We compared Microsoft BitLocker and ESET Endpoint Encryption across several parameters based on our user's reviews. After reading the collected data, you can find our conclusion below:
Microsoft BitLocker is preferred over ESET Endpoint Encryption due to its seamless integration with Windows operating systems, user-friendly interface, and robust encryption capabilities. Users appreciate the peace of mind provided by BitLocker's encryption and its ability to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access. Additionally, Microsoft BitLocker's customer service and support have been praised for their helpfulness and responsiveness. While ESET Endpoint Encryption also received positive feedback, Microsoft BitLocker's integration and ease of use make it the preferred choice.
"The setup is getting easier."
"ESET Endpoint Encryption works as an antivirus system."
"This solution can be centrally managed."
"The most valuable feature of ESET Endpoint Encryption is its rate of capturing viruses and malware."
"The tool does not slow down the computer."
"The Remote Administrator is the most valuable feature that ESET offers for us. Centralized management of our ESET environment is what I like about the Remote Administrator."
"The usability is the most valuable feature."
"It is a very stable solution. Stability-wise, I rate the solution a ten out of ten."
"The initial setup is very simple."
"It holds significant value as it reduces the need for extensive IT management to handle security across networks and environments"
"It is easy to use and administer."
"Being able to encrypt an entire hard disk has been most valuable."
"While it helps mitigate unauthorized data access by enhancing file and system protection through encryption, the tool is really enhanced with the combination of other Microsoft Security and Compliance features like data labeling."
"One significant aspect is that without the BitLocker key, you can't log in to the user's laptop. I appreciate the capability to encrypt the user's hard drive, ensuring access only with the recovery key. In an enterprise setup, we store all BitLocker keys on our server. So, whenever a user attempts to log in, the architecture authenticates with the key. This ensures that our data is secure. Even if the user's laptop is lost, we have confidence that the data remains inaccessible. So far, our user data is well-protected."
"The most valuable feature is the simplicity and integration with the Microsoft Clouds platform."
"It is an encryption tool and provides security."
"There could be an option for users to restart the system without a password."
"I would like to see better compatibility with mobile devices."
"There should be more frequent updates."
"Integration with central management needs improvement."
"If you have issues with your network, you can't get updates, which is a problem."
"The initial setup could be made easier."
"I would like more robust reporting as part of the Remote Administrator."
"The overall compatibility of the device is an area where the solution lacks."
"The encryption takes a long time to complete, and our system runs very slowly while it is encrypting."
"User profiles can be improved so that people can create their own passwords. It has one password per machine, which is a problem. We would prefer each user to have his or her own boot password. Each user can have a username and password or biometrics, such as fingerprints and iris scanner, integrated into the boot process, but I really can't see that coming anytime soon, if ever."
"The solution needs to have better protection and improve its pricing."
"The solution could improve by having a centralized GUI for management."
"The pricing should be improved."
"The biggest one for us is revoking access. So, even though someone downloads something to a device, we want the ability to cloak that device or data and bring it back or make that data unusable for that person. Currently, BitLocker doesn't give us that ability. It basically encrypts it. We're seeing if identity management or IAM allows us to do that. We're kind of looking at third-party software that does that for us."
"The people at the first level of support refer you to articles that do not pertain to the problem at hand."
"The deployment process regarding prerequisites and automation could be easy to understand."
ESET Endpoint Encryption is ranked 6th in Endpoint Encryption with 13 reviews while Microsoft BitLocker is ranked 1st in Endpoint Encryption with 61 reviews. ESET Endpoint Encryption is rated 8.4, while Microsoft BitLocker is rated 8.2. The top reviewer of ESET Endpoint Encryption writes "A reasonably priced solution that is an easy-to-use and effective at the same time". On the other hand, the top reviewer of Microsoft BitLocker writes "A solution that prevents unauthorized access and goes beyond security measures to provide protection to its users". ESET Endpoint Encryption is most compared with Symantec Endpoint Encryption, Sophos SafeGuard and WinMagic SecureDoc, whereas Microsoft BitLocker is most compared with Symantec Endpoint Encryption, McAfee Complete Data Protection, Trend Micro Endpoint Encryption, WinMagic SecureDoc and Sophos SafeGuard. See our ESET Endpoint Encryption vs. Microsoft BitLocker report.
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Are you in a regulated industry? If so using the native BitLocker is not enough to prove compliance. You will need to use something like BitLocker Administration and Monitoring (MBAM) which is part of MDOP (Microsoft Desktop Optimization Pack) or another tool that will manage Bitlocker and give you proof the device is encrypted in the event of a lost or stolen device. You also need to enforce secure password management, user training on passwords and regular password changes.
If you have Microsoft 365 Business premium you have additional controls over Bitlocker; or, M365 E3/E5, Windows Enterprise E3/E5 all have MDOP...
Other Bitlocker management can be found with SOPHOS and I believe TrendMicro as well.
Another tool to consider, especially for laptops, is ABSOLUTE software. It is built into the BIOS of the major laptop brands and just needs the key to activate it...
Also, ESET is a quality product for encryption. It gives you additional options for less than some of the Microsoft alternatives.
BitLocker is just not FREE if you are in a regulated industry since it needs management to truly be secure the device and prove compliance.
I hope some of this helps.
I guess the solution depends upon a couple of things for us and how we currently approach this for our clients.
We have both in place around a variety of small clients. As 99% of our systems have Windows Pro, they have BitLocker, therefore this would now be the first choice.
However, if the client requires centralised management and control we would then advise ESET. And that is the core to this for us, if they need central management, control, recovery - ESET every time.
If it is just encryption and there is no need to control/recover and a simple reformat would work (and loss of history/data is not an issue), then BitLocker is ok.