Businesses of all sizes are in the thick of it when it comes to protecting themselves from hackers, but at Smile IT we find it’s SMBs that are often most ill-equipped when it comes to their cybersecurity. This could be due to several reasons, from lack of resources to insufficient knowledge or cost restrictions.
Unfortunately, this makes them even more of a hacker target (over 50% of ransomware attacks are directed at SMBs), and as the threats get more advanced the risks of a cyber breach get increasingly higher. Microsoft has recognised this gap that SMBs face, and to help close it they offer Microsoft Defender for Business.
Microsoft Defender for Business is an enterprise-grade endpoint security solution. It’s perfect for SMBs as it’s designed to protect businesses with up to 300 employees from cyber threats, helping keep them safe from ransomware, phishing, malware and other cybersecurity threats.
Today we’re going to give you an introduction to Defender, highlighting some of its features and some of the reasons it’s better than your standard antivirus solutions.
What does Microsoft Defender for Business Include?
Microsoft Defender for Business comes packed with a variety of features to safeguard your business. Here are a few of the key ones:
- Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR): You get advanced attack detections in near real-time. A detected threat creates alerts in the system that can then initiate the response capabilities.
- Threat and Vulnerability Management: This is a proactive means of identifying and fixing vulnerabilities and misconfigurations before they’re exploited by attackers.
- Next-Generation Protection: Designed to capture and block all types of emerging threats, it combines antimalware and firewall capabilities to prevent threats in real-time.
- Automated Investigation and Remediation: An automatic investigation can start when an alert is triggered, as it delves into the source and delivers verdicts on the pieces of evidence it finds.
- Attack Surface Reduction: Reducing your attack surface means leaving attackers fewer ways to carry out their attacks on your organisation’s devices and network.
- Centralized Management: A single console allows IT administrators to manage and monitor security across all endpoints, ensuring a cohesive and efficient security strategy.
Why is Defender Better than Traditional Antivirus Solutions?
Traditional antivirus solutions primarily focus on detecting known threats using signature-based detection methods. This means they’re employing a single level of protection, and while this may work for older threats, it’s pretty ineffective against newer and more sophisticated ones. It’s like having a single lock on a door protecting a home – sure, it’ll keep some intruders out. But others will find a way in.
Microsoft Defender for Business steps up and goes above and beyond what traditional antivirus solutions do. As well as the above features we touched on, here are some advantages of choosing Defender:
- Advanced Threat Protection: Using machine learning and behavioural analysis, Defender for Business can detect and respond to zero-day threats and advanced malware that traditional antivirus might miss.
- Comprehensive Cybersecurity Coverage: It provides a unified security solution that includes antivirus, firewall, EDR, and vulnerability management, reducing the need for multiple disparate tools.
- Automatic Attack Disruption: This is an industry first that helps protect users from human-operated attacks. It’s designed to contain attacks in progress and limit the impact on organisational assets.
- Interaction with Microsoft 365: Most Australian SMBs use the Microsoft 365 stack. Defender seamlessly integrates with them, offering a holistic approach to organisational security.
Is Microsoft Defender for Business Available on Business Premium?
Yes, Microsoft Defender for Business is included as part of the Microsoft 365 Business Premium subscription. This is one of the compelling reasons for businesses to upgrade to Business Premium, allowing you to enjoy enhanced security and safer collaboration with team members both on and off-site.
If you’re already a Business Premium user, you’re enjoying the benefits of Defender already. If you’re not, you can either upgrade from your current plan, or purchase Microsoft Defender for business as a standalone subscription.
How to Get Started with Microsoft Defender
If you want to take the overwhelm out of your cybersecurity defence, get a managed IT services provider to take care of it for you. They’ll guide you through the cyber jungle and help keep the attackers at bay, while also implementing solid backup and recovery plans to get you back on your feet in the event of a breach.
If you’re just getting started with Defender and want to implement it in-house, here are the steps you would take:
- Subscription and Licensing: Ensure you have a Microsoft 365 Business Premium subscription, or you’ve purchased Microsoft Defender for Business separately.
- Setup Wizard: Use the setup wizard provided in the Microsoft 365 admin centre. The wizard guides you through the initial configuration, ensuring that all necessary settings are applied correctly.
- Configure Security Policies: Set up security policies tailored to your organization’s needs. This includes configuring antivirus settings, firewall rules, and attack surface reduction policies.
- Deploy Defender for Business: Deploy the Defender for Business client to all endpoints within your organization. This can be done through the Microsoft Endpoint Manager or other deployment tools.
- Monitor and Manage: Utilize the centralized management console to monitor security alerts, manage incidents, and view reports. Regularly review and adjust security policies as needed to address new threats.
Get Set Up with Microsoft Defender for Business
If you’re an SMB looking for a powerful, integrated security solution designed to combat the ever-evolving landscape of cyber threats, you can’t go wrong with Microsoft Defender for Business. With advanced features like EDR and automated threat response, as well as seamless integration with Microsoft 365, this is a superior choice over traditional antivirus solutions.
If you’ve got questions about Defender or would like to chat about other value-adding features in Business Premium, please get in touch with the Smile IT team. We’d love to help you on your journey to full cyber protection.
When he’s not writing tech articles or turning IT startups into established and consistent managed service providers, Peter Drummond can be found kitesurfing on the Gold Coast or hanging out with his family!