UK BUYER’S GUIDE · 3 PRODUCTS
Endpoint security
Can our team spot an incident, contain the affected device and prove what happened afterwards?
Compare device protection, investigation and response controls for a UK business fleet.
YOUR SHORTLIST STARTS HERE
Compare the options.
Highest documented score first. Fit adds up the 20 feature checks below, including AI, across documented plans. Entry prices may exclude scored capabilities. The upper end of a range represents unverified points.
3 of 3 products · Highest documented score first
| Product / good fit for | Pricing context | Documented fit | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|
Microsoft Defender for Business Microsoft Defender for Business Organisations with up to 300 users, particularly those reviewing Business Premium entitlements. | £2.30user/month, paid yearly excl. VAT annual | 75–100/100 documented fit75% evidence coverage | Details ↗ |
Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security Enterprise Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security Enterprise Teams needing endpoint investigation alongside central preventive controls. | Request pricingConfigured subscription VAT basis not stated quote | 70–100/100 documented fit70% evidence coverage | Details ↗ |
Sophos Endpoint with EDR Sophos Endpoint with EDR Organisations wanting assisted investigations with endpoint prevention in one console. | Request pricingConfigured subscription VAT basis not stated quote | 70–100/100 documented fit70% evidence coverage | Details ↗ |
Prices retain their original currency, billing basis and VAT status. Check the evidence and plan requirements before buying.
| Capability & demo question | Microsoft Defender for Business75–100/100 documented fit | Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security Enterprise70–100/100 documented fit | Sophos Endpoint with EDR70–100/100 documented fit |
|---|---|---|---|
Core workflowMalware prevention5.0 points availableAsk in the demoShow an isolated test alert and the prevention policy. | ✓ Supported Next-generation malware protection. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported Layered prevention and malware detection. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported Pre-execution and behavioural malware controls. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ |
Core workflowRansomware protection5.0 points availableAsk in the demoExplain detection and recovery behaviour without running live malware. | ✓ Supported Ransomware-focused protection and attack disruption. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported Ransomware mitigation listed for Enterprise on-premises. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported CryptoGuard ransomware protection. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ |
Core workflowWindows and Mac protection5.0 points availableAsk in the demoShow both operating systems in the supported-device list. | ✓ Supported Windows and macOS are supported. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported Windows, Linux and Mac coverage. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported Windows, macOS and Linux endpoints. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ |
Core workflowCentral device management5.0 points availableAsk in the demoIdentify an unhealthy endpoint from the console. | ✓ Supported Central management is included. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported One console manages the endpoint agent. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported Central management and health checks. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ |
Core workflowEndpoint firewall controls5.0 points availableAsk in the demoShow a firewall rule assigned centrally. | ✓ Supported Simplified Windows firewall configuration. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported Firewall listed for Enterprise on-premises. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ? Not verified Not established by the reviewed official evidence; request a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points |
Core workflowMalicious website protection5.0 points availableAsk in the demoShow the policy for blocked destinations. | ? Not verified Not established by the reviewed official evidence; request a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points | ✓ Supported Web/content controls listed for Enterprise on-premises. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported Malicious-site and category controls. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ |
Core workflowRemovable-device controls5.0 points availableAsk in the demoDemonstrate a USB access restriction. | ? Not verified Not established by the reviewed official evidence; request a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points | ✓ Supported Device controls listed for Enterprise on-premises. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported USB and Bluetooth peripheral controls. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ |
Core workflowVulnerability prioritisation5.0 points availableAsk in the demoFind a vulnerable application and its recommended action. | ✓ Supported Core vulnerability-management capabilities. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported Prioritises endpoint misconfigurations and vulnerabilities. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported EDR identifies outdated and exposed devices. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ |
Core workflowEndpoint detection and investigation5.0 points availableAsk in the demoTrace a sample endpoint incident. | ✓ Supported EDR optimised for small businesses. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported Cross-endpoint EDR investigations. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported Endpoint investigation and response. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ |
Workflow depthRemote device isolation5.0 points availableAsk in the demoIsolate and reconnect a safe test endpoint. | ✓ Supported Manual device isolation is documented. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ? Not verified Not established by the reviewed official evidence; request a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points | ✓ Supported Manual and automated network isolation. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ |
Workflow depthFile quarantine workflow5.0 points availableAsk in the demoShow a quarantined sample and review its disposition. | ✓ Supported Automated investigations can quarantine files. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported Central quarantine listed for Enterprise on-premises. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ? Not verified Not established by the reviewed official evidence; request a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points |
Workflow depthRemote investigation commands5.0 points availableAsk in the demoShow an authorised remote diagnostic action. | ✓ Supported Live response supports scripts and forensic collection. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ? Not verified Not established by the reviewed official evidence; request a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points | ✓ Supported Audited live remote shell. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ |
Workflow depthResponse action history5.0 points availableAsk in the demoIdentify who acted and when on a past response. | ✓ Supported Action Centre retains completed response actions. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ? Not verified Not established by the reviewed official evidence; request a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points | ✓ Supported Live-response actions are audited. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ |
Workflow depthSeparate device policies5.0 points availableAsk in the demoAssign a stricter policy to a selected device group. | ? Not verified Not established by the reviewed official evidence; request a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points | ? Not verified Not established by the reviewed official evidence; request a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points | ? Not verified Not established by the reviewed official evidence; request a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points |
Workflow depthSecurity reporting5.0 points availableAsk in the demoProduce a report covering device protection and incidents. | ✓ Supported Monthly security summary reports. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported Report Builder listed for Enterprise on-premises. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ? Not verified Not established by the reviewed official evidence; request a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points |
Workflow depthSecurity data API5.0 points availableAsk in the demoRetrieve sample device or incident data using a documented API. | ✓ Supported APIs included in the comparison table. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported Third-party integration APIs are documented. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ? Not verified Not established by the reviewed official evidence; request a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points |
Workflow depthSecurity-tool integrations5.0 points availableAsk in the demoDemonstrate one supported monitoring or management integration. | ✓ Supported Lighthouse and RMM/PSA connections documented. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported Splunk integration is described. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ? Not verified Not established by the reviewed official evidence; request a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points |
AIMachine-learning threat detection5.0 points availableAsk in the demoExplain where a model contributes to detection. | ✓ Supported AI-powered EDR is described. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported Local and cloud machine learning. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ | ✓ Supported Deep-learning malware prevention. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ |
AIAI incident explanation5.0 points availableAsk in the demoGenerate a summary tied to an actual incident record. | ? Not verified Not established by the reviewed official evidence; request a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points | ? Not verified Not established by the reviewed official evidence; request a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points | ✓ Supported AI case summaries and next steps. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ |
AINatural-language investigation5.0 points availableAsk in the demoAsk a plain-language question about endpoint evidence. | ? Not verified Not established by the reviewed official evidence; request a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points | ? Not verified Not established by the reviewed official evidence; request a demonstration. 0.0–5.0 / 5.0 points | ✓ Supported Natural-language investigation searches. 5.0 / 5.0 pointsEvidence ↗ |
“Not verified” means the recorded evidence does not settle this specific check. It does not mean the feature is absent. Read the scoring method.
Focus on up to three products →ASK BETTER QUESTIONS
Before you buy endpoint security software.
What to look for
- Test on the operating systems and business applications you actually use.
- Assign an incident owner and demonstrate what happens outside working hours.
- Compare endpoint protection, EDR and managed response as distinct purchased services.
What changes the cost
- Users versus devices and separate server licences.
- EDR, managed response and security-data retention upgrades.
- Deployment support and ongoing investigation time.
What to watch out for
- Treating an antivirus licence as a staffed response service.
- Assuming every operating system has identical controls.
- Interpreting a feature score as a malware-detection benchmark.
Common questions
Does a high score mean the product stops every attack?
No. These are documented controls, not laboratory detection results or a security guarantee.
Do we need managed detection and response?
Consider it if nobody can investigate and contain an incident reliably; confirm the response authority and service hours.
Can we use our existing Microsoft subscription?
Check its exact entitlement. Defender for Business is included in Business Premium; other Microsoft licences differ.