Defender Feature Comparison
Compare Plan 1 vs. Plan 2 features for Defender for Office 365 and Defender for Endpoint.
Plan 1
- Safe Links (time-of-click URL protection)
- Safe Attachments (sandbox detonation)
- Anti-phishing / impersonation protection
Plan 2 adds
- Automated investigation and response (AIR)
- Threat hunting tools
- Attack simulation training
- Richer reporting and analytics
Plan 2's investigative and hunting capability delivers real value only when someone is actively using it — see Defender for Office 365 for the full comparison and staffing considerations.
FAQ
Common Questions
Does this cover every Defender product?
This tool covers Defender for Office 365 and Defender for Endpoint specifically — the two products with the clearest Plan 1/Plan 2 tier distinction covered in this cluster.
Should we always choose Plan 2 if budget allows?
Not automatically — Plan 2's investigative and hunting tools deliver value only when someone actively uses them. See the linked articles for the staffing consideration behind this decision.
Are these feature lists guaranteed to reflect Microsoft's current offering?
Microsoft periodically changes plan feature boundaries and naming. Treat this comparison as a directional starting point and confirm current plan contents directly with Microsoft or a licensing partner before making a purchasing decision.
Related Microsoft 365 Guidance
The full guide behind the Office 365 comparison.
See where Defender fits into the full five-layer security architecture.
Get a broader licensing tier recommendation beyond just Defender.
Defender licensing and deployment support.
Operational Support
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