Brandwave

Microsoft Defender for Business vs Sophos Intercept X:Which is more popular?

In September 2026, Microsoft Defender for Business had more branded searches than Sophos Intercept X among endpoint security platforms in New Zealand. Microsoft Defender for Business had about 30 branded searches, while Sophos Intercept X had 10. Microsoft Defender for Business made up 0.46% of all endpoint security platform searches we track, and Sophos Intercept X accounted for 0.15%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about endpoint security platforms, Microsoft Defender for Business and Sophos Intercept X each appeared in two of the five answers. Microsoft Defender for Business was mentioned before Sophos Intercept X in two out of three answers that named either.

Among endpoint security platforms in New Zealand in September 2026

Who do people search for more?

Microsoft Defender for Business, about 3 searches for every 1 for Sophos Intercept X

Microsoft Defender for Business 30 searchesSophos Intercept X 10 searches

Who does AI mention more?

Both were mentioned in 2 of 5 answers.

Microsoft Defender for Business in 2 of 5Sophos Intercept X in 2 of 5

Who does AI recommend more?

Microsoft Defender for Business, named ahead of Sophos Intercept X in 2 of 3 answers

Microsoft Defender for Business first in 2Sophos Intercept X first in 1

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Top endpoint security platforms in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews

In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Microsoft Defender for Business and Sophos Intercept X were each mentioned in two out of five: in two of the three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Microsoft Defender for Business was listed before Sophos Intercept X in two out of three answers that named either.

Most recommended by AI

Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.

  1. CrowdStrike1st
  2. SentinelOne2nd
  3. Microsoft Defender for Business3rd
  4. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint4th
  5. Bitdefender5th
  6. Sophos Intercept X6th
  7. Sophos Endpoint7th
  8. ESET8th
  9. Malwarebytes–

Mentioned by AI

Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.

  • CrowdStrike5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • SentinelOne4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Microsoft Defender for Endpoint4 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
  • Sophos Endpoint4 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Bitdefender3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
  • Microsoft Defender for Business2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Sophos Intercept X2 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • ESET1 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
  • Malwarebytes0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers

See every answer about endpoint security platforms

5 answers

Not named in any answer:

Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in New Zealand on October 21, 2026.

Is Microsoft Defender for Business or Sophos Intercept X more popular in search?

This chart shows how often people search Google for Microsoft Defender for Business and Sophos Intercept X by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all nine endpoint security platforms we track, month by month, from searches in New Zealand.

Microsoft Defender for Business and Sophos Intercept X among endpoint security platforms in New Zealand, by month

Share of searches by month for Microsoft Defender for Business, Sophos Intercept X. The figures are in the table below the chart.

View monthly share of searches table
MonthMalwarebytesBitdefenderCrowdStrikeESETSentinelOneMicrosoft Defender for EndpointMicrosoft Defender for BusinessSophos EndpointSophos Intercept X
Oct 202538.7%28.6%13.7%13.4%3.3%1.4%0.38%0.13%0.26%
Nov 202536%30.9%13.5%13.1%3.7%1.7%0.43%0.14%0.57%
Dec 202546.8%26.9%9.9%11.4%3.2%1.1%0.31%0.15%0.31%
Jan 202644.8%30.1%9.1%10.8%3%1.3%0.43%0.14%0.29%
Feb 202641.5%27.9%13.6%10.8%3.7%1.4%0.57%0.14%0.29%
Mar 202641.1%28.9%12.6%10.9%3.8%1.6%0.82%0.12%0.23%
Apr 202646.7%27.3%10.5%10%3.5%1.2%0.53%0.13%0.13%
May 202645.9%27.6%11.7%9.3%3.2%1.1%0.86%0.12%0.25%
Jun 202648.4%26%11.2%9.1%3.1%1.4%0.48%0.12%0.12%
Jul 202649.6%25.5%12.9%7.6%2.6%1.1%0.37%0.12%0.12%
Aug 202648.2%26.4%12.8%6.9%3.4%1.5%0.53%0.13%0.13%
Sep 202642.7%26.8%16.6%7.8%4%1.4%0.46%0.15%0.15%

How has the Microsoft Defender for Business and Sophos Intercept X comparison changed over the last 12 months?

3 findings

How did search popularity change for New Zealand endpoint security platforms in September 2026?

1 change

  1. Estimated monthly branded searches for Sophos Intercept X in New Zealand fell 50% over 12 measured months, from 20 to 10 in September 2026.

How are branded searches counted?

2 search terms

Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Microsoft Defender for Business’ and Sophos Intercept X’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.

Microsoft Defender for Business

1 branded search term

  • microsoft defender for business

Sophos Intercept X

1 branded search term

  • sophos intercept x

How the Brand Demand Index is measured

Other head-to-heads among endpoint security platforms

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