Microsoft Defender for Business vs NetPol
Microsoft Defender for Business
microsoft.comNetPol
netpol.ioSide by side
| Figure | Microsoft Defender for Business | NetPol |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $0.25/mo | A$200/mo |
| Free plan | — | — |
| Free trial | Yes | Yes |
| Open source | — | — |
| Web | — | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | — | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | — |
| API | Yes | — |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 4 | 4 |
| Spec score · OT and ICS Security Monitoring Software | 8.6 (#1) | 8.2 (#6) |
| Headquarters | Redmond, Washington, United States | Perth, Western Australia |
| Integrations | The product integrates with Microsoft 365 Lighthouse and can work with remote monitoring and management tools and professional services automation software. | The maker lists compatibility with managed switches supporting SNMP v2c, including Cisco, Hirschmann, Moxa, Fortinet FortiSwitch, HP/Aruba, Juniper, and Extreme Networks. |
| Purpose | Microsoft Defender for Business is an endpoint security solution for small and medium-sized businesses with up to 300 users that helps protect devices from ransomware, malware, phishing, and other threats. | NetPol is network monitoring software built for OT, SCADA, and industrial networks. |
| Support | Microsoft's Defender for Business documentation provides a guide for getting help or contacting support. | Lite includes email support, Medium includes priority support, and Pro includes priority and phone support. |
Plans
Microsoft Defender for Business
- Microsoft Defender for Business$3 a month
- Microsoft Entra Internet Access$5 a month
- Microsoft Entra Suite$12 a month
- Microsoft Defender for Business$3 a year
NetPol
- Enterprise DashboardA$200 a month
- LiteA$1,000 a month
- MediumA$1,500 a month
- ProA$2,000 a month
In their own words
Microsoft Defender for Business
Microsoft Defender for Business has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.
NetPol
NetPol is self-hosted network monitoring software for OT, SCADA, and industrial networks. It polls managed switches using SNMP v2c and displays CPU, memory, interface status, errors, and uptime. Automatic CDP and LLDP discovery creates a live map of device relationships and link states. Operators can set per-switch alarm thresholds, acknowledge or silence alerts, and review an action history. The software also supports SSH configuration backups, side-by-side diffs, and full restore. Polling classes range from Core at 30–90 seconds to Slow at 300–900 seconds, with jitter intended to protect OT control planes. NetPol can run on a local server, VM, or Raspberry Pi without a cloud dependency. Its maker says switch data stays on the customer’s server and routine monitoring uses no telemetry, cloud sync, or third-party data processors. PDF reports cover switch status, alert summaries, and recommendations. Lite costs A$1,000 a month per node for up to 25 switches; Medium is 1500.00 AUD and Pro is A$2,000 a month per node. A seven-day trial is listed; there is no free plan.