# aws_public_ips vs Microsoft Defender EASM: side-by-side comparison (2026)

[aws_public_ips](https://cybersectools.com/tools/awspublicips) is a free [external attack surface management](https://cybersectools.com/categories/external-asm) solution. [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, Google Mandiant Attack Surface Management and 4 more.

## Side-by-side comparison

| | aws_public_ips | Microsoft Defender EASM |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | Free | Commercial |
| Category | External Attack Surface Management | External Attack Surface Management |
| Verified | No | No |
| Deployment type | Cloud | Cloud |
| Company size fit | Startup, SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise | SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise |
| GitHub stars | 642 | – |
| Last commit | Nov 2019 | – |
| Company | – | Microsoft |
| Headquarters | – | – |

### Use cases and capabilities

| | aws_public_ips | Microsoft Defender EASM |
|---|---|---|
| Enumeration | Yes | – |
| AWS | Yes | – |
| IP Address | Yes | – |

### Core features

**aws_public_ips**

No features listed.

**Microsoft Defender EASM**

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

### Integrations

**aws_public_ips**

No integrations listed.

**Microsoft Defender EASM**

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

## Which one fits you

Based on what each listing shows: deployment, company size, price and open source.

- [aws_public_ips](https://cybersectools.com/tools/awspublicips) fits if you are a startup, you need a free product and you want an open-source product.

## aws_public_ips vs Microsoft Defender EASM FAQ

Common questions when comparing aws_public_ips vs Microsoft Defender EASM for external attack surface management.

### What is the difference between aws_public_ips and Microsoft Defender EASM?

**aws_public_ips**: A Ruby-based tool that enumerates all public IPv4 and IPv6 addresses associated with an AWS account across multiple services including EC2, CloudFront, ELB, RDS, and others.

**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 aws_public_ips and Microsoft Defender EASM?

**aws_public_ips** is open-source with 642 GitHub stars. **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 aws_public_ips a good alternative to Microsoft Defender EASM?

Often, yes. aws_public_ips and Microsoft Defender EASM are both External Attack Surface Management products. Key differences: aws_public_ips is Free while Microsoft Defender EASM is Commercial, aws_public_ips is open-source. Use the table above to see where features, deployment and company size fit differ.

## Related comparisons

- [aws_public_ips vs Criminal IP Security Scanning Service](https://cybersectools.com/compare/awspublicips-vs-criminal-ip-security-scanning-service)
- [aws_public_ips vs Driftnet Explore](https://cybersectools.com/compare/awspublicips-vs-driftnet-explore)
- [aws_public_ips vs Intruder Attack Surface Management](https://cybersectools.com/compare/awspublicips-vs-intruder-attack-surface-management)
- [Microsoft Defender EASM vs Criminal IP Security Scanning Service](https://cybersectools.com/compare/criminal-ip-security-scanning-service-vs-microsoft-defender-external-attack-surface-management)
- [Microsoft Defender EASM vs Driftnet Explore](https://cybersectools.com/compare/driftnet-explore-vs-microsoft-defender-external-attack-surface-management)
- [Microsoft Defender EASM vs Intruder Attack Surface Management](https://cybersectools.com/compare/intruder-attack-surface-management-vs-microsoft-defender-external-attack-surface-management)

## Alternatives to each

- [See all aws_public_ips alternatives](https://cybersectools.com/alternatives/awspublicips)
- [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/awspublicips-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/awspublicips.md). Every CybersecTools shortlist is listed at https://cybersectools.com/shortlists.md.

More on aws_public_ips 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
