Microsoft 365 E5 Security Suite: Is It Still Worth Buying?

• The security services included in the Microsoft 365 E5 Security suite were originally licensed stand-alone, or only bundled at a discount in the full Microsoft 365 E5 suite.
• The Microsoft 365 E5 Security suite builds on the security features in Microsoft 365 E3 and adds features to enhance enterprise security.
• These services still can be licensed separately but are increasingly dependent on each other to deliver their full value.
• Pricing changes that occurred in 2022 make purchasing this suite less appealing, except to organizations that do not intend to adopt their E5 Compliance counterparts.

 

The Microsoft 365 E5 Security suite builds on the foundation provided by Microsoft 365 E3 and adds a range of Microsoft Defender-branded security services that are becoming increasingly difficult to implement separately. Customers considering Microsoft 365 E5 Security or its component services should understand what each service does and what third-party alternatives might exist and understand the interdependencies between the individual services included in the suite.