Octobits Blog – seeing an increase in sophisticated and frequent attacks like phishing, ransomware, and business email compromise (BEC).
That’s why Microsoft has come up with a great solution in the form of Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 2.
But, as they say, you get what you pay for. Yes, the Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 2 price is in line with the features it offers.
So, the question now; is it right for your budget? To answer this question, let’s take a closer look at what Plan 2 of Microsoft Defender has to offer for us.
What is Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 2?
As we can see in the Microsoft Learn web page, Plan 2 is the most advanced cybersecurity solution on the market.
The Defender Plan 2 is designed to provide comprehensive protection against the most sophisticated cyber threats, including phishing, malware, ransomware, and business email compromise (BEC).
The Defender Plan 2 integrates seamlessly with Microsoft 365 subscriptions and provides comprehensive protection across various digital communication channels.
Yes, your business communication and collaboration tools are protected with a robust system when using Defender Plan 2.
Plan 2 builds on Plan 1’s capabilities with advanced threat hunting, automated investigation and response (AIR), and phishing simulation training.
This makes Plan 2 the ideal choice for large enterprises that require preventive measures, and the ability to investigate, hunt, and respond to threats in real time.
Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 2 Price Details
The Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 2 is set at $5.00 per user per month. This price reflects all the protection and advanced features you get with Plan 2. It’s designed to keep your organisation safe from all kinds of cyber threats.
By comparison, Defender Plan 1, which costs $2.00 per user per month, provides the essential protection you need, including anti-phishing, anti-spam, and anti-malware capabilities.
What makes Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 2 more expensive?
Plan 2 has more robust anti-phishing protections, including safeguards against user and domain impersonation.
One of the main things that Plan 2 can do is protect emails and files shared across collaboration platforms like Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive.
The Safe Attachments feature scans files for malware and other threats, so you can be sure your documents are safe when you share them with colleagues.
Plan 2 also gives you access to Microsoft Defender XDR (Extended Detection and Response), which takes security beyond Office 365 to give you a unified security operations platform.
This integration lets you hunt for threats and respond to incidents across different domains.
If you want to get more comparisons, please refer to “Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 Price: Key Features & Details.”
Features and Capabilities
Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 2 gives your organisations a powerful set of tools to fight all kinds of cyber threats.
It’s not just about reacting to attacks; it’s about hunting them down proactively.
The advanced threat hunting capabilities give your security teams the power to explore into their systems and search for hidden threats and vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
Another key feature of Plan 2 is Automated Investigation and Response (AIR).
This feature is a big step forward in how we deal with incidents. It automates the detection, investigation, and remediation of threats.
By cutting down on the time it takes to deal with incidents, AIR makes the security operations centre more efficient overall.
It’s also great to see the phishing simulation training feature, which is useful for teaching employees about phishing threats.
This tool helps organisations avoid successful phishing attacks by simulating real-world scenarios and raising employee awareness.
Last but not least, Plan 2 offers complete protection across platforms, going beyond just email to cover Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive too.
This approach covers all the bases, making sure your whole organisation is protected when it comes to communication and collaboration.
Benefits of Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 2
With Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 2 price, you can spot and stop threats before they can cause problems.
By combining advanced threat detection with automated response and proactive threat hunting, Plan is always ready 24/7 for your whole IT system.
Another big plus is the efficiency you get from automation.
Then, Automated Investigation and Response (AIR) makes it easier for security teams to manage incidents, which means they can spend less time on manual tasks.
This automation lets these teams shift their focus to more strategic, high-level tasks, which is especially valuable in large organisations.
What’s more, Plan 2 is designed to be scalable and flexible. Its pricing is based on how many users you have, and it has all the features you could need, so it’s great for organisations of all sizes.
Plus, Plan 2 helps you stay compliant and keep your reports up to date, so you can meet industry standards and regulatory requirements.
For another price insight, kindly read “Microsoft 365 Price Increase 2024: Details, Reasons, & Impact to Businesses“
Is Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Suitable for Small Businesses?
Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 2 is mainly aimed at larger businesses, but its top-notch features can also be a big help to small businesses, especially those operating in high-risk industries.
The extra security features of Plan 2, such as automated incident response and phishing simulation training, offer great protection against sophisticated cyber threats.
But as you might expect, the cost of Plan 2 might be a concern for small businesses with limited budgets.
This is where Plan 1, with its more basic yet effective security features, might be enough for those with less complex needs.
Or you can use Octobits, a comprehensive license management platform, to help you decide whether to go for Plan 1 or Plan 2.
Octobits makes it easier to manage your IT by giving you control over different IT services, including security tools like Microsoft Defender for Office 365.
The Octobits platform also lets businesses manage their subscriptions, keep an eye on usage, and see how well their chosen security plan is working.
This level of control and insight means companies can make the most of their cybersecurity investment. It’s a valuable tool for any business, no matter the size.
The great news is you can get Octobits for free until December 2024. So you can see how Octobits can help you get useful data to help you manage your software license.
In Closing
Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 2 gives you a great set of security features to keep your organisation safe. But it’s also worth thinking about your budget.
That’s why you can use Octobits to help you choose the right Defender plan. Octobits can help you access lots of useful data.
The data from Octobits will help you figure out if the Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 2 price makes sense or not.
