How is Microsoft Security Copilot Priced?
Microsoft Copilot for Security has a consumption-based pricing model determined by the number and complexity of prompts a business request. Pricing starts at $4 per provisioned Security Compute Unit (SCU) and is estimated to cost $2,920 USD per year.
Despite this model, costs remain unpredictable due to the subjective nature of “complex queries.”
With Difenda’s Microsoft Copilot for Security Adoption DifendAccelerator service, we help develop a cost-benefit model to support ongoing Copilot for Security planning and investment.
Microsoft Security Copilot License
Yes, a Microsoft 365 E3 or E5 license is required to access the full capabilities of Copilot for Security. To access Copilot for Security, you must have an Azure subscription and provision SCUs through the Azure or the Copilot for Security portal. Additionally, Copilot for Security requires integration with Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory) for user authentication. This setup ensures that users have the necessary permissions to access and manage Copilot for Security functionalities.
For integrations with other Microsoft security technologies appropriate licenses for those products are also required. For example, Microsoft Defender XDR and Microsoft Sentinel need to be licensed separately to utilize their full Copilot capabilities (Microsoft Learn).
Additionally, you must provision Security Compute Units (SCUs) separatly to manage the compute capacity for running security workloads effectively.
What is an SCU?
An SCU, or Security Compute Unit, is a unit of measurement used by Microsoft Copilot for Security to determine the compute capacity required for running security workloads. This capacity is allocated to manage and process tasks such as threat analysis and incident response using generative AI.
Each SCU represents a specific amount of computing resources provisioned on an hourly basis. The number of SCUs required depends on the complexity and volume of your security operations. Microsoft recommends starting with three SCUs per hour for basic exploration and scaling up as needed based on your workload requirements.
Microsoft Copilot for Security Concerns
Predicting the ROI of Microsoft Security Copilot
Predicting the return on investment (ROI) from Microsoft Security Copilot can be a complex. While the tool promises enhanced security insights and automation, calculating its exact financial benefits involves considering several variables, including initial setup costs, ongoing subscription fees, and the tangible benefits derived from improved security posture.
This includes the costs of provisioning Security Compute Units (SCUs) and obtaining the necessary Microsoft 365 licenses (E3 or E5), along with any additional required technology. These initial costs are relatively straightforward to estimate, but they represent just one part of the financial equation.
The ongoing costs are more variable. As previously discussed, the consumption-based pricing model of Copilot for Security can lead to fluctuating monthly expenses depending on the complexity and volume of queries submitted. This unpredictability makes it crucial for businesses to develop a detailed usage forecast to avoid unexpected financial burdens.
On the benefits side, the ROI from Microsoft Security Copilot is realized through both tangible and intangible gains. Tangible benefits include direct cost savings from reducing the time and resources needed for threat detection, incident response, and risk assessment. By automating these processes, Copilot can significantly cut down on the manual effort required from security teams, allowing them to focus on more strategic tasks.
Intangible benefits, while harder to quantify, are equally important. These include improved overall security posture, reduced risk of data breaches, and enhanced compliance with regulatory requirements.
With strategic planning and expert guidance, organizations can achieve a significant return on their investment while enhancing their security infrastructure.
Lack of Predictability with Microsoft Security Copilot Pricing
While Microsoft’s Copilot for Security offers a flexible, consumption-based pricing model, the inherent unpredictability of this model presents significant challenges. Businesses can see varying monthly costs depending on their level of usage. During periods of high activity or increased security monitoring, costs can rise significantly.
Additionally, the definition of a complex query is not rigid and can vary widely depending on the context and specific needs of an organization. This variability makes it difficult for businesses to predict their usage accurately and, consequently, their costs. As organizations grow and their security needs evolve, the complexity of the queries they generate is likely to increase. This organic growth in complexity can inadvertently lead to higher consumption of SCUs, further complicating cost predictability. Businesses might find themselves needing to provision additional SCUs unexpectedly, pushing their costs beyond initial estimates.
As businesses increasingly rely on advanced AI-driven tools like Microsoft Copilot for Security to protect their digital assets, the unpredictability of pricing becomes a significant concern.
The solution?
To mitigate these challenges, Difenda offers the Microsoft Copilot for Security Adoption DifendAccelerator service. This service assists organizations in developing a cost-benefit model tailored to their specific needs. Helping you to plan and manage Copilot for Security investments more effectively. By providing insights into potential cost drivers and helping to establish more predictable usage patterns, Difenda’s service aims to bring a level of financial stability and predictability to the utilization of Microsoft Security Copilot.
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