In this guide · 8 sections
Short answer
If you use Microsoft 365 Business Premium, Defender for Business is already included, with EDR, so start there. On other Microsoft plans it is a US$3 per user add-on. Pick ESET for a light footprint, or Bitdefender for top protection scores outside Microsoft 365.
Defender vs ESET vs Bitdefender: the short version
Microsoft Defender for Business
Best if on M365Included in Business Premium, or US$3/user/mo
- Per user, up to 5 devices each
- EDR included
- Managed in the Microsoft Defender portal with Intune
- Windows, Mac, iOS and Android
Best for: Microsoft 365 businesses up to 300 users.
ESET PROTECT
Light footprintFrom S$307.38/yr for 5 devices (Entry, incl. GST)
- Per device, Entry, Advanced and Complete tiers online
- XDR as an add-on, or in Elite from 25 devices
- Cloud console, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android
- Lowest performance impact in AV-Comparatives' test
Best for: Mixed environments wanting simple, light protection.
Bitdefender GravityZone
Top scoresUS$384.99/yr for 10 devices (Business Security, list)
- Per device, 1 to 100 devices online
- Premium adds sandbox and attack forensics
- EDR in Business Security Enterprise
- Windows, Mac, Linux, plus mobile add-on
Best for: Businesses outside Microsoft 365 or wanting a separate vendor.
Prices are approximate, as of October 2026, from each vendor's store or documentation, and change with promotions and device counts. Our guide on Defender for Business vs other antivirus explains the built-in Windows antivirus versus the managed business versions.
Pricing and licensing compared
The biggest practical difference is per user versus per device. A user with a laptop, a desktop and a phone is one Defender licence but three ESET or Bitdefender seats.
| Product | Licensed by | Example price (Oct 2026) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Defender for Business (standalone) | User, up to 5 devices | US$3 per user per month | For up to 300 users |
| Microsoft 365 Business Premium | User | US$22 per user per month (annual) | Includes Defender for Business, Intune, Entra ID P1 |
| ESET PROTECT Entry / Advanced / Complete | Device | S$307.38 / S$399.49 / S$491.59 for 5 devices, 1 year | ESET Singapore store, incl. GST, first-term price |
| Bitdefender Business Security / Premium | Device | US$384.99 / US$879.99 for 10 devices, 1 year | List prices before tax; 30% promotions often shown |
Sources: Microsoft's Defender for Business overview, ESET's Singapore small and midsize business store and Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security. For five people with one laptop each, the three land in a similar range. Defender pulls ahead when staff have several devices or you already pay for Business Premium.
EDR and features by tier
Endpoint detection and response (EDR) records what happens on each device so an attack can be spotted, investigated and contained, rather than only blocking known malware. It is the feature that most often decides the tier.
- Defender for Business: Microsoft's overview lists EDR (in an SMB-optimised form), automated investigation and remediation, and cross-platform support for Mac, iOS and Android in Defender for Business itself.
- ESET PROTECT: ESET's comparison shows Entry with modern endpoint protection, server security and ransomware remediation; Advanced adds full disk encryption, advanced threat defense (sandboxing) and cloud workload protection; Complete adds mail server and cloud app protection. Extended detection and response is an add-on or part of PROTECT Elite, which starts from 25 devices.
- Bitdefender GravityZone: Business Security covers endpoint protection, network attack defense and risk management; Premium adds Sandbox Analyzer and attack forensics, described by Bitdefender as without additional detection and response; Business Security Enterprise adds EDR.
What the independent tests show (AV-Comparatives 2026)
IT Sorted has not run its own malware tests. The figures below are from AV-Comparatives' Business Security Test H1 2026, released 15 July 2026, which tested 16 business products on Windows 11 from March to June 2026.
| Product as tested | Real-World Protection (400 cases) | Malware Protection | Performance impact score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security Premium | 99.8%, 4 false alarms | 99.5% | 26.3 |
| ESET PROTECT Entry with ESET PROTECT Cloud | 98.8%, 2 false alarms | 99.2% | 3.7 (lowest in test) |
| Microsoft Defender Antivirus with MEM | 98.8%, 0 false alarms | 99.3% | 18.6 |
The gaps are small: one to five missed cases out of 400. In practice, settings, update discipline and someone watching alerts matter more than a percentage point. AV-Comparatives also notes its results depend on the product configurations it used, which may differ from yours.
Management console and day-to-day use
Defender for Business works well when
- You already use Microsoft 365 and Intune
- You want one admin portal for email, identity and devices
- Staff have several devices each
- You want EDR without a higher tier
ESET or Bitdefender works well when
- You are on Google Workspace or have no Microsoft 365 admin
- You want a separate vendor from your email provider
- You have Linux servers or older machines to cover
- You prefer a simpler, security-only console
All three consoles are cloud-based and can push policies, show unprotected devices and send email alerts. Defender's portal is more powerful but busier; ESET's and Bitdefender's consoles are more focused on endpoints. Our guide to choosing an endpoint protection provider covers the questions to ask any vendor or IT provider.
How to choose for your business
Check what you already pay for
If you have Microsoft 365 Business Premium, you already own Defender for Business. Turn it on before buying anything else.
Count users and devices
Per-user licensing favours Defender when staff have laptops, desktops and phones; per-device favours ESET or Bitdefender when each person has one machine.
Decide whether you need EDR
If you handle sensitive data, pay suppliers by bank transfer or want Cyber Essentials, EDR is worth having. Price the tier that includes it.
Trial on two or three machines
All three offer trials. Check speed on your oldest laptop and how clear the alerts are.
Plan who watches alerts
Decide who receives alerts and what they do, before rollout. Unread alerts give no protection.
Endpoint protection on every device is one of the measures in CSA's Cyber Essentials mark; see our Cyber Essentials mark checklist.
Do it yourself or get help?
Turning on Defender for Business in a Business Premium tenant, or deploying ESET or Bitdefender to a handful of laptops, is manageable for a confident admin. The common gaps are devices nobody enrolled, policies left at defaults and alerts going to an unread mailbox.
Our Antivirus & Endpoint Protection Rollout (S$390) sets up Defender for Business, Bitdefender GravityZone or ESET PROTECT in your own account on up to 10 Windows or Mac devices, with policies and alerts configured. For ongoing care, Protect Standard (S$19 per user a month, minimum 3 users) keeps protection updated and helps when you forward a vendor alert.
Frequently asked questions
For most Microsoft 365 businesses, yes. It includes next-generation antivirus, EDR and automated investigation, covers Windows, Mac, iOS and Android, and Microsoft Defender Antivirus scored 98.8% in AV-Comparatives' March to June 2026 business test with no false alarms. It is included in Business Premium or costs US$3 per user per month.
Both are strong. In AV-Comparatives' March to June 2026 business test, Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security Premium scored 99.8% in real-world protection and ESET PROTECT Entry 98.8%, while ESET had the lowest performance impact of all 16 products. Bitdefender suits those wanting top protection scores; ESET suits older or lower-spec machines.
Not always, but it helps. EDR records activity on each device so an attack can be investigated and contained, which matters if you handle sensitive data or large payments. Defender for Business includes it; ESET and Bitdefender include it only in higher tiers. It is only useful if someone reads and acts on the alerts.
Yes, but not as two active antivirus engines. When a third-party product is installed, Windows normally switches Microsoft Defender Antivirus to a passive or disabled state. Running two full products at once causes conflicts and slowdowns. Pick one as the main protection and manage it centrally.
As of October 2026, ESET PROTECT Entry was S$307.38 for 5 devices for one year including GST on ESET's Singapore store, Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security listed US$384.99 for 10 devices for one year before tax, and Defender for Business was US$3 per user per month or included in Business Premium.