TrellixVSMicrosoft DefenderEndpoint Security – India
One is already paid for. The other is a new invoice.
The Short Version
Trellix vs Microsoft Defender Endpoint Security India
Trellix sells one XDR console across endpoint, network, data and email. Microsoft Defender sells device protection you may already own inside Microsoft 365.
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40,000+Trellix customers worldwide
Rs 250Defender standalone, per user/month*
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Trellix vs Microsoft Defender at a glance
Both brands in one view. Where each one wins, and where the ASP network changes the answer.
Trellix
- Who makes it
- Musarubra US LLC, trading as Trellix. Formed January 2022 from the merger of McAfee Enterprise and FireEye, owned by Symphony Technology Group.
- What it covers
- Endpoint protection and EDR, network detection (NDR/IPS), data loss prevention, email security and an XDR correlation layer built on Trellix Wise GenAI.
- India price band
- Roughly Rs 1 lakh to Rs 5 lakh a year for a mid-size endpoint plus EDR deployment, priced module by module.*
- Best fit
- Estates already carrying a mix of ex-McAfee and ex-FireEye tooling that want one XDR console instead of two vendor relationships.
- Honest limit
- Module-by-module licensing (ENS, EDR, DLP, Email) adds up fast when each line gets bought separately without scoping first.
Microsoft Defender
- Who makes it
- Microsoft Corporation. A native part of the Microsoft Defender security family, not an acquisition.
- What it covers
- Next-gen antivirus, attack surface reduction, EDR and automated investigation, bought standalone or bundled inside Microsoft 365 Business Premium.
- India price band
- Rs 250 per user/month standalone, or included at no extra cost inside Microsoft 365 Business Premium at Rs 2,660/user/month.*
- Best fit
- Businesses already on, or moving to, Microsoft 365 who want device security sitting in the same portal as email and identity.
- Honest limit
- Capped at 300 users and 5 devices per user on the Business plan. Cross that line and you re-license into Defender for Endpoint, a console jump, not a settings toggle.
The Trellix and Microsoft Defender ranges Sirius Star supplies
Two picks from each brand. We size the mix in the free 30-minute review.
Most bought
Trellix Endpoint Security (ENS)
The base agent: threat prevention, adaptive threat protection and firewall in one client.
Current India models: ENS Threat Prevention · ENS Adaptive Threat Protection*
- Single lightweight agent, not three stacked tools
- Behavioural and signature detection together
- Manageable from the same ePO estate as legacy McAfee
AI correlation
Trellix XDR Platform
Correlates endpoint, network, data and email signals in one view, with Trellix Wise GenAI doing first-pass triage.
Current India models: XDR Platform with Trellix Wise GenAI*
- 68 billion telemetry queries a day across the wider Trellix base
- 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant recognition for NDR
- Feeds EDR with Forensics directly into one console
Standalone
Microsoft Defender for Business (standalone)
Bought on its own, without a full Microsoft 365 subscription attached.
Current India models: Defender for Business, standalone, up to 300 users*
- Next-gen antivirus, attack surface reduction, EDR and automated remediation from day one
- Onboards Windows, Mac, Android and iOS, up to 5 devices per user
- Simplified console; advanced hunting queries need Plan 2 instead
Bundled
Defender inside Microsoft 365 Business Premium
The most common way Indian SMBs end up owning this, whether switched on or not.
Current India models: Business Premium, Defender included, no separate line item*
- Same device protection, plus Entra ID and Intune in one licence
- One console for email, identity and endpoint
- Only pencils out if you use the rest of Business Premium too
*Disclaimer: Model numbers shown are illustrative examples of the current India line-up. Trellix and Microsoft Defender refresh their line-ups periodically and stock varies by branch. Please contact Sirius Star for latest availability and price.
Trellix vs Microsoft Defender: feature by feature
The specifics that decide the buy, for the Indian buyer.
| Feature | Trellix | Microsoft Defender |
|---|---|---|
| Console | Single XDR console across endpoint, network, data and email | Unified Microsoft Defender portal, shared with Entra ID, Intune and Purview |
| Seat ceiling | No seat cap; priced by module | 300 users, 5 devices/user on the Business plan, then re-license to Defender for Endpoint |
| India entry price | Roughly Rs 1L-5L a year, module priced* | Rs 250/user/month standalone, or free inside Business Premium at Rs 2,660/user/month* |
| Independent test scores | 2025 SE Labs Enterprise Endpoint (Windows) winner; 100% MITRE ATT&CK macOS score | Strong native Windows telemetry, benchmarked mainly within the Microsoft ecosystem |
| Non-Windows coverage | Full ENS/EDR across Windows, Mac, Linux and mobile | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS; deepest attack surface reduction is strongest on Windows |
| Best paired with | A standalone SIEM, or an existing ex-McAfee/FireEye estate | A Microsoft 365 Business Premium or E5 licence you already pay for |
| Buying motion | Module by module (ENS, EDR, DLP, Email, MDR), scoped to what your regulator asks | Often already owned and simply not switched on |
| Renewal risk | Jumps happen when EDR, DLP and Email get added as separate line items later | Tracks your Microsoft 365 plan renewal; no separate AV invoice to watch |
Which one for what
The clean decision guide for common Indian B2B scenarios. Pick the row that fits.
Assembling endpoint security from scratch, no Microsoft 365 dependency
Trellix, for the single XDR console across endpoint, network, data and email.
Already paying for Microsoft 365 Business Premium or E5
Check if Defender for Business is already switched on before buying anything else.
Running a mixed ex-McAfee and ex-FireEye estate today
Trellix, it was built specifically to fold both consoles into one.
Under 100 endpoints and budget-led
Neither may be the cheapest fit. Ask Sirius Star to size ESET or Bitdefender alongside these two.
Expecting to cross 300 users this year
Plan the Defender for Endpoint Plan 1/2 migration now, or size Trellix instead, since Defender for Business itself will not scale past 300.
How Sirius Star sizes Trellix or Microsoft Defender
Free review first. Then a written quote in 24 working hours.
1
Site survey + sizing
Free 30-min call. We map load, refresh cycle, and current estate.
2
Both brands quoted
Written quote in 24 working hours. Itemised. GST broken out.
3
PO and dispatch from Vashi
Typical 10 working days for stock SKUs. Staggered rollout if multi-site.
4
Warranty and refresh wrap
One escalation path. Refresh calendar in writing. Buyback where offered.
Free field guide
Endpoint Security Buyer’s Checklist: Bundled vs Standalone
- The Pune NBFC story, licence audit included
- Trellix ENS vs XDR vs Microsoft Defender, side by side
- Five questions to ask before your next endpoint renewal
Free. Delivered to your email after the form.
Trellix vs Microsoft Defender in India FAQ
Common questions Indian buyers ask. Answers grounded in current sources.
Is Microsoft Defender good enough to replace Trellix?
For a Microsoft 365-first business under a few hundred seats, often yes, especially once attack surface reduction rules are switched on properly. For an estate that needs network detection, DLP and email security correlated in one XDR view, Trellix covers more ground natively. The honest answer depends on what else you are already running, not which product scores higher on a spec sheet.
Can I run Trellix and Microsoft Defender on the same laptop?
Technically yes, but we do not recommend it. Running two full endpoint agents on one device causes scan conflicts and slows the machine down for no security benefit. Pick one as the primary agent; the other’s antivirus engine should be disabled even if the licence stays active.
Which is cheaper for a 150-seat Indian business?
If you are not on Microsoft 365, standalone Trellix ENS and standalone Defender for Business land in a similar band once modules are scoped. If you already pay for Microsoft 365 Business Premium, Defender is effectively free since it is already included in that invoice.
Does Trellix or Microsoft Defender score better in independent tests?
Trellix was the 2025 SE Labs Enterprise Endpoint (Windows) winner and scored 100% in the 2024 MITRE ATT&CK Evaluations for macOS. Microsoft Defender is not usually benchmarked head-to-head in the same independent labs, but its native Windows telemetry is a real strength on that one platform.
What happens if we outgrow Microsoft Defender for Business’s 300-user cap?
You move to Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Plan 1 or Plan 2, a separate licence and console, through the Microsoft CSP channel. It is a migration to plan for, not a settings change on renewal day.
Ready for a sized Trellix/Microsoft Defender quote?
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