Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (MDE) is a comprehensive security solution that provides a next-generation defense against malware and zero-day attacks. The software offers real-time protection against online threats, and it can be easily customized to meet the specific needs of your organization. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint also includes features such as cloud-based threat intelligence and Windows 10 Secure Boot, which help keep your devices safe from attack.

This article will show you how to use Microsoft Defender for Endpoint on your Windows 10 device. We’ll also cover some of its key features and how it can help to keep your device safe.

Microsoft Defender vs. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

While Microsoft Defender and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint are similar in many ways, they have a number of significant differences. These include but are not limited to:

  • Microsoft Defender is a free, built-in anti-malware solution that comes as part of Windows 10 and provides basic protection against viruses and other malware.
  • Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is a licensed, commercial, cloud-hosted product that builds on Microsoft Defender and adds additional features such as endpoint detection and response, advanced hunting, and more. It is recommended for use on staff and faculty workstations and machines that access sensitive data.
  • Microsoft Defender is designed to be used as a standalone solution, while Microsoft Defender for Endpoint must be integrated with an existing security solution such as Microsoft 365 E5 Security.
  • Microsoft Defender offers basic protection against malware, while Microsoft Defender for Endpoint offers comprehensive protection against both known and unknown threats.
  • Microsoft Defender for Endpoint includes support for both on-premises and cloud deployments, while Microsoft Defender does not include support for cloud deployments.
  • Microsoft Defender is only available for Windows clients, while Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is also available for Mac clients.
  • Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is more expensive than Microsoft Defender.
  • Microsoft Defender is a US-based product, while Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is available in several other countries.

What Does Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Do?

There are five cores that define what MDE does and how it is so beneficial to organizations. These are:

  1. It helps protect your organization by proactively identifying and responding to threats and vulnerabilities.
  2. It reduces your organization’s attack surface by providing visibility into and control over the endpoints in your environment.
  3. It detects and responds to endpoint-related security events, supplying you with the information you need to investigate and remediate incidents. Over 3,500 global experts are employed to take care of the information and algorithms that govern the Microsoft database.
  4. IT automates the investigation and response process, making it easier and faster to resolve issues.
  5. Microsoft Secure Score for Devices measures the security posture of your devices and provides recommendations on how to improve it.

Benefits of Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint offers several benefits, including:

  • Comprehensive, robust protection for your endpoints and network against malware, viruses, and other online threats.
  • Automatic updates keep your system protected, and a proactive approach to security is employed. It blocks untrusted websites and applications, minimizes areas for cybercriminals to penetrate, and gives recommendations for security settings.
  • Easy-to-use interface that makes it simple to keep your system protected, which allows all users to competently use it, meaning they do not have to wait for an IT team to review suspicious activity. This is great for small businesses.
  • Excellent customer support in case you have any questions or cyber-attacks happen while your IT team is away.

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint gives everyone full visibility wherein the security score, previous actions, evidence, and more can be viewed. The last six months of activity is kept to ensure that the system has been fully protected at all times, and to see where any breaches may have occurred if an attack is successful.

 

Requirements

To use Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, you will need a valid Microsoft licence. The following are some licensing requirements that are accepted:

  • Microsoft 365 E5 Security
  • Microsoft 365 A5 Security
  • Microsoft 365 E5, which includes Windows 10 Enterprise E5
  • Windows 10 E5
  • Windows 10 Education A5
  • Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

The software that your Windows Server is running must be either:

Furthermore, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint can run on most operating systems, like Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, and Linux.

Pricing

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is charged per user per month. Each user can run the program on five concurrent devices with one licence. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint can be run on any operating software, no matter if it is a corporate or personal computer. This can benefit companies that have a Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policy.

To meet the needs of many different types of businesses and individuals, there are several different pricing plans for Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, ranging from $10 per month to $57 per month. Microsoft also recommends that personal devices have Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection and separate antivirus software installed, in order to be fully protected. Cell phones can also be enrolled on Microsoft Defender for Endpoint using a cloud-based management system called Microsoft Intune.

Is Microsoft Defender for Endpoint for You?

Microsoft Defender is a comprehensive IT security solution that can be used to protect your devices and data. It offers a number of features and benefits, including real-time protection, cloud-based threat intelligence, and automatic updates. The software also meets the requirements for many compliance standards, so it will meet most companies’ regulatory compliance needs. You can learn more about Microsoft Defender for Endpoint by contacting Softlanding today.

Written By:

softlanding

Softlanding is a long-established IT services provider of transformation, professional services and managed IT services that helps organizations boost innovation and drive business value. We are a multi-award-winning Microsoft Gold Partner with 13 Gold Competencies and we use our experience and expertise to be a trusted advisor to our clients. Headquartered in Vancouver, BC, we have staff and offices in Toronto, Montreal and Calgary to serve clients across Canada.

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