Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management review

Defender Vulnerability Management ranks second because, for Microsoft-heavy organizations, it adds premium vulnerability management to an agent that is already on every device. Microsoft's documentation says it covers Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS and network devices, and it ranks issues with Microsoft threat intelligence, breach likelihood predictions and business context. The premium add-on, listed at $2 per user per month for Defender for Endpoint Plan 2 customers, brings security baselines assessment against CIS and STIG, authenticated scans for unmanaged Windows machines, browser extension and certificate inventories, hardware and firmware assessment, and the ability to block vulnerable apps. Customers on Defender for Endpoint Plan 1 or Microsoft 365 E3 can buy a standalone version instead. The catch is scope: it is built around endpoints and servers in the Defender portal, it is not offered to Defender for Business customers, and it does not test your public web apps. Teams outside the Microsoft stack get little from it.

Who it is for

Organizations already running Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Plan 2 that want vulnerability and configuration assessment without deploying another agent.

Price

Add-on from $2 per user per month for Defender for Endpoint Plan 2 customers.

Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management Add-on $2.00 user/month
Quoted from the vendor pricing page on November 9, 2026.

Key features

• Asset visibility and assessments for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS and network devices
• Security baselines assessment against CIS and STIG benchmarks
• Authenticated scans of unmanaged Windows devices
• Browser extension, digital certificate, hardware and firmware assessment
• Option to block vulnerable applications

Strengths and weaknesses

• Strength: Uses the Defender for Endpoint sensor you already run, so no new agent
• Strength: $2 per user per month add-on is low next to per-asset scanners
• Strength: Prioritization draws on Microsoft threat intelligence and breach likelihood predictions
• Weakness: Not available to Microsoft Defender for Business customers
• Weakness: Covers devices in the Defender ecosystem, not external web apps
• Weakness: Licensing across Plan 2, add-on, standalone and Defender for Servers is confusing

Key facts

• Add-on price: $2.00 per user per month
• Requires: Defender for Endpoint Plan 2 for the add-on; standalone for P1 or Microsoft 365 E3
• Platforms: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, network devices
• Free trial: Yes

Where it ranks

Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management is No. 3 in our Best Vulnerability Management Software verdict.