In short
CrowdStrike Falcon, SentinelOne Singularity and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint all provide prevention and EDR from a cloud console. Defender is often already licensed through Microsoft 365 and integrates natively with it. CrowdStrike offers a broad cloud platform and vendor-run MDR. SentinelOne emphasises autonomous on-device response and rollback. Forever Systems supplies CrowdStrike and SentinelOne.
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Side by side
A factual comparison of how each platform is built and bought. It deliberately leaves out detection scores and ratings, which vary by test and year.
| Microsoft Defender for Endpoint | CrowdStrike Falcon | SentinelOne Singularity | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Sensor built into Windows, Microsoft agent on other platforms, Defender portal | Single lightweight sensor, analysis in CrowdStrike's cloud, web console | Agent with on-device AI that detects and responds autonomously, cloud console |
| Operating systems | Windows, Windows Server, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS | Windows, macOS, Linux, plus iOS and Android through Falcon for Mobile | Windows, macOS, Linux, virtual desktops and cloud workloads |
| EDR depth | Plan 2: EDR, automated investigation and remediation, threat analytics, threat and vulnerability management | Falcon Insight XDR, with Real Time Response and Falcon Fusion SOAR | EDR from Singularity Complete upwards; 14 or 90 days of data depending on package |
| XDR scope | Defender XDR across email, identity, cloud apps and endpoint | Platform modules for identity, cloud, SaaS, data and Next-Gen SIEM | Identity, cloud workloads and AI SIEM on the same platform |
| Identity | Defender for Identity (standalone, or in Microsoft 365 E5 and Microsoft Defender Suite) | Next-Gen Identity Security module | Identity threat detection and response included from Singularity Commercial |
| Ransomware recovery | Controlled folder access and attack disruption; restore from backup | Prevention and containment; restore from backup | Rollback on supported systems, plus backup |
| Managed service | Microsoft Defender Experts MDR (sold separately) or a third-party MDR | Falcon Complete Next-Gen MDR, or provider-run MDR | Wayfinder MDR, or provider-run MDR |
| Licensing model | Plan 1 standalone or in Microsoft 365 E3; Plan 2 standalone or in E5 and Microsoft Defender Suite; servers licensed separately | Per device bundles and add-ons; Falcon Flex option | Per endpoint packages and add-ons |
| Microsoft 365 integration | Native: Intune, Entra Conditional Access, Defender portal | Integrations available; separate console | Integrations available; separate console |
Still not sure which way to go? Ask us
Tell us what matters most to you and we will recommend one, with the trade-offs explained.
Where Microsoft Defender for Endpoint stands out
The biggest practical advantage is that many organisations already own it. Microsoft's Defender service description (opens in a new tab) lists Plan 1 in Microsoft 365 E3 and Plan 2 in Microsoft 365 E5 and the Microsoft Defender Suite, while organisations of up to 300 employees on Business Premium have Microsoft Defender for Business, built on the same technology. Device risk flows straight into Conditional Access, policies deploy through Intune and incidents correlate with email and identity in Defender XDR.
The trade-offs: the richest capabilities need E5-level licences, Windows gets the most complete feature set, and getting value depends on configuration that is easy to leave half-finished. Our sister site asks is Windows Defender enough (opens in a new tab), and our Cloud Security site covers Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (opens in a new tab) Plan 1 and Plan 2 in detail.
Where CrowdStrike Falcon stands out
Falcon is a single sensor and cloud platform with a wide range of modules you can add without new agents: identity, exposure management, data security, cloud and SaaS security and Next-Gen SIEM. Falcon Complete gives you CrowdStrike's own team running detection and remediation, which appeals to organisations without a security operations centre (opens in a new tab) that still want an enterprise platform.
Consider: it is a second console for Microsoft-centric teams, and bundle contents and names change, so confirm what is included. See CrowdStrike Falcon Insight XDR for the EDR and the wider platform.
Weighing up the options?
We can compare them against your own requirements and recommend what fits.
Where SentinelOne Singularity stands out
SentinelOne's agent makes response decisions on the device, so it can contain threats without waiting for cloud analysis or an analyst, and on supported systems it can roll back changes made by ransomware. Packages scale from prevention-only to identity, longer retention and AI-assisted triage, and Purple AI helps smaller teams investigate.
Consider: autonomous response needs careful policy tuning to avoid disrupting business applications, and EDR depth depends on the package. See SentinelOne Singularity.
Which should you choose?
Neutral guidance, based on situations rather than scores:
- You are on Microsoft 365 E5, or Business Premium under 300 users: start with the Defender tools you already pay for, configure them properly and add MDR. Move only if a specific gap appears. WatchGuard's Core MDR for Microsoft is one service designed to monitor Defender.
- You want the vendor to run response for you: compare Falcon Complete with Wayfinder MDR and with provider-run MDR on Defender; the service matters more than the agent.
- You have a mixed estate with many Linux servers or containers: test CrowdStrike and SentinelOne cloud workload coverage against your distributions and orchestrators.
- Ransomware recovery is a priority: SentinelOne rollback is a distinctive feature; whichever you choose, keep immutable backups and a tested restore plan, as our guide to preventing ransomware attacks explains.
- You want one platform for endpoint, identity, cloud and SIEM outside Microsoft: CrowdStrike and SentinelOne both offer this; compare the specific modules you need.
Always run a proof of value on a representative group of devices, including your most important line-of-business applications, before committing. Our best EDR solutions guide covers the wider buying questions, and the endpoint security vendors page lists the other platforms we supply, including Bitdefender, TrendAI, Sophos, Check Point and Cisco.
How we help
Forever Systems can supply and set up CrowdStrike Falcon and SentinelOne Singularity, and we can help you configure Defender for Endpoint you already own or add a managed detection and response service to watch it. We start by checking what your existing licences already cover, then run side-by-side pilots, map features to your needs, plan the migration so no device is left unprotected and set up the managed service. Pricing is always "ask us for a quote".
Contact us for a recommendation that fits your estate.
How we help with endpoint security
We are an independent UK IT and cyber security provider. We supply and support endpoint security from several vendors, so we can recommend what fits your devices, your people and your budget rather than one vendor's answer to everything.
- Start with what you have: we can review your current antivirus, EDR and Microsoft 365 licences before suggesting anything new
- Vendor-aware advice on EDR, XDR and managed detection and response, including CrowdStrike, SentinelOne, WatchGuard, Bitdefender, Sophos, Check Point, TrendAI and Cisco
- Deployment help: planning a rollout, replacing an existing product and setting sensible policies for device control, encryption and patching
- Policies and compliance: we help you map your controls to Cyber Essentials (opens in a new tab) and the NCSC's device guidance
- Ongoing support options, such as policy tuning, renewals and regular reviews, agreed and confirmed at quote
We work with businesses, schools, charities and public sector organisations. Tell us about your devices and we will suggest a sensible next step.
Frequently asked questions
Is CrowdStrike better than Microsoft Defender for Endpoint?
Neither is better in every situation. Defender for Endpoint is often already licensed and integrates natively with Microsoft 365, while CrowdStrike offers a broad independent platform and its own MDR service. The right choice depends on your licences, estate and who will operate it.
What is the main difference between CrowdStrike and SentinelOne?
CrowdStrike sends device telemetry to its cloud for analysis and offers a broad module range and Falcon Complete MDR. SentinelOne emphasises autonomous detection and response on the device itself, including rollback after ransomware on supported systems, with packages from Core to Enterprise.
Can I use CrowdStrike or SentinelOne with Microsoft 365?
Yes. Both run alongside Microsoft 365 and integrate with Microsoft identity and device management tools. On Windows, Microsoft Defender Antivirus steps back into passive or disabled mode when another product is the primary antivirus. You will manage endpoint security in a separate console from Microsoft's.
Which is best for a small business?
Small businesses on Microsoft 365 Business Premium often get most value from Defender for Business with a managed detection and response service watching it. CrowdStrike and SentinelOne are strong alternatives if you want a non-Microsoft platform or a vendor-run MDR, and we can supply both.
Can you run CrowdStrike or SentinelOne alongside Defender?
Yes, as the primary agent. When CrowdStrike or SentinelOne is the main antivirus and EDR, Microsoft Defender Antivirus on Windows steps back into passive or disabled mode, so the two do not fight. Running two full EDR agents as primary on the same device usually causes conflicts.
Still deciding?
Ask us and a member of our team will get back to you.
More endpoint security guides
Falcon Insight XDRCrowdStrike's EDR, unified with identity, cloud and mobile telemetry, and how we supply Falcon.
SentinelOne SingularitySentinelOne's platform from the EDR and XDR angle: agent, rollback, Purple AI and add-ons.Best EDR solutionsA practical framework for comparing EDR solutions, with a factual comparison of the platforms we supply.Vigilance MDRSentinelOne's managed detection and response service, now Wayfinder MDR, explained.
WatchGuard MDRWatchGuard's 24/7 MDR service: Core MDR, Core MDR for Microsoft, Total MDR and Open MDR compared.EDR vs XDR vs MDRThe three detection and response layers side by side, and what most organisations actually need.