Looking beyond Microsoft Defender?
Defender for Business protects the devices you enrol. HackRisk shows what your organisation has exposed to the internet. They do different jobs.
HackRisk is not endpoint protection and does not replace Microsoft Defender for Business. If you need antivirus and endpoint detection and response on your laptops and phones, Defender for Business is an endpoint protection product made for that, and it is included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium. Nothing on this page is a reason to cancel it.
Defender for Business protects the Windows, macOS, iOS and Android devices you onboard, and its vulnerability management covers software on those devices. HackRisk looks at your domains, internet-facing services and leaked staff credentials the way an attacker would, and helps you assess your suppliers.
The fair comparison is the problem each one solves, the effort to get value from it and the shape of the cost. You can see your external attack surface for yourself with a free HackRisk report in 24 hours.
Why people go looking for an alternative
People search for a Microsoft Defender alternative for different reasons. Some are unsure what they already have through Microsoft 365. Others have Defender running and want to know what else to add. A few want a report a director can read directly.
You want to know what is visible from the outside. Defender for Business is built around the devices you onboard. HackRisk's recon scanning and dark web scanning look at your domains, subdomains and leaked staff credentials from the outside.
You need a report for people who are not IT administrators. Microsoft says Defender for Business optimises those capabilities for IT administrators to support small and medium sized businesses. HackRisk produces a plain-English report and an A* to F HackRisk Score written for owners, directors and ops leads.
Your suppliers and Cyber Essentials are on the agenda. Defender for Business is about your own devices. HackRisk adds supply chain security and a Cyber Essentials Readiness tier.
None of those is a reason to remove Defender. They are reasons to add a view of your organisation from the outside.
HackRisk in brief
HackRisk is a cyber risk monitoring platform for UK SMEs, built and run by the security experts at CyberLab. It scans your business from the outside, the way an attacker sees it, and turns everything it finds into one score: your credit score for cyber security.
Behind the score sits continuous monitoring of your external attack surface, dark web monitoring for stolen staff credentials, vulnerability scanning and supply chain checks. The results arrive as a report your board can actually read, with the fixes ranked by what needs attention first. Pricing is published: £49.99 a month for the Core plan on a 12-month commitment (£59.99 a month rolling), with a Cyber Essentials Readiness tier from £77 a month.
It starts with a free report. Enter your domain and you get a board-ready assessment within 24 hours, plus 30 days of full portal access, without handing over card details or sitting through a sales call.
HackRisk vs Microsoft Defender at a glance
| HackRisk | Microsoft Defender | |
|---|---|---|
| The problem it solves | What your organisation has exposed to the internet without realising | Ransomware, malware, phishing and other threats on the devices you have onboarded |
| Where it sits | Outside your network, looking in | On your devices: "enterprise-grade protection and vulnerability management for your Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android™ devices" (Microsoft UK product page, checked October 2026) |
| Detection and response | No. HackRisk reports on exposure; it does not block, quarantine or respond | AI-powered endpoint detection and response with automatic attack disruption, and automated investigation and remediation (Microsoft UK product page, checked October 2026) |
| Antivirus | No. HackRisk is not antivirus | Next-generation antivirus protection included (Microsoft UK product page, checked October 2026) |
| Vulnerability management | External vulnerability scanning of web applications and network assets, plus an internal vulnerability scan of 5 endpoints on Core | Software and apps on onboarded devices, with identified weaknesses and an exposure score (Microsoft Learn, checked October 2026) |
| Who it is for | Business owners, directors and ops leads at UK SMBs | Small and medium sized businesses with up to 300 users, up to five devices per user (Microsoft UK product page, checked October 2026) |
| Shape of the cost | Priced for the organisation: £49.99/month Core on a 12-month commitment or £59.99/month rolling, both billed monthly, covering one domain | Per user: £2.30 user/month, paid yearly, price does not include VAT (Microsoft UK product page, checked October 2026) |
| Bundled with Microsoft 365 | Sold as its own plan. See pricing | Included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium (Microsoft Learn, checked October 2026) |
| Try before you buy | Free report within 24 hours plus 30 days of portal access, no card details | One-month free trial that converts to a paid subscription; a credit card is required to sign up (Microsoft UK product page, checked October 2026) |
| Who reads the output | Owners, directors and ops leads: a plain-English report and an A* to F HackRisk Score | Optimised for IT administrators (Microsoft Learn, checked October 2026) |
Where the two really differ
Devices versus internet-facing exposure
Defender for Business is endpoint security based on Microsoft Defender for Endpoint. You onboard devices, and it protects them with next-generation antivirus and endpoint detection and response. HackRisk does none of that.
HackRisk starts from your domain and looks at what an attacker can find about your organisation on the internet. That includes subdomains and services nobody remembered to switch off, known vulnerabilities on internet-facing systems, staff credentials in breach data and supplier questionnaires.
Vulnerability management and vulnerability scanning
Microsoft calls it vulnerability management, HackRisk offers vulnerability scanning, and they cover different ground. In Defender for Business it covers software and apps on your onboarded devices, such as browsers and operating systems, with identified weaknesses and an exposure score.
HackRisk's vulnerability scanning checks web applications and network assets that are reachable from the internet. HackRisk Core also includes an internal vulnerability scan of five endpoints.
Cost and what you may already own
Microsoft lists Defender for Business at £2.30 per user per month, paid yearly, excluding VAT, on its UK page (checked October 2026). It is also included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium. Check your Microsoft 365 admin centre before buying anything.
HackRisk is priced for the organisation, not per user: £49.99 a month for Core on a 12-month commitment or £59.99 a month rolling, both billed monthly, covering one domain. Extra domains are £25 a month each. See pricing for the full list.
Who each is designed for
Microsoft describes Defender for Business as designed for small and medium sized businesses with up to 300 users, with wizard-driven configuration and default security policies, and optimised for IT administrators. Microsoft cloud solution providers that use Microsoft 365 Lighthouse can view security incidents and alerts across their customers.
HackRisk is written for the people who sign off risk. The output is a score, a report and prioritised remediation guidance in plain English.
What HackRisk adds beyond exposure
Alongside external monitoring, HackRisk covers supply chain security, with unlimited supplier invitations even on the free tier. It also offers phishing simulations and security awareness training as an add-on at £2 per person per month. HackRisk Core includes up to a 10% cyber insurance discount.
For Cyber Essentials, the Readiness tier from £77 a month on a 12-month term adds a dedicated account manager, security consultant sessions and Cyber Essentials or Cyber Essentials Plus certification.
Who should choose Microsoft Defender
Choose Microsoft Defender for Business if:
- You need antivirus and endpoint detection and response on Windows, macOS, iOS and Android devices.
- You already pay for Microsoft 365 Business Premium, which includes it.
- You have up to 300 users and an IT provider or administrator to onboard devices and act on alerts.
- You want automated investigation and remediation on your devices, which HackRisk cannot do.
If that describes you, keep it and switch it on fully. HackRisk is not a substitute.
Who should choose HackRisk
Add HackRisk if:
- You want to know what your organisation exposes to the internet, including things nobody is tracking.
- You want to know when staff credentials appear in breach data.
- Directors or owners need a plain-English report and a single score.
- You need to assess suppliers or are working towards Cyber Essentials.
If you fit both lists, you can run both. They cover different ground.
Switching, or just comparing?
There is nothing to switch. Keep Defender for Business, or Microsoft 365 Business Premium, as it is.
To see the external view, request a free HackRisk report. It arrives within 24 hours with 30 days of portal access, and no card details are needed. If you would rather talk it through first, contact us.
Frequently asked questions
Can HackRisk replace Microsoft Defender?
No. Microsoft Defender for Business is endpoint security. It protects devices you onboard with antivirus, endpoint detection and response, and automated investigation and remediation. HackRisk is not antivirus and does not block, quarantine or respond. If you need endpoint protection, keep Defender or another endpoint product. Do not cancel it on the strength of this page.
Is Defender for Business included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium?
Yes. Microsoft states that Business Premium includes Defender for Business. On its UK page (checked October 2026) Microsoft lists Defender for Business on its own at £2.30 per user per month, paid yearly, excluding VAT. It is designed for organisations with up to 300 users.
Doesn't Defender for Business already do vulnerability management?
Yes, for your devices. Microsoft describes it as covering software and apps on onboarded devices, the weaknesses found there and an exposure score associated with those devices. HackRisk looks at web applications and network assets reachable from the internet, plus leaked credentials and supplier questionnaires. The two views complement each other.
Does Defender for Business cover servers?
Yes, with extra licences. Microsoft says Windows and Linux servers need an extra licence, and lists server protection as an add-on.
How much does HackRisk cost?
HackRisk Core is £49.99 a month on a 12-month commitment, or £59.99 a month on a rolling plan. Both are billed monthly, and only the length of commitment changes. That covers one domain, with extra domains at £25 a month each. Cyber Essentials Readiness starts at £77 a month on a 12-month term.
Do the two work together?
Yes. Defender for Business protects the devices you have enrolled. HackRisk looks at your organisation from the outside, including subdomains and staff credentials in breach data.
See your score before you decide anything
The quickest way to compare is to see what HackRisk finds about your own business: your HackRisk Score and a board-ready breakdown of what attackers can see, within 24 hours.
No card details, no sales call. Plans from £49.99 a month on a 12-month commitment, if you decide to keep monitoring.
Information about Microsoft Defender on this page was checked against microsoft.com and learn.microsoft.com on 6 October 2026. If you spot something out of date, tell us and we’ll correct it.