Documented by CrowdStrike EASM only: ROUTED.
Documented by Microsoft Defender EASM only: none.
Documented by both: FOUND.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
CrowdStrike EASM vs Microsoft Defender EASM: which ASM tool takes an exposure further?
THE SHORT ANSWER
CrowdStrike EASM scores higher overall on our weights, 5.55 to 4.70. CrowdStrike EASM scores higher on Proves exploitability, Contains before the patch and Closes the loop; Microsoft Defender EASM scores higher on Routes to an owner and Buying transparency; they tie on Finds the unlisted estate and Fits the enterprise stack. The table below gives the reason for every score.
CrowdStrike EASM
Rank 6 of 10
Best for: CrowdStrike Falcon customers who want external exposure in the same console as endpoint and vulnerability data
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 | CrowdStrike EASM | Microsoft Defender EASM | Higher |
|---|---|---|---|
Finds the unlisted estate 15%WhyCrowdStrike EASM: Indexes the entire internet around the clock and maps known and unknown assets, including shadow IT; required inputs and subsidiary coverage are not described. Microsoft Defender EASM: A prebuilt inventory for many organizations plus recursive discovery from seeds. | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tie |
Routes to an owner 10%WhyCrowdStrike EASM: Tracks added, modified and removed assets and flags business-critical ones with AI-driven analysis; how an asset is tied to the organization, a subsidiary or an owner is not described. Microsoft Defender EASM: Every asset carries a confidence-based state such as Approved Inventory, Candidate or Requires Investigation. | 5 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Microsoft Defender EASM |
Proves exploitability 20%WhyCrowdStrike EASM: Its Exposure Prioritization Agent "validates exploitability using real-time telemetry" and correlates internet-facing assets with internal systems; active exploit testing of external assets is not described. Microsoft Defender EASM: Dashboards cover vulnerabilities, compliance and hygiene; no exploitability testing is documented. | 5 / 10 | 3 / 10 | CrowdStrike EASM |
Contains before the patch 20%WhyCrowdStrike EASM: Falcon Fusion SOAR automates remediation workflows, and Falcon Real Time Response lists compensating controls such as network isolation, but it requires Falcon Insight XDR; no WAF or edge rule is described. Microsoft Defender EASM: No compensating control; remediation actions are triggered downstream after export. | 5 / 10 | 2 / 10 | CrowdStrike EASM |
Closes the loop 15%WhyCrowdStrike EASM: Guided remediation steps, plus ServiceNow, Jira and patch management integrations for ticketing and remediation tracking; owner routing and a retest after a fix are not 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 | CrowdStrike EASM |
Fits the enterprise stack 10%WhyCrowdStrike EASM: Part of the CrowdStrike Falcon platform, combining EASM with threat intelligence, IT hygiene and vulnerability management across endpoints, cloud, network and OT/IoT; ServiceNow and Jira are the named integrations. 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%WhyCrowdStrike EASM: No EASM or Exposure Management price; CrowdStrike publishes per-device prices only for endpoint bundles, and we found no CrowdStrike EASM listing on AWS Marketplace or the CrowdStrike Marketplace. Microsoft Defender EASM: Self-serve Azure billing against a published billable-asset definition after a 30-day free trial. | 3 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Microsoft Defender EASM |
Which steps does each tool document?
CrowdStrike EASM
- FOUNDDocumented
Internet-wide mapping 24/7, including shadow IT.
- OWNEDNot documented
Ownership or subsidiary attribution not described; inventory changes and business criticality are.
- PROVENPartial
Exposure Prioritization Agent validates exploitability using telemetry; active external exploit testing not described.
- CONTAINEDPartial
Fusion SOAR workflows; Real Time Response compensating controls need Falcon Insight XDR; no WAF or edge rule.
- ROUTEDDocumented
ServiceNow and Jira ticketing and remediation tracking.
- 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?
CrowdStrike EASM
Not published
No EASM or Exposure Management price published. CrowdStrike's pricing page lists endpoint bundles only (from $7.99 per device per month) and says add-ons cost extra. No CrowdStrike EASM listing found on AWS Marketplace or the CrowdStrike Marketplace.
To start: Required inputs are not published. CrowdStrike says Falcon Exposure Management gives "instant visibility and prioritization capabilities from day one", and its site offers a 15-day Falcon trial that is not tied to EASM.
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 CrowdStrike 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 CrowdStrike EASM if your team already works in the Falcon console and wants external exposure next to endpoint and vulnerability data. Look elsewhere if you need proof of exploitability on external assets, attribution to subsidiaries or a published price.
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, CrowdStrike EASM or Microsoft Defender EASM?
CrowdStrike EASM scores higher on our proof criterion (CrowdStrike EASM 5/10, Microsoft Defender EASM 3/10). CrowdStrike EASM: Its Exposure Prioritization Agent "validates exploitability using real-time telemetry" and correlates internet-facing assets with internal systems; active exploit testing of external assets is not described. Microsoft Defender EASM: Dashboards cover vulnerabilities, compliance and hygiene; no exploitability testing is documented.
Can CrowdStrike EASM or Microsoft Defender EASM contain an exposure before the patch?
CrowdStrike EASM: not documented on the pages reviewed Microsoft Defender EASM: not documented on the pages reviewed Contain scores: CrowdStrike EASM 5/10, Microsoft Defender EASM 2/10.
Which is easier to buy, CrowdStrike EASM or Microsoft Defender EASM?
CrowdStrike EASM: No EASM or Exposure Management price published. CrowdStrike's pricing page lists endpoint bundles only (from $7.99 per device per month) and says add-ons cost extra. No CrowdStrike EASM listing found on AWS Marketplace or the CrowdStrike Marketplace. 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: CrowdStrike EASM 3/10, Microsoft Defender EASM 7/10.
Read next
- CrowdStrike EASM profile
Scores, sources and pricing
- Microsoft Defender EASM profile
Scores, sources and pricing
- Beyond CrowdStrike EASM: alternatives
Eight alternatives ranked
- Beyond Microsoft Defender EASM: alternatives
Eight alternatives ranked
- Line them up
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