Defender For Endpoint Licensing Guide
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Licensing Guide
Section titled “Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Licensing Guide”Overview
Section titled “Overview”Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is a comprehensive endpoint security solution that provides advanced threat protection, endpoint detection and response (EDR), and vulnerability management. It helps organizations detect, investigate, and respond to advanced threats across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS devices.
Defender for Endpoint offers two primary licensing plans—P1 and P2—as well as specific solutions for server protection, enabling organizations to tailor their security needs based on the environment.
Defender for Endpoint Plans Comparison
Section titled “Defender for Endpoint Plans Comparison”| Feature | Plan 1 (P1) | Plan 2 (P2) | Business Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Next-Generation Protection | Industry-leading anti-virus and anti-malware | ✓ All P1 features | Essential baseline security |
| Attack Surface Reduction | Security policy enforcement | ✓ All P1 features | Reduces potential attack vectors |
| Device Control | Endpoint monitoring and management | ✓ All P1 features | Ensures compliance with security standards |
| Centralized Management | Microsoft 365 Defender integration | ✓ All P1 features | Streamlined security operations |
| Endpoint Detection & Response (EDR) | ✗ | Real-time threat detection and investigation | Advanced threat hunting capabilities |
| Threat & Vulnerability Management | ✗ | Continual vulnerability monitoring | Proactive risk mitigation |
| Automated Investigation & Remediation | ✗ | AI-powered threat response | Reduced manual intervention |
| Advanced Hunting | ✗ | Query-based threat hunting | Enhanced security team capabilities |
| Sandboxing & Behavioral Analytics | ✗ | Secure file isolation | Advanced malware analysis |
| Microsoft Threat Experts | ✗ | On-demand expert assistance | Extended security expertise |
Licensing Options
Section titled “Licensing Options”1. Defender for Endpoint Plan 1 (P1)
Section titled “1. Defender for Endpoint Plan 1 (P1)”Ideal for: Small and medium-sized businesses requiring essential endpoint protection
Features:
- Next-generation protection with industry-leading anti-virus and anti-malware
- Attack surface reduction through security policy enforcement
- Device control for endpoint monitoring and compliance
- Seamless integration with Microsoft 365 Defender
- Centralized management for security policies and device health
Pricing: $3.00 per user/month
2. Defender for Endpoint Plan 2 (P2)
Section titled “2. Defender for Endpoint Plan 2 (P2)”Ideal for: Large organizations with high-security requirements
Features:
- All Plan 1 capabilities plus:
- Real-time endpoint detection and response (EDR)
- Threat & vulnerability management (TVM)
- Automated investigation and remediation using AI
- Advanced hunting with powerful query capabilities
- Sandboxing and behavioral analytics
- Microsoft Threat Experts on-demand support
Pricing: $5.20 per user/month
Microsoft Defender for Business
Section titled “Microsoft Defender for Business”Ideal for: Small and medium-sized businesses (up to 300 users)
Microsoft Defender for Business is bundled with Microsoft 365 Business Premium, offering enterprise-grade security optimized for SMB environments.
Key Features
Section titled “Key Features”| Feature | Capability | Business Value |
|---|---|---|
| Next-Generation Protection | Anti-virus, anti-malware, anti-ransomware | Protection against latest cyber threats |
| Endpoint Detection & Response | Real-time threat intelligence and analytics | Advanced cyber threat response |
| Threat & Vulnerability Management | Vulnerability discovery and remediation | Proactive risk mitigation |
| Attack Surface Reduction | Security policy enforcement | Reduced attack vectors |
| Automated Investigation | AI-powered incident response | Faster threat remediation |
| Simplified Management | Centralized console deployment | Easy configuration and monitoring |
Pricing: Included with Microsoft 365 Business Premium
Microsoft Defender for Business Servers
Section titled “Microsoft Defender for Business Servers”Ideal for: SMBs needing server protection (up to 60 servers)
Features
Section titled “Features”- Simplified endpoint protection for integrated server and endpoint management
- Next-generation protection with real-time scanning
- Automated investigation and remediation
- Threat and vulnerability management
Pricing: $3 per server/month (add-on to existing subscriptions)
Microsoft Defender for Servers
Section titled “Microsoft Defender for Servers”Ideal for: Organizations with Azure and hybrid cloud workloads
Server Protection Plans
Section titled “Server Protection Plans”| Feature | Plan 1 | Plan 2 | Business Value |
|---|---|---|---|
| Real-time Monitoring | ✓ | ✓ | Continuous threat detection |
| Automated Remediation | ✓ | ✓ | Rapid incident response |
| Vulnerability Assessment | ✓ | ✓ | Proactive security posture |
| Control Plane Protection | ✗ | ✓ | Network-based threat detection |
| Advanced Vulnerability Management | ✗ | ✓ | Enhanced security baselines |
| Just-in-Time VM Access | ✗ | ✓ | Reduced attack surface |
Pricing:
- Plan 1: $4.906 per server/month
- Plan 2: $14.60 per server/month
Choosing the Right Solution
Section titled “Choosing the Right Solution”Defender for Business vs. Defender for Endpoint P1/P2
Section titled “Defender for Business vs. Defender for Endpoint P1/P2”| Solution | Target Audience | Key Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Defender for Business | SMBs (≤300 users) | Simplified management, cost-effective |
| Defender for Endpoint P1 | SMBs needing basic protection | Essential security features |
| Defender for Endpoint P2 | Enterprises with advanced needs | Comprehensive threat protection |
Conclusion
Section titled “Conclusion”Key Takeaway: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and Defender for Servers provide flexible, scalable security solutions for businesses of all sizes. Whether you need basic protection with Plan 1 or advanced threat detection with Plan 2, these solutions ensure comprehensive endpoint and server protection tailored to your specific security requirements and budget.
Understanding the differences between these plans helps organizations optimize their security investment while maintaining robust protection against evolving cyber threats., ensuring you have the right level of protection for your environment and budget.