CrowdStrike vs. Microsoft
Microsoft’s security products can’t even protect Microsoft. How can they protect you?
Department of Homeland Security
“Microsoft’s security culture was inadequate and requires an overhaul”
In a recent report, the Cyber Safety Review Board (CSRB) found Microsoft’s “cascade of security failures” resulted in a catastrophic breach.
Choose a provider that delivers without compromise. Choose CrowdStrike.
Why customers choose CrowdStrike over Microsoft
Microsoft Poor coverage = susceptible to breaches
- ×Built on a foundation of obsolete, signature-based AV that is ineffective against modern adversaries
- ×Security capabilities vary drastically across different OS editions and versions, creating inconsistent protections
- ×Gartner cautions Microsoft “is challenged by limited support for older OSs and generally uneven support across non-Windows OSs”
- ×Missed 6 high-quality (technique/tactic level) detections in recent MITRE evaluation, despite a unique, custom environment
The CrowdStrike difference
CrowdStrike Advanced breach prevention
CrowdStrike offers advanced, consistent, signature-free security across all OS editions and versions. Leveraging AI-powered Indicators of Attack (IOAs) and integrated threat intelligence, CrowdStrike delivers world-class breach prevention, independently proven by MITRE where CrowdStrike scored 100% across the board.
Microsoft Complex to operate, complex to maintain
- ×Needs frequent OS-level upgrades and multiple daily signature updates, increasing cost and operational burden
- ×Heavy operational workload often requires additional staff
- ×Security functionality is strewn across multiple disjointed consoles, fragmenting SOC workflows
The CrowdStrike difference
CrowdStrike Easy to use, easy to operate
CrowdStrike’s single, lightweight agent streamlines installation and management. Our AI-native architecture eliminates the need for time-consuming daily signature updates, and ensures smooth operations with automatic updates – no reboots required. All modules are housed in a unified, user-friendly interface, enhancing SOC workflows and streamlining platform consolidation.
CrowdStrike hands down gave us the most visibility… The agent is small, it’s light and it doesn’t take any maintenance.”
Microsoft generates High Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
- ×Essential features like threat analytics and server protection aren’t included in standard bundles, leading to unexpected license costs
- ×Frequent maintenance and ongoing updates require more dedicated staff
- ×Repeated business disruptions from Microsoft-caused server reboots
- ×Gartner warns that Microsoft’s security bundles “often [create] shelfware and redundant spending”
The CrowdStrike difference
CrowdStrike deliversUnmatched ROI
CrowdStrike enhances operational efficiency and offers unparalleled ROI, freeing up valuable resources and employee bandwidth. Our intuitive interface reduces training costs, and rapid deployment helps you transition from outdated systems, avoiding costly contract overlaps or extensions. CrowdStrike’s transparent licensing means no surprise fees.
Proven by MITRE
CrowdStrike is the only vendor to score highest in both of the recent MITRE detection tests – open-book and closed-book – scoring 100% in Enterprise Round 5, and recorded fastest mean time to detect (MTTD) at 4 minutes in Managed Services, Round 2.
Compare
Understand the key differences between CrowdStrike and Microsoft
Microsoft
Deployment
Rapid deployment, instant protection
Deploy instantly with a single, lightweight agent — no OS prerequisites, complex configuration, or fine tuning required.
Complicated deployment hinders security
All endpoints require the premium edition of the latest version of Windows, requiring upfront reboots and hardware upgrades for full security functionality.
Maintenance
Set and forget
Automatic updates seamlessly deliver the latest capabilities and protections without manual signature updates or disruptive reboots.
Burdensome maintenance
Security updates are inextricably tied to complex OS management, requiring frequent reboots, daily signature updates, and manual tuning due to persistent false positives.
Detection coverage
Advanced threat detection
High-fidelity detection engine leverages advanced AI, behavioral IOAs, and industry-leading threat intelligence to detect the most advanced threats — including zero-days, unknown malware, and hands-on-keyboard activity.
Ineffective threat detection
Adversaries are easily bypassing Microsoft security products, exploiting its outdated, signature-based AV. Microsoft is ineffective against modern attack vectors, forcing frequent and cumbersome signature updates just to maintain protection.
Total cost of ownership
Simplified operations and licensing cuts TCO
No hidden costs. Transparent licensing is easy to budget, and simplified security management frees up staff and reduces training costs.
Unexpected costs skyrocket TCO
Microsoft’s security solutions incur unexpected high costs from burdensome platform maintenance, disruptive business impacts, and complex licensing, often requiring additional dedicated staff.
Ease of use
Optimized analyst experience
A single, unified console and customizable workflow automations offer complete attack visibility, real-time threat context, and accelerated investigation across endpoints, cloud, identity and more.
Disjointed user experience
Microsoft’s complex platform, criticized by Gartner for its “below-average ease of use,” frustrates analysts with its multiple consoles, creating security risks and slowing response times.
Managed Services
World-class expertise
Falcon Complete MDR provides 24/7 vigilance, forensic expertise, and precise incident response to eliminate threats across your digital infrastructure. Independently verified to provide the highest detection coverage (99%) in the inaugural MITRE ATT&CK® Evaluation for service providers.
Incomplete managed detection and response
Lacks proactive threat hunting provided by security experts. Instead, Microsoft’s MDR relies on inadequate, generalized threat intelligence and AI that achieved an inferior 93% detection rate in the latest MITRE ATT&CK Evaluation for service providers.
Validated by industry leading analysts
Report
Leader in Magic Quadrant for Endpoint Protection Platforms
CrowdStrike is positioned highest for ability to execute and furthest to the right for completeness of vision.
Report
Leader in Forrester Wave: Cloud Workload Security
CrowdStrike is rated as having the strongest strategy of all vendors.
Report
Leader in Forrester Wave: Managed Detection and Response
CrowdStrike is rated as having the strongest strategy of all vendors.
Report
Leader in Forrester Wave: External Threat Intelligence Service Providers
CrowdStrike positioned highest for current offering and furthest for strategy.
Report
Leader in IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Risk-Based Vulnerability Management Platforms 2023 Vendor Assessment
CrowdStrike named one of only four “Leaders”.
29,000 customers trust CrowdStrike to protect what matters most
