Documented by Censys ASM only: ROUTED.
Documented by Microsoft Defender EASM only: none.
Documented by both: FOUND.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Censys ASM vs Microsoft Defender EASM: which ASM tool takes an exposure further?
THE SHORT ANSWER
Censys ASM scores higher overall on our weights, 5.15 to 4.70. Censys ASM scores higher on Proves exploitability and Closes the loop; Microsoft Defender EASM scores higher on Routes to an owner and Buying transparency; they tie on Finds the unlisted estate, Contains before the patch and Fits the enterprise stack. The table below gives the reason for every score.
Censys ASM
Rank 9 of 10
Best for: Threat intelligence and hunting teams that want raw internet scan evidence
Microsoft Defender EASM
Rank 10 of 10
Best for: Azure-first teams that want a self-serve start and Azure billing
Which tool scores higher on each criterion?
| Criterion | Censys ASM | Microsoft Defender EASM | Higher |
|---|---|---|---|
Finds the unlisted estate 15%WhyCensys ASM: First-party scanning across all 65K ports, expanding from seeds the customer adds. Microsoft Defender EASM: A prebuilt inventory for many organizations plus recursive discovery from seeds. | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tie |
Routes to an owner 10%WhyCensys ASM: Assets found beyond your seeds appear under a "Found by Censys" tab; attribution logic is not described in detail. Microsoft Defender EASM: Every asset carries a confidence-based state such as Approved Inventory, Candidate or Requires Investigation. | 6 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Microsoft Defender EASM |
Proves exploitability 20%WhyCensys ASM: Confirms reachability and applies EPSS and KEV context; active exploitation testing is not documented. Microsoft Defender EASM: Dashboards cover vulnerabilities, compliance and hygiene; no exploitability testing is documented. | 5 / 10 | 3 / 10 | Censys ASM |
Contains before the patch 20%WhyCensys ASM: No compensating control is described. Microsoft Defender EASM: No compensating control; remediation actions are triggered downstream after export. | 2 / 10 | 2 / 10 | Tie |
Closes the loop 15%WhyCensys ASM: Auto-creates, routes and tracks remediation tasks; no retest after a fix is described. Microsoft Defender EASM: Findings export to Log Analytics and Azure Data Explorer, where you build the workflow; no built-in ticketing or retest. | 6 / 10 | 3 / 10 | Censys ASM |
Fits the enterprise stack 10%WhyCensys ASM: Names Jira, ServiceNow ITSM and CMDB, Tenable VM, Google Security Operations, Microsoft Sentinel, Axonius, Brinqa, Slack, Webex and the three major clouds. Microsoft Defender EASM: Data connections to Log Analytics and Azure Data Explorer and Security Copilot in preview; no cross-tenant resource access. | 8 / 10 | 8 / 10 | Tie |
Buying transparency 10%WhyCensys ASM: A free platform account and credits from $100 exist; ASM itself is contact sales. Microsoft Defender EASM: Self-serve Azure billing against a published billable-asset definition after a 30-day free trial. | 4 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Microsoft Defender EASM |
Which steps does each tool document?
Censys ASM
- FOUNDDocumented
65K-port first-party scanning, expanding from seeds.
- OWNEDNot documented
Attribution logic not described in detail.
- PROVENPartial
Reachability confirmation with EPSS and KEV; no exploitation.
- CONTAINEDNot documented
No compensating control described.
- ROUTEDDocumented
Auto-creates and routes remediation tasks.
- RECHECKEDNot documented
Retest after a fix not described.
Microsoft Defender EASM
- FOUNDDocumented
Prebuilt inventory plus recursive discovery from seeds.
- OWNEDPartial
Confidence-based inventory states, not owner attribution.
- PROVENNot documented
No exploitability testing documented.
- CONTAINEDNot documented
No compensating control.
- ROUTEDPartial
Via export to Log Analytics and Azure Data Explorer.
- RECHECKEDNot documented
Retest after a fix not described.
Partial counts as not documented for these three lines.
What do they cost?
Censys ASM
Not published
ASM: contact sales. A free Censys platform account exists, and platform credits start from $100.
To start: Seeds you add in the console or through the API.
Microsoft Defender EASM
Billed through Azure on billable assets (approved host:IP combinations, domains and IP addresses) after a 30-day free trial. The per-asset rate is on Microsoft's pricing page; it was not captured in our sources.
To start: A prebuilt inventory for many organizations, or seeds such as domains, IP blocks, hosts, email contacts, ASNs and Whois organizations.
Which should you choose?
Choose Censys ASM if
- it matters most to you that it fits the enterprise stack (8/10)
- it matters most to you that it finds the unlisted estate (7/10)
Choose Censys ASM if your threat intelligence or hunting team wants raw scan evidence and broad integrations. Look elsewhere if you need exploitation proof or containment.
Choose Microsoft Defender EASM if
- it matters most to you that it fits the enterprise stack (8/10)
- it matters most to you that it finds the unlisted estate (7/10)
Choose Microsoft Defender EASM if you are Azure-first and want an external inventory you can try today. Look elsewhere if you need proof, containment or a built-in fix loop.
Frequently asked questions
Which proves exploitability better, Censys ASM or Microsoft Defender EASM?
Censys ASM scores higher on our proof criterion (Censys ASM 5/10, Microsoft Defender EASM 3/10). Censys ASM: Confirms reachability and applies EPSS and KEV context; active exploitation testing is not documented. Microsoft Defender EASM: Dashboards cover vulnerabilities, compliance and hygiene; no exploitability testing is documented.
Can Censys ASM or Microsoft Defender EASM contain an exposure before the patch?
Censys ASM: not documented on the pages reviewed Microsoft Defender EASM: not documented on the pages reviewed Contain scores: Censys ASM 2/10, Microsoft Defender EASM 2/10.
Which is easier to buy, Censys ASM or Microsoft Defender EASM?
Censys ASM: contact sales. A free Censys platform account exists, and platform credits start from $100. Microsoft Defender EASM: Billed through Azure on billable assets (approved host:IP combinations, domains and IP addresses) after a 30-day free trial. The per-asset rate is on Microsoft's pricing page; it was not captured in our sources. Buying transparency scores: Censys ASM 4/10, Microsoft Defender EASM 7/10.
Read next
- Censys ASM profile
Scores, sources and pricing
- Microsoft Defender EASM profile
Scores, sources and pricing
- Beyond Censys ASM: alternatives
Eight alternatives ranked
- Beyond Microsoft Defender EASM: alternatives
Eight alternatives ranked
- Line them up
Add more tools to this comparison
- Exposure triage calculator
Set your own weights and must-haves