Microsoft E5 Add-On Licensing Guide
Microsoft 365 E5 Add-On Licensing Guide
Section titled “Microsoft 365 E5 Add-On Licensing Guide”Overview
Section titled “Overview”Microsoft offers E5 Security and E5 Compliance as powerful add-ons to enhance your security and compliance posture within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. These add-ons can be purchased separately or bundled with Microsoft 365 E5, depending on your organizational needs and security requirements.
E5 Security Add-On
Section titled “E5 Security Add-On”Ideal for: Organizations looking to protect against external cyber threats, manage identities, and secure endpoints.
The Microsoft 365 E5 Security add-on is designed to provide advanced security capabilities that protect against sophisticated cyber threats.
Key Features
Section titled “Key Features”| Component | Capability | Business Value |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Defender for Identity | Monitors compromised identities and lateral movement | Advanced identity threat protection |
| Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps | CASB for cloud application security | Control over cloud-based app security |
| Microsoft Defender for Office 365 | Advanced phishing and malware protection | Enhanced email and collaboration security |
| Microsoft Defender for Endpoint | Advanced threat detection and automated response | Comprehensive endpoint protection |
| Azure Active Directory Premium P2 | Risk-based conditional access and PIM | Advanced identity protection |
Pricing
Section titled “Pricing”- $12 per user/month as an add-on to Microsoft 365 E3
E5 Compliance Add-On
Section titled “E5 Compliance Add-On”Ideal for: Organizations that need to meet strict regulatory requirements, manage legal investigations, and ensure data governance.
The Microsoft 365 E5 Compliance add-on focuses on managing risks, governing sensitive data, and adhering to regulatory requirements.
Key Features
Section titled “Key Features”| Component | Capability | Business Value |
|---|---|---|
| Advanced eDiscovery | End-to-end investigation workflow management | Streamlined legal and compliance investigations |
| Insider Risk Management | Detection of internal threats and data leaks | Protection against insider risks |
| Information Protection & Governance | Data classification, labeling, and retention | Comprehensive data governance |
| Communication Compliance | Monitoring inappropriate communications | Regulatory compliance enforcement |
| Customer Lockbox | Explicit approval for Microsoft data access | Enhanced data privacy control |
Pricing
Section titled “Pricing”- $12 per user/month as an add-on to Microsoft 365 E3
E5 Security vs E5 Compliance Comparison
Section titled “E5 Security vs E5 Compliance Comparison”| Aspect | E5 Security | E5 Compliance |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Focus | External threat protection | Regulatory compliance and data governance |
| Key Components | Defender suite, Azure AD P2 | eDiscovery, insider risk, data governance |
| Target Use Cases | Cybersecurity, identity protection | Legal compliance, data management |
| Business Value | Threat prevention and response | Compliance and risk management |
Choosing the Right Add-On
Section titled “Choosing the Right Add-On”Select E5 Security if your organization:
Section titled “Select E5 Security if your organization:”- Needs advanced protection against cyber threats
- Requires comprehensive endpoint security
- Wants enhanced identity and access management
- Focuses on threat detection and response
Select E5 Compliance if your organization:
Section titled “Select E5 Compliance if your organization:”- Must meet strict regulatory requirements
- Needs comprehensive data governance
- Requires legal investigation capabilities
- Focuses on insider risk management
Strategic Implementation Considerations
Section titled “Strategic Implementation Considerations”Prerequisites Before E5 Upgrade
Section titled “Prerequisites Before E5 Upgrade”Critical Recommendation: Before upgrading to Microsoft 365 E5 Security or E5 Compliance, ensure your organization has fully implemented and is utilizing the features already included in Intune and Entra ID (Azure Active Directory Premium P1).
Microsoft Intune Foundation
Section titled “Microsoft Intune Foundation”| Capability | Current Utilization | E5 Enhancement |
|---|---|---|
| Mobile Device Management (MDM) | Device enrollment and policy enforcement | Enhanced with Defender for Endpoint integration |
| Mobile Application Management (MAM) | App protection and data policies | Extended with advanced threat protection |
| Security Policy Enforcement | Basic compliance settings | Augmented with automated remediation |
Entra ID (Azure AD Premium P1) Foundation
Section titled “Entra ID (Azure AD Premium P1) Foundation”| Capability | Current Utilization | E5 Enhancement |
|---|---|---|
| Single Sign-On (SSO) | Unified access to applications | Enhanced with risk-based access |
| Conditional Access | Basic access policies | Advanced with behavioral analytics |
| Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) | Additional identity verification | Integrated with advanced threat detection |
Implementation Strategy
Section titled “Implementation Strategy”Phase 1: Foundation Assessment
Section titled “Phase 1: Foundation Assessment”-
Evaluate Current Intune Deployment
- Assess device enrollment coverage
- Review security policy implementation
- Identify gaps in mobile application management
-
Review Entra ID P1 Utilization
- Analyze SSO integration status
- Evaluate conditional access policies
- Assess MFA adoption rates
Phase 2: Optimize Current Capabilities
Section titled “Phase 2: Optimize Current Capabilities”-
Maximize Intune Features
- Deploy comprehensive device compliance policies
- Implement application protection policies
- Establish security baseline configurations
-
Enhance Entra ID P1 Implementation
- Expand conditional access coverage
- Increase MFA adoption across applications
- Optimize SSO integration
Phase 3: Strategic E5 Upgrade
Section titled “Phase 3: Strategic E5 Upgrade”-
Assess E5 Security Requirements
- Identify advanced threat protection needs
- Evaluate endpoint security gaps
- Determine identity protection requirements
-
Evaluate E5 Compliance Needs
- Assess regulatory compliance obligations
- Identify data governance requirements
- Determine legal investigation capabilities
Cost-Benefit Analysis
Section titled “Cost-Benefit Analysis”Investment Protection
Section titled “Investment Protection”| Approach | Risk | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| Skip Foundation, Direct E5 Upgrade | High - Underutilization of expensive features | Not recommended |
| Foundation First, Strategic E5 Upgrade | Low - Maximum ROI on investment | Recommended approach |
Value Maximization
Section titled “Value Maximization”Key Insight: Fully deploying and leveraging Intune and Entra ID P1 before considering E5 upgrades ensures your organization maximizes the value of each investment and avoids unnecessary spending on underutilized capabilities.
Conclusion
Section titled “Conclusion”Key Takeaway: Microsoft 365 E5 Security and E5 Compliance add-ons provide powerful capabilities for organizations with advanced security and compliance needs. However, the strategic approach is to first establish a solid foundation with Intune and Entra ID P1 before upgrading to these premium offerings.
For organizations requiring both advanced security and compliance capabilities, Microsoft 365 E5 combines the features of both add-ons, simplifying management and potentially offering better overall value compared to purchasing separate add-ons.
This strategic approach helps maximize the value of your investment and ensures your organization is ready for the advanced security and compliance features included in the E5 plans.