Compare · EDR
LightEDR vs Microsoft Defender for Endpoint - 2026
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is deeply integrated into the Windows and Microsoft 365 ecosystem. If your environment is predominantly Windows and you're already paying for Microsoft 365 E3 or E5, Defender is a cost-effective starting point. LightEDR offers deeper Linux support, built-in Zero Trust, and a simpler pricing model for cross-platform environments.
Based on publicly available documentation as of May 2026.
Feature comparison
| Feature | LightEDR | Defender for Endpoint |
|---|---|---|
| Zero Trust (continuous EDR scoring) | Built in at the EDR layer - NIST SP 800-207, 5 signals | Separate via Entra ID / Conditional Access - not at EDR layer |
| Pricing model | From £5/agent/month - one price, published | Bundled with M365 E3/E5 or standalone Plan 1/2 - complex licensing |
| Windows integration | Strong (via agent) | Deepest possible - native OS integration, zero deployment friction |
| Linux support | Full feature parity, eBPF, no kernel module, no reboot | Available but feature-limited; kernel module required on most distros |
| macOS support | Supported | Supported (via Intune or manual install) |
| Multi-tenant (MSSP) | Native single control plane | Microsoft 365 Lighthouse (limited multi-tenancy, SMB focused) |
| MITRE ATT&CK detection | Yes | Yes - strong Windows coverage |
| Sigma rule support | Native | KQL-based custom rules (Defender portal) - not Sigma-native |
| Agent footprint | < 40 MB standalone | Minimal on Windows (built into OS); larger on Linux/macOS |
| AI-assisted triage | Bring-your-own LLM (5 providers) | Microsoft Copilot for Security (requires E5 + Copilot licence) |
| Independence from vendor ecosystem | Standalone - no Microsoft dependency | Tightly coupled to Microsoft stack (Entra, Intune, Sentinel) |
| Free tier | Free up to 5 agents | Included in some Microsoft 365 plans; standalone requires licence |
Where Defender wins
Defender's genuine strengths
- Windows ecosystem integration. Defender is part of the Windows operating system. On Windows endpoints, it has zero deployment friction, the deepest kernel visibility, and native integration with Entra ID, Intune, and Microsoft Sentinel. If your estate is predominantly Windows, this is a material advantage.
- M365 bundle value. If you're already paying for Microsoft 365 E3 or E5, Defender for Endpoint Plan 1 or 2 may already be included in your licence. The incremental cost to activate it can be very low.
- Microsoft Sentinel integration. Defender feeds directly into Microsoft Sentinel for SIEM correlation. If Sentinel is your SIEM, this is a significantly tighter integration than any third-party EDR can offer.
- Threat intelligence via Microsoft. Microsoft's threat intelligence network - tracking hundreds of threat actor groups - feeds directly into Defender's detections. For organisations where nation-state threat actors are a realistic concern, this is meaningful.
Where LightEDR wins
LightEDR's genuine advantages
- Zero Trust at the EDR layer. Defender's Zero Trust story is built on Entra ID Conditional Access and device compliance policies - network and identity controls, not the EDR agent itself. LightEDR's continuous trust scoring operates at the agent connection level, addressing compromised agent scenarios that Conditional Access cannot.
- Linux with full feature parity. Defender on Linux requires a kernel module, has historically lagged Windows in feature coverage, and is less well-documented for non-Microsoft environments. LightEDR uses eBPF on Linux, requires no kernel module, and has the same detection capabilities across platforms.
- No Microsoft licensing maze. Defender's availability across Plan 1, Plan 2, E3, E5, and standalone licences makes pricing analysis non-trivial. LightEDR is one price, publicly listed. For teams managing budgets across multiple clients, this clarity matters.
- Sigma rules natively. Defender uses KQL for custom detection rules. If your detection engineering team writes in Sigma, that requires translation. LightEDR supports Sigma natively.
- Multi-tenant for MSSPs. Microsoft 365 Lighthouse provides some multi-tenant management but is designed for SMB MSPs on Microsoft Business plans. LightEDR's multi-tenant architecture is designed for MSSPs managing enterprise clients with full data isolation.
- Bring-your-own LLM. Copilot for Security requires an E5 licence plus a separate Copilot subscription. LightEDR integrates with your existing LLM provider - including Azure OpenAI if you want to stay in the Microsoft ecosystem.
Which to choose
Choose Defender if:
- Your environment is predominantly Windows and you're already in the Microsoft 365 stack
- Microsoft Sentinel is your SIEM and native integration is a priority
- Defender is already included in your M365 licence at no extra cost
- You want the deepest possible Windows kernel visibility with zero deployment overhead
Choose LightEDR if:
- You have a mixed environment with significant Linux or macOS coverage
- Zero Trust continuous agent verification is a security requirement
- You want simple, predictable pricing without Microsoft licence analysis
- Your detection team writes Sigma and wants native support
- You're an MSSP who needs proper multi-tenant isolation, not M365 Lighthouse
For Windows-only shops already on M365 E5, Defender is a sensible starting point - the economics are hard to argue with. For mixed or Linux-heavy environments, or anywhere Zero Trust continuous scoring is a requirement, LightEDR is the better fit.
Try LightEDR
See cross-platform EDR done right.
Free up to 5 agents across Linux, Windows, and macOS. No card, no sales call. Or request a demo for a tuned sandbox evaluation.