Defender for Office 365 Licensing Guide
Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Licensing Guide
Section titled “Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Licensing Guide”Overview
Section titled “Overview”Microsoft Defender for Office 365 provides advanced threat protection for email and collaboration tools, helping organizations defend against sophisticated cyber attacks. The solution is available in two tiers—Plan 1 (P1) and Plan 2 (P2)—each offering different levels of protection and security capabilities.
Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 (P1)
Section titled “Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 (P1)”Ideal for: Organizations needing essential email and collaboration security with core threat protection features.
Plan 1 provides essential security features focused on protecting your organization from email-based threats.
Key Features
Section titled “Key Features”| Feature | Capability | Business Value |
|---|---|---|
| Safe Attachments | Scans attachments in sandboxed environment before delivery | Prevents malicious file delivery to users |
| Safe Links | Real-time URL scanning at time of click | Protects users from malicious websites |
| Anti-phishing Policies | Detection of spoofed emails and impersonation attempts | Safeguards against social engineering attacks |
| Real-time Threat Detection | Immediate alerts for suspicious activities | Rapid threat identification and response |
| Internal and External Email Protection | Scans both inbound and outbound emails | Comprehensive email security coverage |
| Microsoft Teams Safe Links | Extends Safe Links to Teams chats | Protects collaboration communications |
Defender for Office 365 Plan 2 (P2)
Section titled “Defender for Office 365 Plan 2 (P2)”Ideal for: Organizations with higher security requirements needing advanced threat detection, investigation, and response capabilities.
In addition to all the features provided in P1, Plan 2 introduces several advanced threat detection, investigation, and response capabilities.
Advanced Features
Section titled “Advanced Features”| Feature | Capability | Business Value |
|---|---|---|
| Threat Explorer | Real-time threat investigation across email and collaboration | Deep threat analysis and tracking |
| Automated Investigation and Response (AIR) | AI-powered threat investigation and remediation | Reduces manual security work |
| Threat Tracker | Global cyber threat monitoring and insights | Proactive defense capabilities |
| Attack Simulation Training | Phishing attack simulations for employee training | Improves user security awareness |
| Microsoft 365 Defender (XDR) | Cross-domain threat correlation | Holistic security visibility |
| Advanced Threat Analytics | Detailed threat analytics and reporting | Comprehensive security insights |
Feature Comparison Summary
Section titled “Feature Comparison Summary”| Capability | Plan 1 | Plan 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Safe Attachments | ✓ | ✓ |
| Safe Links | ✓ | ✓ |
| Anti-phishing Protection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Real-time Threat Detection | ✓ | ✓ |
| Teams Safe Links | ✓ | ✓ |
| Threat Explorer | ✗ | ✓ |
| Automated Investigation & Response | ✗ | ✓ |
| Threat Tracker | ✗ | ✓ |
| Attack Simulation Training | ✗ | ✓ |
| XDR Capabilities | ✗ | ✓ |
| Advanced Threat Analytics | ✗ | ✓ |
Key Insight: Plan 1 focuses on essential email protection, while Plan 2 adds advanced threat investigation and response capabilities, making it more suitable for organizations with higher risk profiles.
Pricing Comparison
Section titled “Pricing Comparison”| Plan | Price per User/Month | Commitment Type |
|---|---|---|
| Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 (P1) | $2.00 | Annual commitment |
| Defender for Office 365 Plan 2 (P2) | $5.00 | Annual commitment |
These plans can be purchased as standalone licenses or as part of Microsoft 365 subscriptions.
License Inclusions
Section titled “License Inclusions”Microsoft 365 Plans Including Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 (P1)
Section titled “Microsoft 365 Plans Including Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 (P1)”| Microsoft 365 Plan | Inclusion Details |
|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 Business Premium | P1 bundled as part of the plan for SMBs |
| Microsoft 365 E3 | P1 included for enterprise email protection |
Microsoft 365 Plans Including Defender for Office 365 Plan 2 (P2)
Section titled “Microsoft 365 Plans Including Defender for Office 365 Plan 2 (P2)”| Microsoft 365 Plan | Inclusion Details |
|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 E5 | P2 bundled with advanced threat protection |
| Office 365 E5 | P2 included for email and collaboration security |
| Microsoft 365 E5 Security Add-on | P2 available as add-on to E3 plans |
Choosing the Right Plan
Section titled “Choosing the Right Plan”When to Choose Plan 1 (P1)
Section titled “When to Choose Plan 1 (P1)”Plan 1 is suitable for organizations that:
- Need essential email and collaboration protection
- Have basic security requirements
- Want protection against common email threats
- Require cost-effective security solution
When to Choose Plan 2 (P2)
Section titled “When to Choose Plan 2 (P2)”Plan 2 is ideal for organizations that:
- Have higher security requirements
- Need advanced threat investigation capabilities
- Require automated security response
- Want comprehensive threat analytics
- Need to train employees on security awareness
Conclusion
Section titled “Conclusion”Key Takeaway: Microsoft Defender for Office 365 offers flexible licensing options to meet different organizational security needs. Plan 1 provides essential protection for most businesses, while Plan 2 delivers advanced capabilities for organizations with sophisticated security requirements.
The choice between plans depends on your organization’s risk profile, security maturity, and budget considerations. Both plans can be purchased standalone or as part of broader Microsoft 365 subscriptions, providing flexibility in how you implement email and collaboration security.