Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Vs. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

• 14 August 2025
• Microsoft 365,Office 365
• Written by Justin Greaves

With the increasing reliance on technology in the business world, it is more important than ever to ensure that your company’s data and systems are secure. Cybersecurity is the practice of protecting computer networks and systems from unauthorized access, cybersecurity attacks, and theft. Microsoft provides loads of cutting-edge cybersecurity tools including Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) that protects vital data from any kind of internal and external cybersecurity threats. In this article, we will explain the difference between Microsoft Defender for Office 365 (formerly Office 365 ATP) and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (formerly Windows Defender ATP).

Introduction to Microsoft Threat Protection Solutions

Microsoft’s Defender suite brings together powerful tools for safeguarding email, endpoints, identities, and cloud environments. At the core is Microsoft 365 Defender, which unifies services like Defender for Endpoint and Defender for Office 365 to deliver coordinated threat protection across your organization.

By correlating signals from multiple sources, Microsoft 365 Defender reduces alert noise and highlights high-confidence threats, helping IT teams act faster and more effectively. For broader visibility, it integrates with Microsoft Sentinel, combining XDR and SIEM for centralized incident management.

Built-in automation streamlines response through features like auto-remediation and custom workflows with Power Automate. Combined with AI-driven threat intelligence and a Zero Trust foundation, these tools offer scalable, adaptive protection that grows with your security needs.

Understanding how Microsoft 365 Defender compares with Defender for Endpoint or Defender for Office 365 helps organizations choose the right layers of defense for different threat surfaces. Together, they create a more resilient, unified security posture.

What Is Microsoft Defender for Office 365?

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is a cloud-based email filtering service that safeguards organization data against various malware, viruses, phishing, and other unsafe links by providing zero-day protection in real-time. Before email recipients open attachments or click on URLs, it evaluates the email’s content. It scans attachments and hyperlinks through separate, independent policies that administrators apply to specific users, groups, or domains. Businesses can also use this service to protect their files in Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive.

Key Features of Microsoft Defender for Office 365

The following are the features of Microsoft Defender for Office 365.

• It offers a “safe attachments” feature that analyzes all attachments to prevent the delivery of malicious files.
• Its “safe links” feature scans the content of the web page from hyperlinks in email and Office documents to mitigate any phishing and other website-based attacks.
• It generates detailed reports to alert IT administrators, if certain users receive an unusually high volume of suspicious emails or malicious content, and which users open or click on potentially harmful content.

When Should You Use Microsoft Defender for Office 365?

Microsoft Defender for Office 365, previously known as Office 365 ATP, is used to filter and scan emails to avoid any potential email phishing. Hence, it is recommended for those users who want to protect their email accounts from any malicious attachments and URLs. Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is included in the Microsoft 365 E5 security plan. Users can also access these features by purchasing these as add-on plans: Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 ($2.00 user/month) and Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 2 ($5.00 user/month).

What Is Microsoft Defender for Endpoint?

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is a cybersecurity tool that safeguards devices and data from malware, spyware, and many other malicious software. It provides preventative protection, post-breach detection, automated investigation, and response capabilities. It helps businesses defend against sophisticated attacks by using machine learning and behavioral analytics to identify anomalies, isolate malicious activity, and enable proactive response.

Features of Microsoft Defender for Endpoint

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint offers various features such as:

• It discovers security vulnerabilities, prioritizes them, and allows businesses to remediate them with security recommendations.
• It provides “Attack Surface Reduction” by ensuring hardware isolation, which reduces the attack surface, isolating untrusted websites and PDFs to keep them separate from Windows 10.
• Uses various algorithms and processes to evaluate alerts and take immediate action to address breaches.
• It offers a dashboard, which allows exploring the organization’s security status such as machines at risk, users at risk, suspicious activities, active alerts, and automated investigations in numerous ways from a centralized location.

When Should You Use Microsoft Defender for Endpoint?

Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, previously known as Windows Defender ATP, helps businesses to protect their system as well as their vital documents from ransomware, malware, viruses, and many other attacks. Hence, it is recommended for those users who want complete system protection against cybersecurity threats. These features are included in Microsoft 365 E5 & Microsoft 365 E3 plans and are also available as add-on plans: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint ($3.00 user/month) and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint P2 ($5.20 user/month).

Microsoft 365 Defender vs Defender for Endpoint vs Defender for Office 365

To help clarify how Microsoft’s security tools fit together, the table below compares Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Microsoft Defender for Office 365, and Microsoft 365 Defender across key areas. While each service serves a distinct purpose, they can also be integrated for broader, layered protection.

Criteria	Microsoft Defender for Endpoint	Microsoft Defender for Office 365	Microsoft 365 Defender
Primary Focus	Device and operating system protection	Email and collaboration app protection	Unified extended detection and response (XDR) across Microsoft security products
Key Capabilities	Endpoint detection and response (EDR), threat and vulnerability management, attack surface reduction, next-gen antivirus, automated investigation and remediation	Safe Links, Safe Attachments, anti-phishing, real-time threat tracking, post-breach investigation (Plan 2)	Incident correlation across endpoints, identities, email, cloud apps; integrated threat intelligence; automation
Incident Correlation & Response	Investigates and isolates endpoint threats; enables rapid remediation at the device level	Identifies, alerts, and remediates malicious email content and user interactions	Aggregates and correlates alerts from all Defender services; creates high-fidelity incidents and centralized response
Deployment Flexibility	Available standalone or as part of Microsoft 365 E3/E5; supports Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android	Available as standalone Plans 1/2 or with Microsoft 365 E5; secures Exchange, SharePoint, Teams, and OneDrive	Requires integration with other Defender solutions; best suited for organizations using multiple Microsoft 365 workloads
Best Use Case	Organizations looking to strengthen endpoint protection with real-time detection and control	Businesses needing robust defense against phishing, malicious attachments, and unsafe links in emails and collaboration tools	Enterprises seeking centralized threat visibility and response across their Microsoft security ecosystem

Key Differences Between Defender for Office 365 and Defender for Endpoint

While both solutions are part of the broader Microsoft 365 Defender suite, Microsoft Defender for Office 365 and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint serve different roles in the threat protection landscape. Understanding these distinctions is essential for selecting the right tools based on your organization’s priorities.

• Defender for Office 365 secures communication tools like Exchange, Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive, while Defender for Endpoint protects physical and virtual devices, including desktops, servers, and mobile endpoints.
• Defender for Office 365 is designed to catch phishing attempts, malicious attachments, and unsafe links, whereas Defender for Endpoint tackles malware, ransomware, fileless attacks, and system exploits. For organizations exploring the capabilities within Defender for Office 365, comparing the available Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 vs Plan 2 options can provide further clarity on which level of protection best suits their needs.
• Defender for Office 365 enables actions like email purging, click tracking, and attack simulations. Defender for Endpoint allows device isolation, threat forensics, and automated remediation.
• Both tools integrate with Microsoft 365 Defender, but Defender for Endpoint also connects with services like Intune, Microsoft Sentinel, and Defender for Cloud for broader visibility and control.
• Defender for Office 365 is entirely cloud-based, while Defender for Endpoint supports both cloud and hybrid deployments. For organizations evaluating endpoint protection levels, understanding the differences between Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Plan 1 vs Plan 2 can help determine the appropriate fit based on security needs and deployment models.

Which Solution Is Right for Your Business Needs?

Choosing between Microsoft Defender for Office 365 and Defender for Endpoint depends on your organization’s security priorities, threat exposure, and technical environment. If your business relies heavily on email and collaboration platforms such as Exchange Online, Teams, SharePoint, or OneDrive and regularly faces phishing or social engineering threats, Microsoft Defender for Office 365 may be the better fit. Organizations more concerned with protecting devices against malware, ransomware, and advanced intrusions should consider Defender for Endpoint instead.

Compliance requirements can also influence this decision, especially in regulated industries like healthcare, finance, or government, where layered security frameworks are critical. Defender for Endpoint offers more robust integration with endpoint management and security tools, making it ideal for environments with greater complexity or third-party integrations.

Licensing strategy and overall cost are also important factors. Both solutions are available as standalone options or as part of Microsoft 365 plans, giving businesses flexibility to align their security investments with their scale and budget. For organizations with mature security operations, advanced features like automated investigation, threat hunting, and centralized incident response may justify upgrading to Microsoft 365 Defender for broader protection and simplified management.

Understanding your specific risks, infrastructure, and long-term needs is key to selecting the solution that delivers the most effective defense.

How to Choose the Right Microsoft Defender Solution?

Selecting between Microsoft Defender for Office 365, Defender for Endpoint, and Microsoft 365 Defender depends on your organization’s security priorities, risk exposure, and IT environment. To make the right choice, follow these steps:

• Identify What Needs Protection

  Begin by listing your critical assets, such as devices, email systems, cloud platforms, and user identities. Evaluate which assets face the highest risk and require the strongest protection.

• Match Solutions to Workflows

  If your team depends on services like Exchange, Teams, or SharePoint, Defender for Office 365 is likely the better option. Organizations that need to secure desktops, laptops, servers, or mobile devices may benefit more from Defender for Endpoint. Microsoft 365 Defender brings both capabilities together, offering unified threat detection and response.
  

• Test Before Full Deployment

  Start with a pilot deployment in a controlled environment to assess how well the solution meets your needs in terms of setup, coverage, and performance.

• Leverage Microsoft’s Built-In Tools

  Use Microsoft Secure Score and related analytics to identify security gaps and track improvements as you fine-tune your deployment.

• Seek Expert Support When Needed

  Work with a Microsoft Solutions Partner or a managed services provider to ensure the chosen solution fits your infrastructure and is optimized for long-term protection.

  Whether you’re evaluating Microsoft 365 Defender vs Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, or Defender for Endpoint vs Defender for Office 365, align your choice with your organization’s threat landscape, internal workflows, and long-term security goals.

Implement Microsoft Solutions Effectively with Apps4Rent

While Microsoft Defender for Office 365 and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint provide distinct functionalities, it is recommended to use both security solutions to protect vital business data from malicious emails as well as from ever-increasing cybersecurity attacks to ensure complete data integrity.

As a Microsoft Solutions Partner, Apps4Rent can help businesses by providing ideal Microsoft 365/ Office 365 licenses and can customize Microsoft’s cybersecurity capabilities according to business requirements. Contact our Microsoft-certified cloud experts, available 24/7/365 via phone, email, or chat for assistance.

Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs

1. What is the difference between Defender for Office 365 and Defender for Endpoint?

   Defender for Office 365 protects emails and collaboration apps from phishing, malicious links, and attachments. Defender for Endpoint secures physical and virtual devices against malware, ransomware, and advanced attacks. They focus on different threat surfaces.

2. Are Microsoft Defender and Defender for Endpoint the same?

   No. “Microsoft Defender” is a general term that includes various tools. Defender for Endpoint is a premium solution offering advanced device protection and centralized threat management.

3. Does Microsoft Defender for Office 365 include endpoint protection?

   No. Defender for Office 365 only secures communication tools like email and cloud files. Device-level protection requires Defender for Endpoint or a similar tool.

4. Can you use both Defender for Office 365 and Defender for Endpoint together?

   Yes. Using both provides layered protection across emails, collaboration platforms, and devices. They integrate to enhance threat detection and response.

5. What is Microsoft 365 Defender, and how is it different from Defender for Endpoint?

   Microsoft 365 Defender is an XDR platform that connects and coordinates tools like Defender for Endpoint and Defender for Office 365. It offers cross-domain threat correlation and automated response, while Defender for Endpoint focuses only on devices.