Azure Sentinel vs Microsoft Defender: Microsoft Cloud Security Solution

As more businesses move their infrastructure to the cloud, securing digital assets isn’t just a nice to have it’s mission-critical. and if you are in the Microsoft ecosystem, you have probably come across two heavy hitting security tools like- Sentinel and Defender.

Both are powerful and both are designed to keep your systems safe. But they serve different purposes and knowing which one is right for your environment can save you time, money, and a lot of sleepless nights.

Let’s explore, what each tool does, how they differ, and when you might want to use one or both.

Understand Azure Sentinel and Microsoft Defender.

When it comes to protecting the environment, Sentinel and Defender are two Microsoft’s top tools which designed for different purpose. 

What is Azure Sentinel ?

Think of Sentinel as your security command center in the cloud environment . It’s Microsoft’s cloud-native SIEM (Security Information and Event Management) solution, built to give you a big-picture view of what’s happening across your entire environment whether it’s in Azure, on-prem, or third-party platforms.

Key Features :

• Centralized log collection from just about anywhere
• AI-powered threat detection for spotting unusual activity
• SOAR capabilities (Security Orchestration, Automation, and Response) to automate incident response
• Threat hunting tools for proactive security teams

What is Microsoft Defender?

Formerly known as Defender for Endpoint, this is Microsoft’s XDR (Extended Detection and Response) platform. It’s focused more on protecting specific assets like endpoints, emails, identities, and apps in real time.

Key Features :

• Antivirus and malware protection across devices
• Threat and vulnerability management to uncover weak spots
• Automated investigation and remediation using AI
• Support for multiple platforms e.g.; Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS

In nutshell defender is your frontline guard, actively stopping threats before they spread.

 

 

 

Key Differences Between Sentinel and Defender.

 

Feature	Azure Sentinel	Microsoft Defender
Purpose	SIEM: Log management & security analytics	XDR: Real-time protection for endpoints, identities, and apps
Deployment	Cloud-native (Azure)	Cloud-based with on-prem hooks
Data Sources	Logs from anywhere (Azure, firewalls, servers, third-party)	Data from endpoints, email, identities, apps
Threat Detection	Correlation-based, across systems	Focused on device-level and user-level behavior
Automation	Logic Apps-based playbooks	Built-in remediation tools
Pricing	Pay-as-you-go (data ingestion)	Per-user or per-device licenses

When Should You Use Each One?

• Use Sentinel if you need a centralized logging and monitoring system.
• You’re dealing with a hybrid or multi-cloud setup.
• Your security team wants to build custom analytics or do deep-dive threat hunting.
• You already have Defender and want broader context.
• Use Defender if you are focused on real-time endpoint and email protection.
• You need quick deployment with minimal configuration.
• You want to automate threat response without building complex playbooks.
• You’re a small or mid-sized business looking for strong, simplified protection.

Can we use both together and why?

Absolutely Yes, Sentinel and Defender work even better together. Defender detects threats at the device or identity level and sends alerts.

Sentinel picks up those alerts, enriches them with broader logs and analytics, and gives you the full picture. Together, they provide comprehensive coverage from real time protection (Defender) to broad visibility and response (Sentinel). Here is why we should use both.

 

1. Seamless Integration: Microsoft Defender’s alerts are automatically forwarded to Sentinel. This allows for centralized monitoring and improved analysis.
2. End-to-End Visibility: Defender focuses on endpoints and users, while Sentinel collects data from various sources, including cloud services, firewalls, and apps. This provides you with a complete security picture.
3. Smarter Threat Detection: Sentinel enhances Defender data with global threat intelligence and custom analytics. This helps in detecting advanced attacks.
4. Automated Response Across Platforms: Sentinel’s playbooks can respond to Defender alerts by isolating a device or disabling a user account automatically.
5. Unified Investigation Workflow: You can investigate incidents across both tools by starting with a Defender alert and then using Sentinel queries to dig deeper. This all happens within a connected interface.
6. Stronger Security Posture: Using both tools ensures proactive protection from Defender and reactive detection and response from Sentinel, which reduces risk and improves response time.

Pricing?

Sentinel charges based on how much log data you ingest (per GB). Additional costs for automation, data retention, and analytics rules.

Defender licensed per user or per device. Often bundled in Microsoft 365 E5 or can be purchased separately. It Covers email, endpoint, identity, and app protection.

 

Explore more on Azure Sentinel and Microsoft Defender  pricing here.

 

Which one should be consider ?

 

Scenario	Recommendation
You want to collect logs from across your environment and analyze them centrally	Go with Sentinel
You need real-time, out-of-the-box protection for your devices and users	Use Defender
You want end-to-end visibility and security	Combine both

Tips : Using both gives you proactive protection with Defender and deep analysis + response with Sentinel.

Choosing between Sentinel and Defender isn’t about picking the better tool, it’s about aligning the right tool with your organization’s security goals.

Conclusion

Choosing between Sentinel and Defender isn’t about picking the “better” tool, it’s about aligning the right tool with your required security goals.

Defender helps you stop threats before they spread.

Sentinel helps you understand, analyze, and respond when things get complex.

 

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