Hi @MyAzQuery ,

Microsoft Defender is the overall "brand" for Microsoft security products, and while these do have similar names as you've spotted they are different products.

In summary:

• Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, is an enterprise endpoint security platform - it incorporates things like next generation antivirus, but also include behavioral sensors, leverages cloud based security analytics and threat intelligence in order to provide security for Windows, macOS, Linux, Andoid and iOS endpoints. This link provides a good overview and starting point for more information.
• Microsoft Defender for Cloud provides "Cloud Security Posture Management" (CSPM), providing a security analysis of all the resources in your cloud estates, and Cloud Workload Protection (CWP) which gives specific protection for your resources such as VMs, cloud storage, databases, security keys, containers, etc. This link provides a starting point on this service.

One of the workload protections in Defender for Cloud is "Defender for Servers" - one of the ways this provides protection of your servers is by including a license to run Defender for Endpoint on the VM, hence giving you the antivirus and other endpoint protection on that system. However, Defender for Servers also provides other protections such as Just in Time access control and adaptive network hardening.

In short, if you're looking to provide antivirus and other protections for something like your windows endpoints (i.e. the PCs your employees use on a daily basis) then Defender for Endpoint is the product you're after. If you are looking to protect all your resources in the cloud (Azure, AWS, GCP) then Defender for Cloud is what you're after.

I hope this helps - if so, please upvote and "mark as answer" so that others will find this in the future.

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Hello!

In general, Microsoft Defender for Cloud (MDC) includes Microsoft Defender for Servers (MDS). Defender for Servers leverages Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (MDE) for its server protection piece, but on top of that, it adds capabilities to Server Monitoring, Access Management, Network Hardening, etc.

If you use the Defender for Server (Defender for Cloud) in Azure, Defender (MDE.Windows/Linux Extension) will install itself automatically on all servers in your subscription. It is called automatic provisioning. You can check this setting via these steps: Microsoft Azure => Microsoft Defender for Cloud => Environment settings => => Defender plans => on the Servers tab choose under Monitoring coverage Settings button => Endpoint protection must be turned on.

If you don't use Defender for Server (Defender for Cloud), then go to https://security.microsoft.com/ and follow these steps: Settings => Endpoints => Device management => Onboarding => select OS, download the script, run it and wait up to 12-24 hours, when you can see MDE.Windows/Linux extension installed on the server.

I recommend this article which explains the difference between these two services:
https://medium.com/microsoftazure/microsoft-defender-endpoint-microsoft-defender-for-cloud-for-servers-53c95d8c8d92

You can also check out the Defender for Servers Plan features:

https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-cloud/plan-defender-for-servers-select-plan#plan-features

Note: You must choose a server management model: Defender for Server (Defender for Cloud) or Defender for Endpoint. Because there are different tariffs for services. Defender for Cloud has pay-as-you-go model, but Defender for Endpoint has a model with licenses.

If the above response was helpful, please feel free to "Accept as Answer" and click "Yes" so it can be beneficial to the community.

This previous answer should help you https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/956836/difference-between-microsoft-defender-for-cloud-an

Microsoft Defender for Cloud

1. Scope: Protects cloud workloads and infrastructure across Azure, AWS, GCP, and on-prem hybrid environments.
2. Primary Focus:
   • Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM): Assess compliance, misconfigurations, and security posture.
   • Cloud Workload Protection (CWP): Protects VMs, containers, databases, and other resources.
3. Key Features:
   • Security recommendations for resources.
   • Threat detection for servers, containers, and cloud services.
   • Integration with Azure Policy and regulatory compliance dashboards.
4. Use Case: If you want to secure IaaS, PaaS, and hybrid workloads, this is your too

Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps

1. Scope: Protects SaaS applications and provides visibility into cloud app usage.
2. Primary Focus:
   • Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB): Discover and control SaaS apps.
   • App Governance: Monitor OAuth apps and risky permissions.
3. Key Features:
   • Shadow IT discovery (unsanctioned apps).
   • Session controls for real-time monitoring.
   • OAuth app risk assessment and governance.
4. Use Case: If you want to secure SaaS apps like Microsoft 365, Salesforce, Google Workspace, and manage OAuth permissions, this is your tool.