Jamf Protect vs. Microsoft Forefront (Discontinued Product)

The main reason we went with Jamf Protect was because we wanted a dedicated macOS security endpoint. Is was easy to implement and migrate over from our previous endpoint provider. As a university we have lab macOS devices that multiple users use. So we have Jamf Protect profiles that block the use of external drives and other other profiles that allow it. We different user accounts requiring different access this can get a bit messy when deploying the config profiles at login for each user that signs in.

Incentivized

In large deployments, I have found Microsoft Forefront to be very effective at combating the majority of threats faced by our users. It provides the base platform for catching threats that would otherwise threaten our users and their data. If you have an environment that is under constant malware threat, then a secondary program may be needed as required.

Incentivized

• Security--it scans processes for 'bad stuff'
• Notifies admins of any issues or potential issues; entirely customizable and we create many custom notifications and groups.
• Integrates with Jamf Pro
• Monitor CIS benchmarks via a clean and nice looking dashboard

Incentivized

• SCEP is a light weight client which is minimally impactful on the user end.
• Forefront's management console provides excellent monitoring and reporting.
• Setup and configuration is very easy.

Incentivized

• We also have JAMF Safe internet for iPads. I would love to see this same simple idea in Jamf Protect for the iMacs

Incentivized

• Malware detection is not quite 100%. We have to use a secondary program occasionally.
• On low ram and weak CPU systems scanning can freeze the machine.
• The same reporting tools that are on the console version, aren't on the client.

Incentivized

Jamf Protect is easy to manage. It is a separate interface from Jamf MDM which is nice for Security Operations teams. It allows Security teams to manage only the Security aspects without having to dig through all of the MDM configurations. For exception uses cases, Jamf Protect does provide options to customize settings where needed.

Incentivized

I find that all of the products have the same features; however, Jamf Protect is stronger if managing macOS devices. Also, it is one license so what you pay covers all of the features and does not require additional licenses for features like USB device control. The CIS compliance aspects generally look better in in Jamf as compared to Crowdstrike.

Incentivized

The biggest advantage that MSF and SCEP provide over Norton is: One: Far less client overhead required. Both Norton and McAfee are highly intensive client side when in use. Two: We've had far better luck using the Microsoft system with its detection capabilities, versus the others. Three: It is tied right into the Microsoft updating system, which provides central updating capabilities of av/mal/windows updates.

Incentivized

• Better detection of malware reducing downtime and risk to network
• Easy to implement
• Can be a bit of a steep learning curve in general

Incentivized

• Less turnaround on virus based issues.
• Helps reduce malware issues over time.
• Can breed overconfidence in the system, so people don't always try a second tool.

Incentivized