Which endpoint protection should a startup put on its laptops?

Default pick: Microsoft Defender for Business for a typical early-stage startup—especially if you already use Microsoft 365. It includes endpoint detection and response (EDR), attack-surface reduction, and automated investigation and remediation; it’s designed for businesses with up to 300 users. It’s included with Microsoft 365 Business Premium or available separately. (learn.microsoft.com)

If you want a standalone alternative, CrowdStrike Falcon Go is worth comparing; its current listed price is $59.99 per device per year, and it includes endpoint detection and response. (crowdstrike.com)

Whichever you choose, deploy it centrally on every laptop and make sure someone will review and act on alerts—EDR is less useful if detections go unattended. Also require automatic updates, full-disk encryption, and multifactor authentication.

Short answer: For most startups, use an EDR (endpoint detection and response) product rather than classic antivirus. Which one depends on whether you already have Microsoft 365 and whether anyone can respond to alerts.

• If you're on Microsoft 365 Business Premium, start with Microsoft Defender for Business. One guide calls it a natural first option for that setup for organizations already using Microsoft 365 Business Premium. It is also available standalone, and one source puts its standalone price at about $3.00 per user per month.
• If nobody on staff can watch alerts, consider a managed service. One guide argues that for most growing businesses under 1,000 endpoints, a managed EDR service is more cost-effective than piecing together enterprise tools you don't have the staff to run. Managed options named in the results include Huntress Managed EDR, CNiC Managed EDR, and ThreatDown.
• Dedicated platforms worth comparing include Bitdefender GravityZone, Sophos, ESET PROTECT, and SentinelOne. Reviewers differ on which fits best. For example, one says Bitdefender fits small businesses without dedicated security staff that need automated protection with room to grow. Another says ESET emphasizes lightweight performance.

Why not just antivirus: EDR watches behavior, not just known files. One source explains that most EDR agents ship with NGAV built in, so EDR usually replaces standalone antivirus. Antivirus alone is generally considered fine for a home computer, but not enough for a business that stores customer or patient data.

Insurance: Check your cyber policy. One source notes that Marsh McLennan reported in 2023 that EDR, multi-factor authentication, and privileged access management had been the three controls insurers recommended most often. Insurers may also ask you to prove coverage on every device.

Practical checklist:

1. Confirm EDR is installed and reporting on every laptop, not just most of them.
2. Turn on MFA for email, cloud, and admin accounts.
3. Make sure someone is responsible for acting on alerts, including after hours. An unanswered alert offers little protection.

Note that many of the rankings I found come from vendors or sites that earn affiliate revenue, so compare a few options and, if possible, run free trials before committing.

For a startup, the "best" endpoint protection is not necessarily the one with the most features, but the one that balances effective security, ease of management, and cost-effectiveness given your team’s size and expertise.

Because startups often lack a dedicated 24/7 security team, you should prioritize platforms that provide automated detection and response or include managed services.

Recommended Approaches for Startups

• If you use Microsoft 365 Business Premium:
  • Microsoft Defender for Business is often the "obvious value play." It is likely already included in your license, provides enterprise-grade protection, and is designed to be manageable for smaller IT teams.
• If you have no dedicated security staff:
  • Huntress Managed EDR is highly recommended for startups. It provides a "human-led" approach, meaning their security operations center (SOC) monitors your alerts for you. This prevents the common problem of being overwhelmed by "alert fatigue" and ensures that if a real threat appears, it is actually addressed.
• If you want a balance of performance and flexibility:
  • Bitdefender GravityZone is consistently rated well for SMBs. It offers a strong balance of protection and flexibility with a lightweight agent that does not slow down laptops, making it a great choice for balancing security with user productivity.
• For scalable, "next-gen" protection:
  • SentinelOne (Singularity) and CrowdStrike are industry leaders in Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR). They are excellent if you anticipate rapid growth or have more complex technical requirements, though they may require more active management or oversight than the options listed above.

Key Factors for Your Decision

When choosing, evaluate these four criteria to ensure the tool fits your specific startup environment:

1. Staffing vs. Managed Services: Do you have an IT person who can investigate security alerts daily? If not, prioritize Managed Detection and Response (MDR) solutions like Huntress or Sophos MDR, which do the monitoring for you.
2. Existing Stack: If you are already deep in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, starting with the built-in Microsoft security tools is often the most efficient path for both budget and integration.
3. Ease of Use: Avoid enterprise-grade tools that require an army of security analysts to tune. You want a dashboard that is intuitive and provides clear, actionable information rather than hundreds of noisy, low-priority alerts.
4. Beyond Malware: Modern threats aren't just "viruses." Ensure your chosen platform includes Behavioral Detection (to catch suspicious activity rather than just known bad files), Ransomware Rollback (the ability to revert a device to a healthy state after an attack), and Centralized Management (so you can see and secure all laptops from one screen).

Summary Checklist

• Don't just buy "Antivirus": Ensure the solution is an EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) platform.
• Check the deployment: Ensure it supports the operating systems your team uses (Windows, macOS, Linux).
• Trial run: Most of these vendors offer demos or trials; install the agent on one laptop to ensure it doesn't impact performance before committing to a company-wide rollout.

For most startups, Microsoft Defender for Business is a sensible default—especially if you already use Microsoft 365. It’s listed at $3 per user/month with annual billing, supports Windows and macOS (plus mobile platforms), and includes next-generation antivirus, endpoint detection and response, vulnerability management, and automated remediation. It covers up to 300 users and five devices per user. ¹

If you want a dedicated endpoint-security product, CrowdStrike Falcon Go is another option. Its listed price is $7.99 per device/month or $59.99 per device/year; it includes next-generation antivirus and USB device controls. ²

My practical recommendation: choose Defender for Business unless you have a reason to prefer a separate vendor or need its specific device-control features. Whichever you choose, make sure it’s centrally managed, installed on every company laptop, and configured to alert someone who will act on detections. Also require automatic updates, full-disk encryption, and multifactor authentication—endpoint protection works best as part of that baseline.

Prices and features can change, so confirm current terms and platform support before purchasing. ¹²