Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is a comprehensive enterprise endpoint security platform designed to help organizations prevent, detect, investigate, and respond to advanced threats. It is available in two plans: Plan 1 (P1) and Plan 2 (P2). This guide will provide a detailed comparison of the features and capabilities of both plans to help you choose the best option for your organization’s security needs.
Overview
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Plan 1 (P1) offers foundational security capabilities, focusing on next-generation protection, attack surface reduction, and centralized management. It is ideal for organizations looking for robust endpoint protection without the need for advanced threat detection and response capabilities.
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Plan 2 (P2) includes all the features of Plan 1, plus advanced capabilities such as endpoint detection and response (EDR), automated investigation and remediation, and advanced threat hunting. It is designed for enterprises that require comprehensive security solutions with deep investigation and remediation tools.
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Plan 1 (P1) | Plan 2 (P2) |
|---|---|---|
| Next-Generation Protection | Yes | Yes |
| Attack Surface Reduction | Yes | Yes |
| Device Control (e.g., USB) | Yes | Yes |
| Endpoint Firewall | Yes | Yes |
| Network Protection | Yes | Yes |
| Web Content Filtering | Yes | Yes |
| Device-Based Conditional Access | Yes | Yes |
| Centralized Management | Yes | Yes |
| Application Control | Yes | Yes |
| APIs and SIEM Connector | Yes | Yes |
| Advanced Security Reports | Yes | Yes |
| Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) | No | Yes |
| Automated Investigation and Remediation | No | Yes |
| Threat and Vulnerability Management | No | Yes |
| Advanced Threat Hunting | No | Yes |
| Sandboxing | No | Yes |
| Managed Threat Hunting Service | No | Yes |
| Threat Intelligence | No | Yes |
| Microsoft Secure Score for Devices | No | Yes |
Capabilities in Detail
Plan 1 (P1) Capabilities
- Next-Generation Protection: Provides robust antimalware and antivirus protection using behavior-based, heuristic, and real-time detection methods. It includes cloud-delivered protection for near-instant detection and blocking of new threats.
- Attack Surface Reduction: Helps harden devices against zero-day attacks and offers granular control over endpoint access and behaviors.
- Centralized Management: Utilizes the Microsoft Defender portal for viewing incidents, managing devices, and generating reports on detected threats.
- Cross-Platform Support: Supports Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android devices, ensuring comprehensive protection across different operating systems.
Plan 2 (P2) Capabilities
- Includes All P1 Features: Plan 2 encompasses all the features available in Plan 1, ensuring foundational protection and management.
- Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR): Detects, investigates, and responds to advanced threats that have bypassed initial defenses. It includes advanced hunting tools for proactive threat detection.
- Automated Investigation and Remediation: Reduces the volume of alerts by automatically investigating and remediating threats at scale, minimizing manual intervention.
- Threat and Vulnerability Management: Identifies, assesses, and remediates endpoint vulnerabilities and misconfigurations, helping to reduce the attack surface.
- Advanced Threat Hunting and Sandboxing: Provides tools for deep analysis of suspicious files and proactive threat hunting to detect breaches and create custom detections.
- Managed Threat Hunting Service: Offers proactive hunting, prioritization, and additional insights to help security operations centers (SOCs) respond to threats quickly and accurately.
Conclusion
Choosing between Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Plan 1 and Plan 2 depends on your organization’s specific security needs. Plan 1 is suitable for organizations seeking essential endpoint protection and management capabilities. In contrast, Plan 2 is ideal for enterprises that require advanced threat detection, investigation, and response capabilities.For organizations already using Microsoft 365 E3/A3, Plan 1 capabilities are included, while Plan 2 features are available with Microsoft 365 E5/A5/G5 plans. Consider your organization’s security requirements, budget, and existing infrastructure when selecting the appropriate plan.By understanding the differences between Plan 1 and Plan 2, you can make an informed decision to enhance your organization’s endpoint security posture effectively. Sources: