In short: Sophos vs Microsoft Defender comes down to cost, management and response. Defender for Business is included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium for up to 300 users and is managed in the Microsoft Defender portal. Sophos Endpoint is licensed separately, adds CryptoGuard ransomware rollback and Sophos's own controls, and is managed in Sophos Fusion alongside other Sophos products and MDR.
The short answer
Both are serious, business-grade endpoint protection products, and both block the everyday threats a UK small business faces. The decision is rarely about which one detects more; it is about cost you have already paid, who will manage it and what happens when something gets through.
- Choose Microsoft Defender for Business if you are on Microsoft 365 Business Premium, have fewer than 300 users, are comfortable in the Microsoft Defender portal and Intune, and have someone to act on its alerts.
- Choose Sophos Endpoint if you want Sophos's prevention stack and ransomware rollback, a single console with Sophos Firewall or Sophos Email, or a route into a managed 24/7 service.
- Use both if you want to keep Defender and add a 24/7 team: Sophos MDR for Microsoft Defender watches and acts on Microsoft alerts without replacing them.
We sell both Sophos and Microsoft licences, so we have no reason to push you one way.
Licensing compared
| Sophos Endpoint | Microsoft Defender for Business | |
|---|---|---|
| How you get it | Separate Sophos subscription, term or monthly through a provider | Included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium, or bought standalone |
| Size | Sold to organisations of all sizes; Sophos Endpoint 100 is an option for very small firms | Designed for up to 300 users; larger organisations move to Defender for Endpoint |
| Devices | Per user (some customers per device); a user's several devices count once | Up to five client devices per user licence |
| Servers | Licensed per server (Sophos Endpoint – Server) | Need extra licences, such as the Defender for Business servers add-on; more than 60 servers need a different Microsoft licence |
| Higher tiers | Sophos EDR, XDR, MDR and MDR Plus on the same agent | Defender for Endpoint Plan 2 and Microsoft Defender XDR for larger organisations |
Microsoft's own documentation also notes that Defender for Business does not support mixed licensing: if you add a higher Microsoft plan, such as Microsoft 365 E5 Security, for some users, the experience for everyone defaults to Defender for Business until all users are licensed for the higher plan and Microsoft Support makes the switch. Check your Microsoft licensing before buying anything.
Platforms and features
| Sophos Endpoint | Microsoft Defender for Business | |
|---|---|---|
| Windows and macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Windows Server and Linux servers | Yes, with server licences | Yes, with extra server licences |
| iOS and Android | Through Sophos Mobile (Mobile Threat Defense) | Yes, included |
| Ransomware | CryptoGuard detects malicious encryption, blocks the process and reverts affected files | Attack surface reduction, controlled folder access and automatic attack disruption |
| Attacker response | Adaptive Attack Protection switches to stronger protection when an active attacker is detected; Critical Attack Warning alerts admins to activity across several devices | Automated investigation and remediation, and automatic attack disruption |
| EDR | Sophos EDR tier and above | Included (a version optimised for small and medium-sized businesses) |
| Web and device control | Web, application and peripheral control policies | One web content filtering policy per organisation; custom attack surface reduction rules and controlled folder access are configured in Intune |
| Console | Sophos Fusion (formerly Sophos Central) | Microsoft Defender portal, with some settings in the Intune admin center |
We deliberately do not quote test-lab scores: results change from round to round, and both products perform well. What differs in practice is the anti-ransomware approach, the admin experience and the managed service options.
Management and managed services
Defender for Business is designed to be simple, with wizard-driven setup and default policies, and it integrates with Microsoft Intune. Microsoft partners can see incidents across customers in Microsoft 365 Lighthouse. If you already live in the Microsoft 365 admin tools, that familiarity is a real advantage.
Sophos Endpoint is managed in Sophos Fusion with the rest of the Sophos portfolio, so a Sophos Firewall, Sophos Email or Sophos ZTNA estate shares one console and can share threat data, for example to isolate a compromised laptop from the network automatically.
The bigger difference is what happens at 3am. Neither product watches itself. Sophos offers Sophos MDR, a 24/7 service by its own analysts that includes Sophos Endpoint protection, and Sophos MDR can also work with Defender instead of replacing it. Microsoft's managed options for small businesses typically come through partners. If nobody in your organisation reviews alerts out of hours, that matters more than any feature table.
Running Sophos and Defender together
There are two sensible ways to combine them:
- Sophos Endpoint as the antivirus, Microsoft for the rest. Windows normally moves Microsoft Defender Antivirus into a passive or disabled state when another antivirus product takes over, so there is no conflict. You keep Microsoft 365 Business Premium for Intune, Defender for Office 365 and identity protection.
- Keep Defender, add Sophos MDR. Sophos MDR ingests Microsoft security alerts through the Microsoft Graph security API and Microsoft 365 audit logs, and its analysts can take supported response actions in Microsoft 365. See Sophos MDR for Microsoft Defender.
What we advise against is two products both trying to be the active antivirus on the same machine, which causes performance problems and confusing alerts.
How we help
We start by checking which Microsoft licences you already have and what they include, then look at who will handle alerts and how much risk you are willing to carry. The result is a short, written recommendation: stay on Defender, move to Sophos Endpoint, or combine Defender with Sophos MDR, with a quote for whichever route makes sense. For broader Microsoft 365 hardening, see our Microsoft 365 security guide.
For an impartial Sophos vs Microsoft Defender review, contact us.
How Forever Systems supplies and supports Sophos
We supply and support the Sophos portfolio for UK organisations, from a single Sophos Endpoint (Intercept X) licence to a fully managed Sophos estate across endpoint, server, firewall, email, network and managed detection and response.
- Scoping and licensing: the right products, tiers and add-ons for your users, servers and risk, and a clear view of how the old Intercept X names map to today's Sophos Endpoint, EDR, XDR and MDR
- Deployment and migration from other endpoint, firewall or email products, or from older Sophos products and on-premises consoles
- Policy tuning so protection is strong without blocking legitimate work
- Ongoing support: alerts, health checks, updates, renewals and licence true-ups in Sophos Central (now becoming Sophos Fusion)
Forever Systems Ltd is an independent IT and cyber security provider. We also supply alternatives such as Cisco Secure Endpoint and Check Point Harmony Endpoint, so our advice is impartial.
Want a Sophos quote, trial or renewal review?
Tell Forever Systems what you need and we will come back to you by email with options, not a hard sell.
Contact usFrequently asked questions
Is Sophos better than Microsoft Defender?
Neither is better for everyone. Defender for Business is included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium and suits Microsoft-centric small firms with someone to act on alerts. Sophos Endpoint adds CryptoGuard ransomware rollback, a single console with other Sophos products and a direct route into Sophos MDR.
Do I need Sophos if I have Microsoft 365 Business Premium?
Not necessarily. Business Premium includes Defender for Business. Organisations add Sophos for its anti-ransomware rollback, a single console with Sophos Firewall or Email, or a 24/7 managed service. Sophos MDR can also sit on top of Defender.
Can Sophos and Microsoft Defender run together?
Yes. When Sophos Endpoint is the active antivirus, Windows normally puts Defender Antivirus into a passive or disabled state. Alternatively, keep Defender and add Sophos MDR, which analyses Microsoft security alerts and can act in Microsoft 365.
Does Defender for Business cover servers?
Yes, but Windows and Linux servers need extra licences, such as the Microsoft Defender for Business servers add-on. Microsoft's documentation says organisations with more than 60 servers need a different licence, such as Defender for Servers.
How many users does Defender for Business support?
Microsoft designs Defender for Business for organisations with up to 300 users, with up to five client devices per user licence. Larger organisations are pointed to Microsoft Defender for Endpoint.