We use the solution to add and move staff when they leave to secure the laptops and other assets for the company. All our contractors work remotely.
Technical Support Specialist
Helps prioritize tasks, and keeps our platform secure, but is not user-friendly
Pros and Cons
- "The technical support is good and quick to resolve issues."
- "The UI needs to be more user-friendly."
What is our primary use case?
How has it helped my organization?
The solution helps us prioritize threats across our entire enterprise.
I found the prioritization to be effective for the amount I have used it.
The solution helps us automate routine tasks and find high-value alerts. We use automation to create printers in terms of notifications that notify us when a device is trying to gain access.
The solution saved us between 24 and 48 hours of time.
The solution saved us money.
What is most valuable?
We are a small Software as a Service company, so when we hire contractors for projects, we usually move on to a different contractor with the relevant expertise. This means we have a lot of contractors coming in and out of the company, and the solution helps to keep our platforms secure when they have finished working by removing their credentials.
What needs improvement?
The solution provides us with visibility into threats; however, there is room for improvement in the threat visibility, as it could be more granular, refined, and detailed.
The UI needs to be more user-friendly. Some of the dashboard views are hard to follow and make the reporting complicated.
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Defender for Office 365
January 2025
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Defender for Office 365. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2025.
831,265 professionals have used our research since 2012.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using the solution for two years.
How are customer service and support?
The technical support is good and quick to resolve issues.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Positive
What other advice do I have?
I give the solution a six out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Microsoft Azure
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Chief Information Security Officer at a outsourcing company with 10,001+ employees
Deployment capability is a great feature but we're getting too many false positives
Pros and Cons
- "The deployment capability is a great feature."
- "Too many false positives and lacks an accurate capability to detect malicious SharePoint sites."
What is our primary use case?
We use Microsoft Defender for Office 365 for email security. We are partners of Microsoft and I'm the company's chief operation security officer.
What is most valuable?
The deployment capability is a great feature. We're able to activate this feature throughout France with a click.
What needs improvement?
I'd like to see fewer false positives and potentially have an accurate capability to detect malicious SharePoint sites. There could also be an improvement in some of the features related to training. In a phishing test campaign, for example, it should be more user-friendly and include the capability to evaluate and assess users' understanding of the content provided.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been using this solution for several years.
How are customer service and support?
The customer support could be more advanced at the technical level and more responsive. There should also be more communication on updates.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We previously had some reinforced email security features with Microsoft; this is just an improvement on what we had.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
This is quite an expensive solution and understanding the pricing model and features is quite complicated and it can, in fact, be a nightmare when dealing with Microsoft.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
We reviewed several on-premise solutions such as Forcepoint that could be integrated with other components within our infrastructure. The reason we didn't go with them is that we have to respond quickly to threats and at an international level. Given the complexity of our situation in terms of architecture, we decided to go with a ready-to-use solution.
What other advice do I have?
We haven't had a review recently, so I can't say that this is the best solution on the market. Things are evolving all the time with new features constantly being added to all solutions. For now, I would rate this solution seven out of 10.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: partner
Buyer's Guide
Microsoft Defender for Office 365
January 2025
Learn what your peers think about Microsoft Defender for Office 365. Get advice and tips from experienced pros sharing their opinions. Updated: January 2025.
831,265 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Cloud solution engineer at a computer software company with 51-200 employees
Helps me create reports during investigations
Pros and Cons
- "I like its investigation capabilities, as that is what is most important to me. It is fairly simple with a user-friendly interface."
- "They have moved features from one console to another. Things have been moved around in the interface and it takes me time to find where certain features are."
What is our primary use case?
I use it for investigating incidents.
How has it helped my organization?
It has helped eliminate looking at multiple dashboards, which is very useful. During the investigation of incidents, it helps in making reports.
It has saved me time and my nerves. It has also likely saved us money by blocking unexpected threats. It has also definitely decreased our time to detection and time to respond.
What is most valuable?
I like its investigation capabilities, as that is what is most important to me. It is fairly simple with a user-friendly interface.
Also, all Microsoft products can be used with each other, as opposed to other vendors' products that cannot be used with each other.
What needs improvement?
They have moved features from one console to another. Things have been moved around in the interface and it takes me time to find where certain features are.
For how long have I used the solution?
I've been working with Microsoft 365 for two years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It's a stable solution. I have only had one serious incident, a few months ago, when Microsoft wrote that there were some difficulties with networking.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It's scalable and this is important. I have had clients with 10 to 20 users and others with a few thousand.
How are customer service and support?
Unfortunately, support has become difficult. Very often I get a hyperlink from Microsoft as an answer, but I only submit requests after I have read all the information that is available. My questions are not simple. In the past, I would have rated their support a nine or 10 out of 10, but now it's a seven.
How would you rate customer service and support?
Neutral
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
I used ESET and Fortinet at my previous companies.
How was the initial setup?
Our deployments are on private cloud, hybrid, and on-premises. Deployment time depends on the tasks involved. Some are done in a few days and others can take six weeks.
The initial setup can be straightforward or complex. For one client, due to authentication methods, some users couldn't access their old clients.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
One problem is its pricing because I was working in the government and it was too expensive for us to use our Microsoft products.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
For protection, I like Microsoft Defender for Office 365 and ESET in this price range.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer: Partner
Sr. Manager, End User Experience at a comms service provider with 10,001+ employees
Protects confidential and sensitive information
Pros and Cons
- "Microsoft Defender for Office 365 helps people to work remotely. It is a secure solution. We don't need to use our company's computers or get VPN connections to the networks. I can control how they share screens and what they send to the devices. It keeps our organizations confidential and sensitive information safe."
What is our primary use case?
We use Microsoft Defender for Office 365 for our external developers.
How has it helped my organization?
The tool offers the best experience to meet international contractors.
What is most valuable?
Microsoft Defender for Office 365 helps people to work remotely. It is a secure solution. We don't need to use our company's computers or get VPN connections to the networks. I can control how they share screens and what they send to the devices. It keeps our organizations confidential and sensitive information safe.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is scalable.
How was the initial setup?
Microsoft Defender for Office 365's deployment is straightforward.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
The product is expensive.
What other advice do I have?
The flexible tool helps hide windows from people trying to control the PC's remote. I rate it a seven out of ten.
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Protects from zero-day threats and ensures that attachments and links are safe, but has a lot of false positives and should have only one plan that takes care of everything
Pros and Cons
- "Safe attachments, safe links, policies, and the ability to protect from zero-day threats are the most valuable features."
- "In some situations, it has not been able to pick impersonated emails having no attachments. Technical support definitely has a scope for improvement."
What is most valuable?
Safe attachments, safe links, policies, and the ability to protect from zero-day threats are the most valuable features.
What needs improvement?
In some situations, it has not been able to pick impersonated emails having no attachments. Technical support definitely has a scope for improvement.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using this solution for the last one year. I have its latest version.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
It is stable. We didn't find any issues with that.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
It is highly scalable. We have deployed for around 7,000 accounts. Performance is not impacted.
How are customer service and technical support?
Their technical support can definitely be improved. They can avoid using templatized response.
Which solution did I use previously and why did I switch?
We had basic Exchange Online Protection.
How was the initial setup?
It was easy to configure and with one/two skilled the ongoing maintenance can be handled.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
It has a simple interface to configure and manage. From the pricing point of view, like any other product in the market, there is scope for negotiation.
Which other solutions did I evaluate?
Before we chose to settle with this product, we experimented with Cisco, Forcepoint, etc.
What other advice do I have?
I would advise others to do a proof of concept for at least a month before taking a decision.
I would rate Microsoft Defender for Office 365 a eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Co-Founder with 11-50 employees
A highly efficient solution that saves us time
Pros and Cons
- "Defender helps us prioritize threats across our organization."
- "The pre-sales cost calculations could be more transparent."
What is our primary use case?
Defender for Office 365 protects Office 365, which is the industry standard office software suite. It is the only Microsoft security solution we use. We don't use any specialized features. It's a standard deployment.
What is most valuable?
Defender helps us prioritize threats across our organization. Defender for 365 is highly efficient and saves us time. We save about 35 percent compared to other solutions.
What needs improvement?
The pre-sales cost calculations could be more transparent.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have used Defender for Office 365 for the last three years.
How are customer service and support?
We mostly rely on internal support at my organization. They are not certified by Microsoft, but they have some experience with Microsoft solutions. We contact Microsoft if we need additional support. I would rate them highly.
How was the initial setup?
Setting up Defender for 365 is straightforward, and we did it ourselves following the standard Office 365 setup.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Microsoft Defender for Office 365 an eight out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Public Cloud
If public cloud, private cloud, or hybrid cloud, which cloud provider do you use?
Microsoft Azure
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Cybersecurity and Business Continuity Consultant at a tech services company with 201-500 employees
Reliable, simple setup, but best practice information needed
Pros and Cons
- "The most valuable feature of Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is the ease of use."
- "Microsoft Defender for Office 365 could improve by giving customers information on techniques to prevent threats. For example, information about best practices on how to protect their own devices against hackers and scammers, such as educational information or training. This would help others have a better understanding of cyber security. Additionally, there can be more security features added."
What is our primary use case?
We are using Microsoft Defender for Office 365 to defend against computer threats.
What is most valuable?
The most valuable feature of Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is the ease of use.
What needs improvement?
Microsoft Defender for Office 365 could improve by giving customers information on techniques to prevent threats. For example, information about best practices on how to protect their own devices against hackers and scammers, such as educational information or training. This would help others have a better understanding of cyber security. Additionally, there can be more security features added.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Microsoft Defender for Office 365 for approximately five years.
What do I think about the stability of the solution?
Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is a stable solution.
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
The solution is scalable in my usage.
How are customer service and support?
I have not used the technical support from Microsoft. I managed to fix any issues I had myself.
How was the initial setup?
The implementation is simple and Microsoft Defender for Office 365 because it comes with Microsoft Windows, works as soon as the computer is on.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Microsoft Defender for Office 365 comes with Microsoft Windows. It is free with the operating system.
What other advice do I have?
I rate Microsoft Defender for Office 365 a seven out of ten.
Which deployment model are you using for this solution?
Private Cloud
Disclosure: I am a real user, and this review is based on my own experience and opinions.
Sales Account Manager at a tech services company with 51-200 employees
Simple implementation, effective email threat detection, and secure
Pros and Cons
- "The solution is very easy to use. All you have to do is to assign the license to the end-user and it's done. The customer will only have the feature activated, and the solution will monitor the emails to determine if they are a threat or not."
- "They can improve their security in a way where a customer can know if all their attachments are safe or not to open through a report. The solution does its job perfectly, but it never reports to the customer whether those attachments have been stopped before or not."
What is our primary use case?
Microsoft Defender for Office 365 was a product called Advanced Threat Protection(ATP) in the beginning and it was changed. Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is an email security. Our customers should know that it is only email security and not a full security feature solution. It is for checking the attachments of emails, and it will move them on if they are secure, and if they are not secure it will not move them forward.
What is most valuable?
The solution is very easy to use. All you have to do is to assign the license to the end-user and it's done. The customer will only have the feature activated, and the solution will monitor the emails to determine if they are a threat or not.
What needs improvement?
They can improve their security in a way where a customer can know if all their attachments are safe or not to open through a report. The solution does its job perfectly, but it never reports to the customer whether those attachments have been stopped before or not.
For how long have I used the solution?
I have been using Microsoft Defender for Office 365
What do I think about the scalability of the solution?
Microsoft Defender for Office 365 has been scalable.
How was the initial setup?
The implementation is simple, once you have the license you assign it to the end-user.
What was our ROI?
We have seen a return on investment because if we would have received a phishing email, Microsoft Defender for Office 365 would help out to detect the threat instead of crashing down the whole company. The solution keeps emails protected with high security benefiting the company, whether it's an inbound or outbound email.
What's my experience with pricing, setup cost, and licensing?
Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is an add-on to the Office license. Many customers are purchasing this solution.
What other advice do I have?
I would advise every customer who requires email security to purchase Microsoft Defender for Office 365.
I rate Microsoft Defender for Office 365 a ten out of ten.
Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer:
Buyer's Guide
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Updated: January 2025
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Buyer's Guide
Download our free Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Report and get advice and tips from experienced pros
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