Which endpoint protection platforms are most widely used by companies?

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is probably the most widely used overall, with CrowdStrike Falcon a major second. Other commonly deployed platforms include SentinelOne Singularity, Broadcom’s Symantec/Carbon Black, Trellix, Sophos, and Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR.

That’s a broad picture, not a definitive ranking of how many companies use each product: studies count different things—revenue share, customer deployments, or survey responses. For example, IDC’s 2024 market-share data put Microsoft first at 28.6%, while CrowdStrike was next at 16.8%; those are market-share figures, not percentages of companies using each platform. (microsoft.com)

In practice, Defender is especially common in organizations already invested in Microsoft 365, while CrowdStrike and SentinelOne are prominent dedicated endpoint-security choices. Other established vendors remain widely present, particularly in organizations with existing deployments or specific needs. (research.etr.ai)

Based on the sources I found, CrowdStrike, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Sophos, SentinelOne, and Trend Micro come up most often. Market-share estimates vary a lot by source, so treat the numbers as rough.

Market share estimates

• Fortune Business Insights puts Microsoft Corporation: 18% and CrowdStrike: 15% as the top two by market share.
• 6sense reports Crowdstrike with 22.68% market share (13432 customers), Microsoft Defender for Endpoint with 15.61% market share (9245 customers), McAfee ePO with 12.17% market share (7209 customers). Its separate endpoint security page instead ranks Sophos with 20.55% market share (26132 customers), Trend Micro with 11.65% market share (14818 customers), WatchGuard with 7.70% market share (9789 customers). That page appears to be older data despite its 2026 title, so I'd weigh it less.

Analyst recognition (Gartner Magic Quadrant, 2026)

• CrowdStrike: named a Leader in the 2026 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Endpoint Protection. This is its seventh consecutive appearance as a Leader.
• Palo Alto Networks: Gartner® has named Palo Alto Networks a Leader in Endpoint Protection Platforms for the fourth consecutive year.
• SentinelOne: its 2026 Leader status is listed in its own materials.
• Trend Micro (now branded TrendAI): recognized 21 consecutive times as a Leader in Endpoint Protection Platforms* by Gartner.
• Sophos: This marks the 17th consecutive report in which Sophos has been recognized as a Leader in this category.

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is also commonly cited as a major option. One 2026 analysis discusses where it lands in the Magic Quadrant, but I didn't confirm its quadrant position from a primary source.

Other names that appear in lists

• Symantec Endpoint Security (Broadcom), which one review describes as a stalwart in enterprise endpoint protection.
• McAfee ePO, which appears in the 6sense share rankings above.
• ESET, Check Point, and Cisco, which are among the vendors covered in market reports.

Practical takeaway
If you're choosing one, CrowdStrike and Microsoft Defender have the broadest adoption signals. Sophos and Trend Micro are strong, especially in mid-market environments. SentinelOne is a common alternative. Vendor-published Gartner claims also come from the vendors themselves, so check the full Magic Quadrant report or Gartner Peer Insights reviews before deciding.

In 2026, the market for endpoint protection platforms (EPP) and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions is highly consolidated around a few industry leaders. Most companies choose their providers based on existing infrastructure (such as Microsoft-heavy environments), the need for automated versus manual management, and the sophistication of their security operations.

The most widely used and highly regarded platforms by companies today include:

Industry Leaders

These platforms are consistently recognized as leaders by analysts (such as in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant) and are widely deployed across large enterprises and mid-market organizations:

• Microsoft Defender for Endpoint: Often the default choice for organizations already utilizing the Microsoft 365 E5 ecosystem. Its native integration and "zero extra license cost" model for existing M365 customers make it a dominant player in terms of market reach and adoption.
• CrowdStrike Falcon: Widely considered the standard for high-value targets, including finance, defense, and critical infrastructure. It is noted for its deep threat intelligence, advanced AI-driven detection, and robust EDR/XDR capabilities.
• SentinelOne Singularity: Frequently chosen by teams that prioritize automation. Its autonomous architecture, which can perform threat response offline, is a key differentiator for organizations seeking powerful protection without necessarily requiring a 24/7 dedicated security operations center (SOC).
• Palo Alto Networks (Cortex XDR): Recognized for its powerful threat-hunting capabilities and ability to unify data across network, cloud, and endpoint environments, making it a strong choice for complex enterprise security stacks.

Other Notable & Growing Platforms

Beyond the top tier, several other vendors maintain significant market presence and are preferred for specific use cases:

• Sophos (Intercept X): Widely recognized for its strong ransomware protection and exploit prevention, making it a popular choice for mid-sized to enterprise teams.
• Trend Micro (Vision One): Known for its broad security visibility and ability to correlate threats across multiple vectors, including email and endpoints.
• Bitdefender (GravityZone): Often favored by small to medium-sized businesses for its layered, cost-effective, and machine-learning-based protection.
• Huntress: Has gained significant traction among small-to-medium businesses (SMBs) and managed service providers (MSPs) because it pairs technology with a 24/7 human-led security operations center, catering to organizations that cannot staff their own continuous monitoring.

How Companies Choose

When evaluating these platforms, companies typically weigh the following factors:

• Existing Stack: Organizations heavily invested in Microsoft typically leverage Defender for its seamless integration.
• Managed vs. Self-Managed: Companies without a large security team often lean toward providers that offer managed services (e.g., Huntress or CrowdStrike’s managed tiers).
• Performance & Autonomy: Organizations seeking to minimize manual intervention often favor SentinelOne for its autonomous response features.
• Threat Profile: Highly targeted industries (finance, government) often prioritize the deep threat intelligence provided by CrowdStrike.

The most widely used company endpoint protection platforms appear to be:

• Microsoft Defender for Endpoint — likely the broadest overall reach, in part because it’s bundled with Microsoft’s Windows and Microsoft 365 ecosystem. IDC figures cited by Microsoft put it at 28.6% of worldwide modern endpoint security revenue in 2024. ³
• CrowdStrike Falcon — one of the most widely adopted specialist platforms and a major market leader. ²⁵
• Trellix — also among the top vendors by endpoint-security revenue. ²
• SentinelOne Singularity — a fast-growing platform frequently named among leading EPP vendors. ²⁵
• Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR, Trend Micro Vision One, and Sophos — other prominent enterprise choices. ⁴⁵

In short: Microsoft Defender and CrowdStrike are the clearest front-runners; SentinelOne, Trellix, Palo Alto Networks, Trend Micro, and Sophos are also common contenders. Exact rankings depend on whether “widely used” means installed endpoints, customer counts, or vendor revenue—the available market-share figures measure different things.