# Attack Surface Scan vs Microsoft Defender EASM: side-by-side comparison (2026)

[Attack Surface Scan](https://cybersectools.com/tools/attack-surface-scan) is a commercial [external attack surface management](https://cybersectools.com/categories/external-asm) solution by [Attack Surface Scan](https://cybersectools.com/companies/attack-surface-scan). [Microsoft Defender EASM](https://cybersectools.com/tools/microsoft-defender-external-attack-surface-management) is a commercial [external attack surface management](https://cybersectools.com/categories/external-asm) solution by [Microsoft](https://cybersectools.com/companies/microsoft). Features, integrations, deployment and the company behind each one, side by side.

## Our take

What our shortlists say about the one we picked.

### [Microsoft Defender EASM](https://cybersectools.com/tools/microsoft-defender-external-attack-surface-management)

Best for: Microsoft shops adding external asset discovery

It belongs here if you already pay for Microsoft security, because discovered assets can move into Defender for Cloud and Copilot in Azure turns plain questions into inventory searches. It fits companies from small to enterprise. Its features center on discovery and flagging, so ask whether you also need active testing to prove which exposures are real.

From [Best Attack Surface Management Solutions for Business](https://cybersectools.com/shortlists/best-attack-surface-solutions), Fall 2026.

Reviewed by [Nika (Nikoloz) Kokhreidze](https://cybersectools.com/about).

Need the answer fast? [Best Attack Surface Management Solutions for Business](https://cybersectools.com/shortlists/best-attack-surface-solutions) picks Palo Alto Networks Cortex Xpanse, Microsoft Defender EASM, Mandiant Attack Surface Management and 4 more.

## Side-by-side comparison

| | Attack Surface Scan | Microsoft Defender EASM |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Commercial | Commercial |
| Category | External Attack Surface Management | External Attack Surface Management |
| Verified | No | No |
| Deployment type | Cloud | Cloud |
| Company size fit | SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise | SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise |
| Company | Attack Surface Scan | Microsoft |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | Attack Surface Scan | Microsoft Defender EASM |
|---|---|---|
| DNS Security | Yes | – |
| TLS | Yes | – |
| SSL | Yes | – |
| Subdomain Enumeration | Yes | – |
| Security Scanning | Yes | – |
| Alerting | Yes | – |
| Fingerprinting | Yes | – |
| DMARC | Yes | – |
| SPF | Yes | – |
| Security Reporting | Yes | – |

### Core features

**Attack Surface Scan**

10 features listed. Sign in on the page to see them.

**Microsoft Defender EASM**

10 features listed. Sign in on the page to see them.

### Integrations

**Attack Surface Scan**

9 integrations listed. Sign in on the page to see them.

**Microsoft Defender EASM**

4 integrations listed. Sign in on the page to see them.

## Attack Surface Scan vs Microsoft Defender EASM FAQ

Common questions when comparing Attack Surface Scan vs Microsoft Defender EASM for external attack surface management.

### What is the difference between Attack Surface Scan and Microsoft Defender EASM?

**Attack Surface Scan**: Agentless external attack surface monitoring with continuous change detection, built by Attack Surface Scan.

**Microsoft Defender EASM**: Discovers and monitors external-facing assets and vulnerabilities, built by Microsoft.

The table above shows where their features, integrations, deployment and company size fit differ.

### Who makes Attack Surface Scan and Microsoft Defender EASM?

**Attack Surface Scan** is made by Attack Surface Scan. **Microsoft Defender EASM** is made by Microsoft. The vendor behind a product decides its roadmap, support, and longevity, so check each company's profile before you commit.

### Is Attack Surface Scan a good alternative to Microsoft Defender EASM?

Often, yes. Attack Surface Scan and Microsoft Defender EASM are both External Attack Surface Management products. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ.

## Related comparisons

- [Attack Surface Scan vs SurfaceDiff](https://cybersectools.com/compare/attack-surface-scan-vs-surfacediff)
- [Attack Surface Scan vs crt.guru](https://cybersectools.com/compare/attack-surface-scan-vs-crtguru)
- [Attack Surface Scan vs DDactic Attack Surface Discovery](https://cybersectools.com/compare/attack-surface-scan-vs-ddactic-attack-surface-discovery)
- [Microsoft Defender EASM vs SurfaceDiff](https://cybersectools.com/compare/microsoft-defender-external-attack-surface-management-vs-surfacediff)
- [Microsoft Defender EASM vs crt.guru](https://cybersectools.com/compare/crtguru-vs-microsoft-defender-external-attack-surface-management)
- [Microsoft Defender EASM vs DDactic Attack Surface Discovery](https://cybersectools.com/compare/ddactic-attack-surface-discovery-vs-microsoft-defender-external-attack-surface-management)

## Alternatives to each

- [See all Attack Surface Scan alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/attack-surface-scan)
- [See all Microsoft Defender EASM alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/microsoft-defender-external-attack-surface-management)

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Source: https://cybersectools.com/compare/attack-surface-scan-vs-microsoft-defender-external-attack-surface-management

For AI agents: each product above has its own Markdown page (add .md to its URL, for example https://cybersectools.com/tools/attack-surface-scan.md). Every CybersecTools shortlist is listed at https://cybersectools.com/shortlists.md.

More on Attack Surface Scan and Microsoft Defender EASM: funding, momentum, hiring and news, plus the full product and company record, are available through the Mandos MCP Server (paid plans), which connects to AI assistants: https://mandos.io/mcp?utm_source=cybersectools.com&utm_medium=compare-md