Why Gartner Names Microsoft Defender for Endpoint a Leader for Endpoint Protection Platforms

Today, securing your digital assets has never been more critical with the rise of sophisticated ransomware attacks. Organizations need robust security solutions that can protect their endpoints effectively.

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, integrated seamlessly with Azure, stands out as a leader in this domain. Here’s why Gartner has named Microsoft Defender for Endpoint a Leader in the 2024 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Endpoint Protection Platforms for the fifth consecutive time, and why Azure is the best platform for security. 

Unmatched Integration with Azure 

With Azure, Microsoft’s Defender for Endpoint delivers a comprehensive endpoint security solution utilizing cloud-based technology. This native integration gives you access to an assortment of features, from mitigating risks with vulnerability management to reducing your attack surface. This robust integration also provides behavioral-based features, all working together to fortify your security posture. 

Note: This solution can be integrated with all Microsoft products including Microsoft 365, Dynamics 365 Business Central and Dynamics 365 Sales at an additional cost to help secure data and operations.  

Proven Effectiveness Against Ransomware 

In the years since 2023, the prevalence of organization-targeted ransomware attacks has escalated by 2.75 times. In these attacks, 2024 Microsoft Digital Defense Report reported that up to “90% of successful ransomware campaigns leverage unmanaged endpoints,” which are personal devices brought to work. However, despite this surge, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint has been remarkably effective. It has slashed the success rate of such cyber threat campaigns by over threefold during the same timeframe. In conjunction with Azure, its effectiveness in combating ransomware threats becomes noticeably prominent. 

Advanced Threat Detection and Response 

Leveraging advanced AI technology, it provides unparalleled endpoint response and detection across various device types. Its impressive global threat intelligence is based on 78+ trillion signals daily, supported by a robust team of over 10,000 security experts. These attributes allow security teams to efficiently tackle intricate threats. Azure’s broad footprint and superior intelligence makes it a robust platform for protecting your digital assets. 

Operational Resilience and Innovation 

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint was crafted to prioritize operational durability. By adhering to Windows’ finest practices and reducing dependency on kernel mode, it offers swift and reliable protection for customers. In the previous year, Microsoft has ushered in numerous advancements such as enhanced attack interception, the Microsoft Copilot for Security, a novel Linux agent, easier settings administration, and the consolidated security operations platform. These progressive features guarantee proficient and effective running of your security operations center (SOC). 

Unique Capabilities and Continuous Improvement 

Microsoft’s exclusive feature of automatic attack disruption halts ongoing cyber threats through astute analysis of the attacker’s motives, pinpointing compromised assets and swiftly isolating or deactivating them. To illustrate, Microsoft unveiled the CVE-2024-37085 vulnerability in July 2024, a weakness heavily numerous ransomware operators. However, our attack disruption capability safeguards from such advanced ransomware attacks by averting lateral movement and remote encryption, usually within a strikingly quick span of three minutes. 

Safeguard Your Resources with Azure and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Today 

In the face of rising cyber threats, securing your digital assets on Azure with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is more important than ever. Our team at TMC is here to guide you throughout the migration process and ensure that your organization is protected with the best security solutions available. Contact our Azure experts today for more insights about securing your resources on Azure and take advantage of the powerful capabilities of Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.