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This article provides an overview of advanced security and compliance solutions available with Microsoft 365 A5 license for education. It highlights the key Defender plans included in the A5 license, outlines their core features, and explains how these tools help educational institutions protect users, devices, and data while meeting regulatory requirements.
Requirements
- Microsoft 365 A5 license
Roles and responsibilities
- IT Admin
- Identity Admin
- OneDrive Admin
- SharePoint Admin
- EXO Admin
- Security Admin
- Compliance Admin
Microsoft Defender for Microsoft 365 Plan 2
Microsoft Defender for Microsoft 365 Plan 2 is a comprehensive security solution included in the Microsoft 365 A5 license for education. It builds on the foundational protections of Plan 1 by adding advanced investigation, response, automation, and simulation capabilities, making it ideal for educational institutions that need to defend against sophisticated threats across email and collaboration platforms.
What does Plan 2 include?
Plan 2 includes all features of Plan 1 such as Safe Links, Safe Attachments, and anti-phishing policies, and adds the following advanced capabilities:
| Category | Plan 2 Capabilities |
|---|---|
| Investigation and response | Threat explorer, threat trackers, and real-time alerting |
| Automation | Automated Investigation and Response (AIR) to reduce manual workload |
| Threat simulation and training | Attack simulation training to educate users on phishing and social engineering |
| Threat hunting | Advanced hunting and incident investigation in Microsoft Defender XDR |
| SIEM and API Integration | Integration with SIEM tools and APIs for automated workflows |
Why it matters in education:
| Use Case | Benefit |
|---|---|
| Student and faculty protection | Defends against phishing, malware, and business email compromise (BEC) across Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams |
| Security automation | Reduces response time and manual effort for IT teams in schools and universities |
| Compliance readiness | Supports FERPA, GDPR, and HIPAA by enabling detailed audit trails and proactive threat mitigation |
| User awareness | Empowers students and staff with simulated phishing campaigns and training |
Licensing:
- Included in: Microsoft 365 A5 for Education (Faculty and Students)
- Available as Add-on: For A1 or A3 customers via Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 2 add-on
Microsoft Defender for EndPoint Plan 2
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Plan 2 is a comprehensive endpoint security solution included in the Microsoft 365 A5 license for education. It's designed to help schools, colleges, and universities protect devices used by students, faculty, and staff from advanced cyber threats.
What Is Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Plan 2?
Defender for Endpoint Plan 2 provides enterprise-grade endpoint detection and response (EDR) capabilities. It uses behavioral sensors, cloud security analytics, and threat intelligence to detect, investigate, and respond to sophisticated attacks across Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices.
Key capabilities for education institutions:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Endpoint detection and response (EDR) | Detects advanced threats and provides detailed alerts and investigation tools |
| Threat and vulnerability management | Identifies and prioritizes vulnerabilities across devices |
| Attack surface reduction | Controls device behavior to reduce exposure (for example, blocking macros, USB restrictions) |
| Automated investigation and remediation | Uses AI to investigate alerts and take remediation actions automatically |
| Integration with Microsoft 365 Defender | Correlates endpoint data with email, identity, and cloud app signals for unified protection |
| Device inventory and exposure scoring | Provides visibility into all devices and their risk posture |
Benefits in education:
- Protects student and faculty devices: Secures school-issued laptops, desktops, and mobile devices
- Supports remote and hybrid learning: Ensures consistent protection regardless of location
- Compliance readiness: Helps meet FERPA, HIPAA, and GDPR requirements
- Simplified IT management: Integrates with Microsoft Intune for Education for streamlined deployment and policy enforcement