Microsoft · Built on CyberX acquisition (2020)
Microsoft Defender for IoT
Agentless OT and IoT security in the Microsoft stack
Microsoft Defender for IoT brings agentless OT and IoT discovery and ML-based threat detection into the Microsoft security stack. Built on the 2020 CyberX acquisition, the platform flows signals natively into Microsoft Sentinel and Defender XDR, making it the lowest-friction choice when M365, Azure and Sentinel are already the SOC standard. Both cloud-managed and on-premises (air-gapped) management modes are supported.
Cloud
Sentinel + XDR native
On-Prem
Air-gapped CyberX heritage
What Defender for IoT is
Microsoft entered the OT security market through the 2020 acquisition of CyberX, an Israeli OT security pioneer with strong industrial-protocol expertise. The product was rebranded as Microsoft Defender for IoT and integrated into the broader Microsoft Defender XDR and Microsoft Sentinel ecosystem, becoming the OT signal source for Microsoft-aligned SOCs.
Two deployment modes coexist. The cloud-managed mode is the default and the right answer for modern Microsoft-aligned organisations: a Defender for IoT sensor passes telemetry to the Azure portal and signals flow into Sentinel and Defender XDR for unified IT-OT detection. The on-premises management mode preserves the previous CyberX architecture for air-gapped, sovereign or data-residency-restricted environments where cloud is not an option.
Where Defender for IoT wins decisively is integration. For UAE customers already standardised on Microsoft 365, Azure, Sentinel and Defender XDR, the platform is the lowest-friction way to get OT signal into the same SOC, same analyst workflow, same incident-management process. Licensing is often consolidated under Microsoft enterprise agreements, removing a separate vendor procurement.
Native to
Sentinel + XDR
OT signal flows into Microsoft Sentinel for SIEM and Defender XDR for unified incident response. One analyst workflow, one incident pipeline, one ticketing process across IT and OT for Microsoft-aligned SOCs.
- Agentless OT and IoT discovery
- ML-based behavioural threat detection
- CyberX heritage and protocol expertise
- Native Sentinel and Defender XDR integration
- Cloud-managed or on-premises deployment
- Air-gapped support for sovereign environments
- Microsoft Threat Intelligence feeds
- Defender Vulnerability Management tie-in
Why it wins
What makes Defender for IoT the Microsoft-native OT choice
The strengths that show up most often when Microsoft Sentinel, Defender XDR and M365 are already the SOC standard.
Sentinel native
OT signal flows directly into the Microsoft Sentinel SIEM and Defender XDR
Agentless
Network sensor with no agents on industrial controllers, non-disruptive by default
Cloud + on-prem
Both deployment modes first-class, including air-gapped support
Native Microsoft integration
Defender for IoT pushes OT signal natively into Microsoft Sentinel and Defender XDR. For Microsoft-aligned SOCs that is the entire value, one analyst workflow, one incident pipeline, one ticketing process covering IT and OT.
CyberX protocol heritage
The platform inherits CyberX's deep packet inspection of major industrial protocols (Modbus, DNP3, S7, EtherNet/IP, BACnet, OPC UA). Less breadth than Nozomi or Claroty but credible coverage for most plants.
Agentless deployment
Network sensor with no agents on industrial assets. Default passive monitoring with zero risk to production controllers, matching the deployment style plant operations actually accept.
Cloud or on-premises
Cloud-managed mode for modern Microsoft-aligned SOCs feeding Sentinel; on-premises mode for air-gapped, sovereign or data-residency-restricted plants where cloud is not an option. Both modes share the same CyberX-derived engine.
Microsoft Threat Intel
ML detection augmented by Microsoft Threat Intelligence, the same intelligence that powers Defender across the M365 fleet. OT detection benefits from Microsoft's broader telemetry advantage.
Licensing consolidation
Often consolidated under existing Microsoft enterprise agreements, removing a separate vendor procurement, separate purchase orders and a separate licensing audit, the operational simplification matters at scale.
Who should put Defender for IoT on the shortlist
UAE customers already standardised on Microsoft 365, Azure, Sentinel and Defender XDR
SOCs running Microsoft Sentinel that want OT signal in the same SIEM
Organisations consolidating IT and OT detection under one Microsoft incident-management process
Mid-sized industrial estates without the budget for best-of-breed OT specialists
Plants where Microsoft enterprise-agreement consolidation simplifies procurement
Air-gapped or sovereign-mandated sites needing on-premises Defender for IoT
Customers running Defender Vulnerability Management who want OT assets in the same VM dashboard
Programmes where Microsoft Threat Intelligence reach is a meaningful security advantage
Core features
What's inside Defender for IoT
Defender for IoT sensor, Agentless network sensor with industrial DPI.
Agentless OT/IoT discovery, Passive identification of every controller and connected device.
ML behavioural detection, CyberX-derived engine with ICS-aware analytics.
Industrial protocols, Modbus, DNP3, S7, EtherNet/IP, BACnet, OPC UA and more.
Sentinel integration, Native incident creation and KQL hunting.
Defender XDR integration, OT signal in the unified Defender incident view.
Cloud-managed mode, Azure portal for multi-site management.
On-premises mode, Air-gapped CyberX-style management server.
Microsoft Threat Intelligence, Augments detection with Defender ecosystem telemetry.
Defender VM integration, OT assets in the broader Defender Vulnerability Management view.
Choosing a mode
Simplified positioning, which deployment mode fits
Defender for IoT runs in two deployment modes that share the same detection engine. Cloud mode is the Microsoft-aligned default; on-premises mode is for air-gapped or sovereign sites.
The strategic view
Cloud, on-prem or hybrid
Cloud mode is the default for Microsoft-aligned customers. On-prem mode covers air-gapped sites. Hybrid is common at scale.
Licensing
Defender for IoT deployment modes
Cloud-managed and on-premises modes share the same detection engine. The choice is operational, not technical.
| Capability | D4IoT Cloudcloud-managed | D4IoT On-Premair-gapped |
|---|---|---|
| Primary positioning | Azure-managed OT/IoT | Self-hosted OT/IoT |
| Agentless asset discovery | ✓ | ✓ |
| Industrial protocol parsing | ✓ | ✓ |
| ML threat detection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Vulnerability management | ✓ | ✓ |
| Microsoft Sentinel integration | ✓ | via forwarder |
| Microsoft Defender XDR integration | ✓ | ✗ |
| Microsoft Threat Intelligence | ✓ | static feeds |
| Cloud-managed multi-site console | ✓ | ✗ |
| Air-gapped / fully on-prem | ✗ | ✓ |
| Defender Vulnerability Management tie-in | ✓ | partial |
| Compliance reporting (IEC 62443, NESA) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Licensing basis | Per device, Azure billing | Per device, on-prem |
Deployment Options
How we deliver Defender for IoT across UAE Microsoft-aligned SOCs
Cloud-managed (default)
Defender for IoT sensors push telemetry to the Azure portal. The default deployment for Microsoft-aligned UAE customers, signals flow into Sentinel and Defender XDR.
On-premises (air-gapped)
Self-hosted Defender for IoT management server in CyberX-heritage architecture. The right answer for sovereign, air-gapped and data-residency-restricted sites.
Hybrid + Sentinel
Cloud-managed for the majority of plants with on-premises for the most sensitive sites. All signal feeds Microsoft Sentinel for one unified SOC view.
Why Artiflex IT
Delivering Defender for IoT across the UAE
Defender for IoT is the right answer when Microsoft Sentinel, Defender XDR and M365 are already the SOC standard. Artiflex handles site survey, sensor placement, deployment (cloud or on-prem), ICS-protocol tuning, Sentinel and Defender XDR integration, KQL hunt-pack setup and ongoing management, all mapped to IEC 62443, NESA, ADHICS and ISO 27001. Fully managed, co-managed or assessment-only.
Frequently asked
Defender for IoT questions we hear from UAE buyers
When does Microsoft Defender for IoT beat Nozomi or Claroty?
When Microsoft Sentinel, Defender XDR and M365 are already the SOC standard. Native integration makes the operational case overwhelming, OT signal lands in the same incident pipeline as IT. For Microsoft-aligned organisations, the integration value typically outweighs the deeper ICS depth of Nozomi or Claroty.
Ready to evaluate Microsoft Defender for IoT?
Book a free OT posture assessment and we will scope sensor placement, Sentinel integration and the right deployment mode for your UAE Microsoft-aligned SOC.