clarifying the difference between EDR and XDR
With all organizational data and trade secrets being digitized, the threat of data compromise, unauthorized access, and cyberattacks has increased exponentially. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (MDE) is a market-leading cross-platform endpoint security solution that enables you to prevent, ...
Find elsewhere
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CWSI Security
cwsisecurity.com › home › what is microsoft’s extended detection & response (xdr)?
What is Microsoft's Extended Detection & Response (XDR)?
May 19, 2023 - Through a centralised EDR platform, ... their entire endpoint network. Acting as an extension of EDR, XDR offers a broader scope of capabilities compared to EDR alone....
Address   Unit 3, The Pavilions, Ruscombe Business Park, RG10 9NN, Reading
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Xcitium
xcitium.com › is-microsoft-defender-is-edr
Is Microsoft Defender is EDR? | Microsoft End Point Defender
EDR software differs from antivirus because it doesn't rely on signature-based detection; it utilizes machine learning (ML) and behavior analysis techniques to recognize suspicious activity and stop threats from breaching the first line of defense.
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SentinelOne
sentinelone.com › cybersecurity-101 › endpoint-security › edr-vs-ndr-vs-xdr
EDR vs. NDR vs. XDR: How to Pick a Detection Response Solution
October 2, 2025 - EDR focuses on endpoint device security, while XDR extends detection and response capabilities across multiple domains, including endpoints, networks, and the cloud. Microsoft Defender functions primarily as an EDR but can integrate with ...
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LIVEcommunity
live.paloaltonetworks.com › t5 › cortex-xdr-discussions › cortex-xdr-along-side-ms-defender-for-endpoint › td-p › 1223498
Solved: LIVEcommunity - Cortex XDR along side MS Defender for Endpoint - LIVEcommunity - 1223498
June 5, 2025 - Hi We are in a position where we would want MS Defender for Endpoint (the EDR, not just the AV) to fully work alongside Cortex XDR. We dialed Cortex XDR's protection down to work "passively" by re-configuring all modules to the "report only" as opposed to "block". However, Defender for Endpoin...
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/msp › av+edr/mdr vs microsoft defender vs others options
r/msp on Reddit: AV+EDR/MDR vs Microsoft Defender vs others options
May 10, 2025 -

Hello community!

Lately, I've noticed a lot of discussions and cases on Reddit and elsewhere about bypassing EDR and Antivirus solutions. There are reports of servers being encrypted despite the presence of XDR/MDR functions from manufacturers, etc. This raises several questions for me, especially about moving all security stacks to Microsoft 365, particularly for clients with a Business Premium subscription. I'm having trouble forming a clear opinion on this.

On one hand, it seems like putting all your eggs in one basket, right? On the other hand, solutions combining AV+EDR with a service like BlackPoint seem more robust to me. Or maybe it would be wiser to have one provider for AV, another for EDR, and yet another for MDR? I also have questions about integrating an MDR solution within the same solution as AV and EDR.

I'm not sure if there's already a thread on this topic; if there is, I'd appreciate the link! What do you think?

Thanks for your insights!

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Bechtle
bechtle.com › nl-en › it-solutions › software › microsoft-defender-xdr
Integrated security with Microsoft Defender XDR | Bechtle
Defender for Endpoint Plan 1. Aimed at enterprises that require basic endpoint security without the comprehensive features of EDR, this plan provides fundamental protection against threats such as ransomware and malware, and supports organisations in implementing Zero Trust Security.
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BlueVoyant
bluevoyant.com › home › edr vs. xdr: what is the difference and will xdr replace edr?
EDR vs XDR: What is the Difference and Will XDR Replace EDR?
December 2, 2022 - Instead, it offers a single view of data to help security teams easily make logical connections and act on these insights to mitigate threats. EDR is a security tool that monitors endpoints to help detect and respond to cyber threats.
Price   $
Address   335 Madison Ave, Suite 5G, 10017, New York
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E-N Computers
encomputers.com › home › can microsoft defender replace your edr solution?
Can Microsoft Defender replace your EDR solution? - E-N Computers
January 22, 2025 - In 2024, we started asking whether Microsoft Defender can replace our third-party MDR solution of choice, Blackpoint, for endpoint detection and response (EDR). This is something we still talk about, even though we’ve published an article on How Microsoft Defender XDR simplifies cybersecurity.
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PeerSpot
peerspot.com › home
Compare Microsoft Defender XDR vs Open EDR
February 26, 2021 - As of September 2025, in the Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) category, the mindshare of Microsoft Defender XDR is 3.0%, down from 4.3% compared to the previous year. The mindshare of Open EDR is 1.1%, up from 0.8% compared to the previous year.
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Chorus
chorus.co.uk › home › edr vs xdr vs mdr vs mxdr: the differences explained
EDR vs XDR vs MDR vs MXDR: The Differences Explained
February 8, 2023 - Microsoft’s XDR platforms include Microsoft 365 Defender (endpoints, identity, cloud services, apps, data) and Microsoft Defender for Cloud (servers, on-premise/hybrid/cloud, networks). MDR is very different to EDR and XDR.
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/cybersecurity › siem + edr vs. xdr?
r/cybersecurity on Reddit: SIEM + EDR vs. XDR?
May 18, 2025 -

As you can probably infer from the title, I’m wondering what the key differences are between running SIEM + EDR vs. an XDR platform (for example, Defender XDR, Sophos intercept X advanced, etc.)

I feel like there’s a LOT of snake oil in the cybersecurity market today. Does an XDR platform replace the need for a SIEM? I’m under the impression that it doesn’t, but the way in which some popular vendors describe their XDR platforms, they make it sounds as if XDR is a one stop shop for all your typical SIEM and EDR needs…

Does anyone have hands-on experience with XDR platforms and can highlight their shortcomings compared to popular SIEM tools?

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Leeshanok
leeshanok.com › home › antivirus vs. edr vs. xdr
Antivirus vs. EDR vs. XDR - LeeShanok Network Solutions
November 29, 2022 - The best way to understand this ... and improved upon antivirus to handle more advanced threats. XDR is the highest evolution, expanding and improving upon EDR....
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Palo Alto Networks
paloaltonetworks.com › cyberpedia › what-is-edr-vs-xdr
What is EDR vs. XDR? - Palo Alto Networks
EDR solutions monitor endpoint activities and behaviors to detect and respond to security incidents. They provide detailed information about each endpoint, such as process activity, file changes, network connections, and system events, which ...