Insights

Microsoft have recently announced the launch of two new add-ons for Microsoft 365 Business Premium customers: Microsoft Defender Suite and Microsoft Purview Suite. The Defender Suite focuses on advanced cybersecurity solutions, whilst the Purview Suite focuses more on compliance and data governance. These new SKUs are an exciting opportunity for SMB’s to access enterprise-level security but at an affordable price.

Why is this exciting for SMBs?

Microsoft 365 Business Premium is aimed at SMBs and only available for organisations with fewer than 300 people. As one of the most popular Microsoft 365 licences, it gives companies excellent productivity and security solutions to work effectively – however there is a limit to the security capabilities it includes.
The Microsoft Defender Suite is a bundle of all the advanced Microsoft security solutions – for a much more cost-effective price than buying the solutions individually. This bundle was previously known as “E5 Security add-on” that only Enterprises could purchase (or SMBs that paid for the more expensive Enterprise licences). In March 2025, Microsoft announced E5 Security was available to Microsoft 365 Business Premium customers, which was very welcome news and exciting for SMBs.

This latest update builds on that excitement. Microsoft have further reduced the price of this bundle to make it even more attractive to SMBs – from $12 per user when first launched in March, to $10 per user now. Alongside this, the E5 Security add-on bundle has been renamed to ‘Microsoft Defender Suite’ (as we all know that Microsoft love a name change).

Image source: Microsoft

So, why is this so exciting? In summary:

• It gives SMBs very powerful security products in a very cost-effective package
• All the security tools work natively together – increasing threat detection and helping with more rapid threat response
• It could enable companies to remove third-party security costs
• It’s cheaper than it was when it first launched giving better cost savings

What is included in the Microsoft Defender Suite?

Microsoft Defender Suite is made up of a bundle of Microsoft security products, which are:

• Microsoft Entra ID P2 – delivering enhanced identity and access controls, such as risk-based conditional access.
• Microsoft Defender for Identity – an identity threat detection and response solution to monitor and detect suspicious identity behaviour
• Microsoft Defender for Endpoint P2 – for advanced device security with threat hunting and more comprehensive EDR
• Microsoft Defender for Office 365 P2 – for enhanced security across Teams, OneDrive and SharePoint, as well as advanced email security
• Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps – to identify and manage Shadow IT and stop unapproved app usage

How much does it cost?

The Defender Suite is $10 per user per month, the Purview Suite is $10 per user per month, or you can buy both combined at $15 per user per month. We have kept costs in USD due to exchange rate fluctuations.

Before this bundle, organisations may have looked to add in these products to their Microsoft 365 Business Premium licences but had to buy individual components – such as adding on Entra ID P2 and Defender for Endpoint P2. If you were to buy all the items individually, this would cost $28.20 – instead, it is now $10. (per user per month)

Adding Managed Security to the Microsoft Defender Suite

Getting these solutions provide organisations with advanced security – however tooling is only one element of good cybersecurity. Once implemented, these solutions can identify risks – what would you do if an alert is raised? If you discover that someone is on your network? Or, a device has downloaded malware?

Alongside the tools, organisations need the right service and people in place to be able to detect, investigate and respond to threats. For many, building a Cyber Security Operations Centre (CSOC) is not viable. Upfront costs, recruitment, retention, 24×7 shift patterns… there are many considerations and few companies can build – or want to build – this department.

This is when companies turn to their IT providers for help – those providing the Microsoft licensing and/or delivering IT support. However, most MSPs have the exact same challenge and do not wish to build a full 24×7 CSOC. This is why we deliver Microsoft Managed Security services via partner model – helping MSPs to quickly and easily deliver these sought-after services to their customers. This means that your customers do not look to other managed security providers, you offer added value by reducing their cyber risk and you can help your customers get the most value from their Microsoft licensing.

The Microsoft Defender & MXDR opportunity

Microsoft are now leading in the cybersecurity market – and the new Defender Suite will grow this even further, particularly in the SMB market. With more organisations using Microsoft security tools, more companies will look for Microsoft-focused MDR and MXDR services.
This product & service bundle is an exciting opportunity – for MSPs to expand their services, better support their clients and also open new opportunities. But also, it’s a great opportunity for organisations to benefit from industry-leading cybersecurity solutions with advanced managed security to reduce their cyber risk.