Microsoft Defender for Endpoint—previously Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection—is a cloud-powered security platform that promises top-of-the-line security against advanced and sophisticated threats. Made for enterprise, it accommodates a variety of operating systems.
There are currently two plans available for Microsoft Defender for Endpoint: Plan 1 and Plan 2. Both plans support Windows and non-Windows platforms, as well as integrate with various Microsoft solutions.
P1 offers core features, like next-generation protection, attack surface reduction, and centralized management. According to Microsoft, this plan provides foundational security against threats, like ransomware and malware. It also helps organizations to establish their Zero Trust Security.
P2 offers advanced features on top of the core P1 features. They include device discovery, automated investigation, advanced hunting, threat analytics, and sandboxing. P2 provides enterprises a more complete endpoint security with more complete capabilities. Compare plans further.
Available for P2 customers is “Microsoft Defender Vulnerability Management.” It is available as an add-on or standalone option. Key features include inventory of devices, browser plug-ins assessment, security baseline assessment, and more. The standalone option comes with the full set of features that allow it to further assess vulnerabilities, prioritize according to risk, and provide recommendations to mitigate risk.
Microsoft offers free trial options for both plans to try out before purchase. Settling on purchase, you will find the pricing is per user per month, which covers up to five devices at the same time for each user.
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint P1 is already available to clients subscribed to a Microsoft 365 E3 enterprise plan. Similarly, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint P2 is available to those with a Microsoft 365 E5 plan. Otherwise, Microsoft recommends that organizations turn to their Microsoft account team or cloud service provider to help purchase a license, and provides a deployment manual.
As a service provider, Cloud Ascent can help you plan the successful deployment of Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and take full advantage of its capabilities. Contact us today and let’s get started!
