Microsoft Defender for IoT with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is the best practical EDR combination for most organizations protecting OT networks. Review date:. Defender for IoT provides agentless monitoring for PLCs, RTUs, controllers and other devices that cannot run conventional EDR agents. Defender for Endpoint protects compatible Windows and Linux systems such as engineering workstations, HMIs, SCADA servers and jump hosts. Both products connect through Microsoft's security platform and can feed investigations into Microsoft Sentinel.
For high-consequence industrial environments where OT threat intelligence and expert-led response matter most, Dragos Platform is the strongest OT-native alternative. Claroty and Nozomi Networks are also leading options for cyber-physical asset visibility, multi-site deployments and secure access.
Dragos says its network monitoring supports more than 600 industrial and IT protocols.
The Short Answer
| Requirement | Best fit |
|---|---|
| Best overall for a Microsoft security environment | Microsoft Defender for IoT + Defender for Endpoint |
| Best for critical infrastructure and OT-native threat intelligence | Dragos Platform |
| Best for broad cyber-physical systems security and secure access | Claroty xDome or CTD |
| Best for cloud-first, multi-site OT and IoT monitoring | Nozomi Vantage with Guardian and Arc |
| Best classic EDR for compatible OT endpoints | Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, subject to OEM and operational testing |
Why Conventional EDR Is Not Enough for OT
Traditional EDR protects operating systems by monitoring processes, files, registry activity, drivers, logins and other host-level events. That model works well on Windows and Linux computers, but many OT assets cannot run an EDR agent.
PLCs, safety controllers, RTUs, industrial switches, drives and proprietary control equipment often need agentless monitoring. Network traffic, industrial protocols, asset behavior and changes to normal communications provide better visibility into these devices.
The U.S. Department of Energy recommends ICS security monitoring that understands industrial protocols, uses passive deployment, establishes normal operational baselines and detects unauthorized activity without creating a path into sensitive control networks.
A practical OT security architecture has four parts:
- Network-based OT monitoring for controllers and unmanaged devices.
- EDR for supported Windows and Linux endpoints.
- Secure remote access and segmentation for administrative and vendor connections.
- SIEM and incident response integration for centralized investigation.
No single agent-based EDR provides complete visibility across an OT network.
1. Microsoft Defender for IoT Plus Defender for Endpoint
Microsoft Defender for IoT plus Defender for Endpoint is the best default choice for organizations already invested in Microsoft security, Azure or Microsoft Sentinel.
Defender for IoT uses agentless network-layer monitoring to discover OT devices, identify industrial protocols, analyze machine-to-machine behavior, detect vulnerabilities and generate alerts. Microsoft supports cloud-connected, on-premises and hybrid deployments, including locally managed sensors for air-gapped environments.
Defender for Endpoint adds host-level protection to compatible systems. Together, the products let security teams correlate activity from:
- Engineering workstations
- HMI systems
- SCADA and historian servers
- Windows-based operator stations
- Jump servers
- Remote-access systems
- Corporate endpoints that connect to OT environments
Microsoft's OT sensors use mirrored network traffic and can operate with SPAN ports, network TAPs and unidirectional architectures. Microsoft also documents local management options for sensors that cannot connect directly to Azure.
Main Advantages
- Strong integration with Microsoft Defender, Sentinel and existing SOC workflows.
- Agentless visibility for OT devices that cannot run endpoint software.
- Cloud, on-premises and hybrid deployment options.
- Good fit for organizations that already license Microsoft security products.
- OT asset discovery, vulnerability information and behavioral detection in the same security environment.
Main Limitations
- Sensor placement and complete traffic mirroring require careful planning.
- Active monitoring can create operational risk if used carelessly. Microsoft warns that active monitoring may cause downtime and recommends testing and maintenance-window deployment.
- It is less suitable as a standalone option for organizations that do not use Microsoft security tooling.
- Defender for Endpoint should not be installed on controllers or specialized appliances without OEM approval and operational testing.
2. Dragos Platform
Dragos Platform is the best choice for organizations that prioritize industrial threat detection, OT-specific intelligence and expert-led incident response over Microsoft ecosystem integration.
Dragos describes its platform as combining OT asset visibility, vulnerability prioritization, threat detection, response playbooks and industrial cybersecurity services. Its network monitoring uses passive-first collection to reduce the risk of disrupting operations.
Dragos is particularly well suited to:
- Energy and utilities
- Oil and gas
- Manufacturing
- Water and wastewater
- Transportation
- Critical infrastructure operators
- Organizations with a dedicated OT security team
Main Advantages
- OT-focused detection and industrial protocol coverage.
- Threat intelligence focused on adversaries targeting physical operations.
- Response playbooks designed for OT incidents.
- Passive network monitoring with optional controlled endpoint collection.
- Access to OT-specific expertise rather than only general-purpose EDR features.
Main Limitations
- It is not a replacement for endpoint EDR on every Windows or Linux device.
- Implementation may require a larger services commitment.
- It can be difficult to justify for a small site with limited OT risk and no dedicated security team.
- Pricing is typically quote-based. Include sensors, management, services and integrations when calculating total cost.
3. Claroty xDome or CTD
Claroty is the strongest choice when OT security must cover asset visibility, exposure management, network protection, threat detection and secure third-party access in one platform.
Claroty offers xDome as a cloud-based platform and Continuous Threat Detection, or CTD, for on-premises deployment. Its platform covers cyber-physical systems across industrial, healthcare, commercial and public-sector environments. Claroty also integrates with third-party EDR products, including CrowdStrike, rather than treating OT monitoring as a replacement for endpoint protection.
Claroty is a strong fit when the main challenge is:
- Discovering unmanaged cyber-physical assets
- Prioritizing exposures based on attack paths
- Controlling network communications
- Managing vendor and contractor access
- Connecting OT security data to an existing EDR and SOC
The main trade-off is scope. Organizations may need multiple Claroty modules to cover the full platform capability.
4. Nozomi Vantage, Guardian and Arc
Nozomi Networks is a strong choice for large, distributed environments that need centralized OT and IoT visibility across many sites.
Nozomi Vantage is a cloud-based management and analytics platform. Guardian provides wired OT and IoT network visibility, while Arc extends monitoring to supported operational endpoints. Nozomi combines behavior-based anomaly detection with signature-based detection, asset inventories, vulnerability data and centralized incident workflows.
Nozomi is particularly attractive for:
- Global manufacturing networks
- Distributed utilities
- Organizations with many remote facilities
- Cloud-first security operations
- Environments that need central management for existing sensors
Nozomi is broader than a classic EDR product. Evaluate it as an OT and IoT security platform with endpoint capabilities, not simply as an endpoint agent.
What to Check Before Buying
The most important evaluation criteria are below.
Passive and Safe Deployment
The platform should support passive monitoring, network TAPs, SPAN ports and, where required, data-diode or unidirectional architectures. OT monitoring should not create a new path into the control network.
Industrial Protocol Coverage
Confirm support for the protocols actually used in the environment, such as Modbus, DNP3, Ethernet/IP, S7, OPC, IEC 61850, BACnet or proprietary protocols. The number of protocols in a vendor's product literature matters less than coverage of the protocols at your sites.
Endpoint Compatibility
Test agents on the exact versions of Windows, Linux, SCADA software, engineering tools and vendor applications in use. Do not assume that an EDR agent is safe for a production HMI or engineering workstation.
Asset and Vulnerability Context
The product should identify asset type, vendor, model, firmware, role, zone, communications and business or operational importance. A generic IP address is not enough to prioritize OT risk.
Response Controls
Prefer tools that support investigation and controlled response before automatic blocking. In OT, isolating a device or stopping a process can affect production, safety or physical equipment.
Offline and Air-Gapped Operation
Check how sensors receive software updates, threat intelligence, licenses and configuration changes when they cannot connect to the cloud. Microsoft documents local management for air-gapped OT sensors, while other vendors offer on-premises management options.
Final Recommendation
Choose the platform based on the environment, not on the number of endpoints that can run an agent.
- Choose Microsoft Defender for IoT plus Defender for Endpoint when Microsoft security tools, Azure or Microsoft Sentinel are already part of the SOC.
- Choose Dragos Platform when OT threat intelligence, industrial detection and expert response carry more weight than Microsoft ecosystem integration.
- Choose Claroty when secure remote access, exposure management and cyber-physical asset control are central requirements.
- Choose Nozomi Networks when cloud-first monitoring across many OT and IoT sites is the main requirement.
The key decision is not which EDR agent to install on every OT asset. It is whether the architecture combines agent-based endpoint protection where it is safe and supported with passive, OT-aware network monitoring everywhere else.