Endpoint Protection Added to Microsoft 365 E3

• A new Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Plan 1 offers central management of antivirus Windows endpoint security features for current Microsoft 365 E3 users. 
• The new plan could enable organizations to settle on a single security management portal for Windows endpoints.
• The value is largely limited to Windows PCs.

A new level of the Microsoft Defender for Endpoint service named “Plan 1” was announced in Sept. 2021, and became available for Microsoft 365 E3 customers in Jan. 2022. The primary value that Plan 1 offers is centrally managed antivirus and endpoint security feature management for Windows 10 Enterprise edition or newer. It will be offered for users of Microsoft 365 E3, the primary subscription suite for knowledge workers, and also stand-alone. Plan 1 is not included in Windows Enterprise E3, the freestanding Per-User Windows OS subscription. 

Other than branding, the earlier E5 tier of Microsoft Defender for Endpoint remains unchanged. Licensing of Microsoft Defender for Endpoint on server systems is unchanged, and “Plan 1” is only available for client endpoints.