Microsoft Sentinel has changed the SIEM market by offering free ingestion of all Microsoft data sources to M365 customers, which effectively eliminates the cost that makes traditional SIEMs prohibitive at scale. The Logic Apps integration providing 1,000 plus automation connectors, the native Purview compliance integration, and the UEBA capabilities built into Entra ID Protection make it the most complete Microsoft security platform.
The honest limitation is that Sentinel is optimised for Microsoft environments. Third-party data source connectors exist but quality and maintenance are less reliable than Splunk's Splunkbase marketplace. ML-based detection for novel threats is less mature than Securonix or Exabeam.
The verdict: Microsoft Sentinel is right for Microsoft-first organisations that want SIEM and SOAR bundled into their existing M365 investment without per-GB ingestion costs for Microsoft data. Organisations with diverse security stacks or advanced UEBA requirements should evaluate Splunk or Securonix.
Last reviewed: May 2026
G2
4.5289 reviews
Gartner
4.6288 reviews
PeerSpot
8.2180 reviews
Gartner MQ: Leader
SIEM assessment
PROTECTIONAdequate
Log source coverage
4 / 5
Native ingestion of all Microsoft sources at no additional cost — a significant advantage for M365 shops. 200+ connectors for third-party sources. Scored 4 rather than 5 because non-Microsoft connector quality and normalization breadth is narrower than Splunk.
Sources: Microsoft Sentinel documentation
Detection content
3 / 5
Large GitHub community detection repository and built-in Microsoft threat intelligence. Scored 3 because UEBA capabilities and ML-based detection are less mature than Securonix or Exabeam.
Sources: Microsoft Sentinel GitHub, Gartner reviews
OPERATIONSStrong
SOAR & automation
4 / 5
Microsoft Sentinel Logic Apps integration provides solid automation. Native integration with Microsoft Defender suite. Scored 4 because compared to dedicated SOAR platforms the automation depth requires more custom development.
Sources: Microsoft Sentinel documentation
Cost model
4 / 5
Free Microsoft source ingestion is a major advantage. Pay-as-you-go GB pricing is transparent and publicly listed. Scored 4 rather than 5 because PAYG pricing can escalate rapidly with high data volumes — predictability requires careful architecture.
Sources: Azure pricing calculator
ANALYTICSStrong
Compliance reporting
5 / 5
Excellent compliance workbooks for major frameworks. Native integration with Microsoft Purview for compliance management. Strong for organisations in Microsoft-regulated environments.
Sources: Microsoft Sentinel compliance documentation
TRUST & ECOSYSTEMStrong
Ecosystem support
4 / 5
Large GitHub community. 200+ data connectors. Scored 4 rather than 5 because the ecosystem is more Microsoft-centric than Splunk's vendor-neutral Splunkbase.