Exabeam vs Microsoft Sentinel -- Enterprise SIEM Compared

Exabeam vs Microsoft Sentinel

Exabeam and Microsoft Sentinel are both enterprise siem solutions. Exabeam behavioral analytics SIEM with automated investigation and response, while Microsoft Sentinel cloud-native Azure SIEM with AI-powered detection and automated response. The best choice depends on your organization's size, technical requirements, and budget.

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The Verdict

Choose Exabeam if industry-leading behavioral analytics (UEBA) is your priority and security teams focused on insider threat detection and automated investigation with behavioral analytics. Choose Microsoft Sentinel if deep native integration with Microsoft ecosystem matters most and microsoft-centric organizations wanting a cloud-native SIEM with deep M365 and Azure integration.

Used Exabeam or Microsoft Sentinel? Share your experience.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

FeatureMicrosoft SentinelExabeam
PricingFrom $2.46/GB ingested (pay-as-you-go) / Commitment tiers availableCustom enterprise pricing (subscription-based)
Pricing ModelPer-GB ingested (with commitment tier discounts)Per-user or per-GB subscription
Open SourceNoNo
DeploymentCloudCloud, Self-Hosted
Best ForMicrosoft-centric organizations wanting a cloud-native SIEM with deep M365 and Azure integrationSecurity teams focused on insider threat detection and automated investigation with behavioral analytics
Advanced user and entity behavior ana...Not availableSupported
Smart Timelines for incident visualiz...Not availableSupported
Security data lake architectureNot availableSupported

When to Choose Each Tool

Choose Microsoft Sentinel when:

  • +You value deep native integration with Microsoft ecosystem
  • +You value cloud-native with no infrastructure to manage
  • +You value free data ingestion for Microsoft 365 and Azure logs
  • +You want to avoid smaller market presence than Splunk or Microsoft
  • +You want to avoid advanced features require significant tuning

Choose Exabeam when:

  • +You value industry-leading behavioral analytics (UEBA)
  • +You value automated investigation dramatically reduces analyst time
  • +You value smart Timelines provide clear incident visualization
  • +You want to avoid per-GB costs can spike with non-Microsoft data sources
  • +You want to avoid kQL learning curve for teams used to other query languages

Pros & Cons Comparison

Microsoft Sentinel

Pros

  • +Deep native integration with Microsoft ecosystem
  • +Cloud-native with no infrastructure to manage
  • +Free data ingestion for Microsoft 365 and Azure logs
  • +Built-in SOAR with Logic Apps playbooks
  • +Rapidly growing content hub and community

Cons

  • Per-GB costs can spike with non-Microsoft data sources
  • KQL learning curve for teams used to other query languages
  • Best value requires heavy Microsoft investment
  • Some advanced features require additional Microsoft licenses

Exabeam

Pros

  • +Strong behavioral analytics (UEBA)
  • +Automated investigation dramatically reduces analyst time
  • +Smart Timelines provide clear incident visualization
  • +Strong insider threat and credential abuse detection
  • +Modern cloud-native architecture (New-Scale)

Cons

  • Smaller market presence than Splunk or Microsoft
  • Advanced features require significant tuning
  • Integration ecosystem still maturing
  • Transition from legacy Exabeam to New-Scale still ongoing

Sources & References

  1. Exabeam — Official Website & Documentation[Vendor]
  2. Microsoft Sentinel — Official Website & Documentation[Vendor]
  3. Exabeam Reviews on G2[User Reviews]
  4. Microsoft Sentinel Reviews on G2[User Reviews]
  5. Exabeam Reviews on TrustRadius[User Reviews]
  6. Microsoft Sentinel Reviews on TrustRadius[User Reviews]
  7. Exabeam Reviews on PeerSpot[User Reviews]
  8. Microsoft Sentinel Reviews on PeerSpot[User Reviews]
  9. Gartner Magic Quadrant for SIEM 2024[Analyst Report]
  10. Forrester Wave: Security Analytics Platforms, Q4 2024[Analyst Report]
  11. IDC MarketScape: Worldwide SIEM 2024[Analyst Report]
  12. MITRE ATT&CK Evaluations[Industry Evaluation]
  13. Gartner Peer Insights: SIEM[Peer Reviews]

Exabeam vs Microsoft Sentinel FAQ

Common questions about choosing between Exabeam and Microsoft Sentinel.

What is the main difference between Exabeam and Microsoft Sentinel?

Exabeam and Microsoft Sentinel are both enterprise siem solutions. Exabeam behavioral analytics SIEM with automated investigation and response, while Microsoft Sentinel cloud-native Azure SIEM with AI-powered detection and automated response. The best choice depends on your organization's size, technical requirements, and budget.

Is Microsoft Sentinel better than Exabeam?

Choose Exabeam if industry-leading behavioral analytics (UEBA) is your priority and security teams focused on insider threat detection and automated investigation with behavioral analytics. Choose Microsoft Sentinel if deep native integration with Microsoft ecosystem matters most and microsoft-centric organizations wanting a cloud-native SIEM with deep M365 and Azure integration.

How much does Microsoft Sentinel cost compared to Exabeam?

Microsoft Sentinel pricing: From $2.46/GB ingested (pay-as-you-go) / Commitment tiers available. Exabeam pricing: Custom enterprise pricing (subscription-based). Microsoft Sentinel's pricing model is per-gb ingested (with commitment tier discounts), while Exabeam uses per-user or per-gb subscription pricing.

Can I migrate from Exabeam to Microsoft Sentinel?

Yes, you can migrate from Exabeam to Microsoft Sentinel. The migration process depends on your specific setup and the features you use. Both platforms offer APIs that can facilitate automated migration. Consider running both tools in parallel during the transition to ensure zero downtime.