Documented by Microsoft Defender EASM only: none.
Documented by Tenable ASM only: none.
Documented by both: FOUND.
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Microsoft Defender EASM vs Tenable ASM: which ASM tool takes an exposure further?
THE SHORT ANSWER
Tenable ASM scores higher overall on our weights, 5.40 to 4.70. Microsoft Defender EASM scores higher on Routes to an owner and Buying transparency; Tenable ASM scores higher on Proves exploitability, Contains before the patch, Closes the loop and Fits the enterprise stack; they tie on Finds the unlisted estate. The table below gives the reason for every score.
Microsoft Defender EASM
Rank 10 of 10
Best for: Azure-first teams that want a self-serve start and Azure billing
Tenable ASM
Rank 7 of 10
Best for: Tenable One customers who want external assets in the same exposure view
Which tool scores higher on each criterion?
| Criterion | Microsoft Defender EASM | Tenable ASM | Higher |
|---|---|---|---|
Finds the unlisted estate 15%WhyMicrosoft Defender EASM: A prebuilt inventory for many organizations plus recursive discovery from seeds. Tenable ASM: Draws on an attack surface map of more than 5 billion assets to find domains related to your inventory. | 7 / 10 | 7 / 10 | Tie |
Routes to an owner 10%WhyMicrosoft Defender EASM: Every asset carries a confidence-based state such as Approved Inventory, Candidate or Requires Investigation. Tenable ASM: Adds context from 200+ metadata fields; subsidiary or owner attribution is not described. | 7 / 10 | 6 / 10 | Microsoft Defender EASM |
Proves exploitability 20%WhyMicrosoft Defender EASM: Dashboards cover vulnerabilities, compliance and hygiene; no exploitability testing is documented. Tenable ASM: Tenable One adds attack path analysis across 150+ techniques; the ASM product does not document exploit testing. | 3 / 10 | 5 / 10 | Tenable ASM |
Contains before the patch 20%WhyMicrosoft Defender EASM: No compensating control; remediation actions are triggered downstream after export. Tenable ASM: Hexa AI orchestrates automated remediation in Tenable One; no edge control is described for ASM itself. | 2 / 10 | 4 / 10 | Tenable ASM |
Closes the loop 15%WhyMicrosoft Defender EASM: Findings export to Log Analytics and Azure Data Explorer, where you build the workflow; no built-in ticketing or retest. Tenable ASM: Workflow runs through Tenable One and its connectors rather than ASM alone; no retest described. | 3 / 10 | 5 / 10 | Tenable ASM |
Fits the enterprise stack 10%WhyMicrosoft Defender EASM: Data connections to Log Analytics and Azure Data Explorer and Security Copilot in preview; no cross-tenant resource access. Tenable ASM: External findings land in Tenable One beside Tenable's vulnerability data, with Tenable One Connectors for third-party sources. | 8 / 10 | 9 / 10 | Tenable ASM |
Buying transparency 10%WhyMicrosoft Defender EASM: Self-serve Azure billing against a published billable-asset definition after a 30-day free trial. Tenable ASM: ASM is quote-only, although Tenable lists prices for adjacent products such as Tenable One Vulnerability Management. | 7 / 10 | 3 / 10 | Microsoft Defender EASM |
Which steps does each tool document?
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.
Tenable ASM
- FOUNDDocumented
Domains related to your inventory from a 5 billion+ asset map.
- OWNEDNot documented
Subsidiary or owner attribution not described.
- PROVENNot documented
Attack path analysis in Tenable One; no exploit testing documented for ASM.
- CONTAINEDPartial
Hexa AI automated remediation, through Tenable One.
- ROUTEDPartial
Through Tenable One connectors, not ASM alone.
- RECHECKEDNot documented
Retest after a fix not described.
Partial counts as not documented for these three lines.
What do they cost?
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.
Tenable ASM
ASM: quote only. Tenable One is sold in two packages, Foundation and Advanced, both "Request a quote". Tenable lists some adjacent products online, for example Tenable One Vulnerability Management at $3,700 for one year for up to 250 assets.
To start: Demo request; no ASM trial listed.
Which should you choose?
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.
Choose Tenable ASM if
- it matters most to you that it fits the enterprise stack (9/10)
- it matters most to you that it finds the unlisted estate (7/10)
Choose Tenable ASM if Tenable One is already your exposure platform. Look elsewhere if you want an ASM tool that proves and contains exposures on its own.
Frequently asked questions
Which proves exploitability better, Microsoft Defender EASM or Tenable ASM?
Tenable ASM scores higher on our proof criterion (Microsoft Defender EASM 3/10, Tenable ASM 5/10). Microsoft Defender EASM: Dashboards cover vulnerabilities, compliance and hygiene; no exploitability testing is documented. Tenable ASM: Tenable One adds attack path analysis across 150+ techniques; the ASM product does not document exploit testing.
Can Microsoft Defender EASM or Tenable ASM contain an exposure before the patch?
Microsoft Defender EASM: not documented on the pages reviewed Tenable ASM: not documented on the pages reviewed Contain scores: Microsoft Defender EASM 2/10, Tenable ASM 4/10.
Which is easier to buy, Microsoft Defender EASM or Tenable ASM?
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. Tenable ASM: quote only. Tenable One is sold in two packages, Foundation and Advanced, both "Request a quote". Tenable lists some adjacent products online, for example Tenable One Vulnerability Management at $3,700 for one year for up to 250 assets. Buying transparency scores: Microsoft Defender EASM 7/10, Tenable ASM 3/10.
Read next
- Microsoft Defender EASM profile
Scores, sources and pricing
- Tenable ASM profile
Scores, sources and pricing
- Beyond Microsoft Defender EASM: alternatives
Eight alternatives ranked
- Beyond Tenable ASM: alternatives
Eight alternatives ranked
- Line them up
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