Microsoft DLP licensing requirements

Question

Dear team,

I have an inquiry about licensing requirements for Microsoft DLP. I have two Microsoft 365 Business plans, Basic and Standard, and I need to implement DLP. As per Microsoft documentation, DLP is supported with Business Premium. Is there another option available other than upgrading to Business Premium? In the documentation it's mentioned also that DLP is also supported with "Microsoft 365 Information Protection and Governance", but is it compatible with the Business basic and standard plans?

Thank you,

Regards,

Answer 1

Hello Micheal Mallo,

Microsoft's Data Loss Prevention (DLP) licensing has evolved over time, but I'll answer based on your current scenario and the status as of my last engagement with Microsoft 365 DLP in May 2023.

Microsoft 365 Business Plans and DLP:

1. Microsoft 365 Business Basic and Standard: These plans don't include DLP functionality by default.
2. Microsoft 365 Business Premium: As you mentioned, this plan comes with DLP included.

Microsoft 365 Information Protection and Governance: This is an add-on subscription that enhances information protection and governance capabilities, which also includes DLP.

Compatibility: Traditionally, the "Microsoft 365 Information Protection and Governance" add-on was primarily designed for Enterprise plans (like E3 and E5). The compatibility of this add-on with Microsoft 365 Business plans might be a bit nuanced, and Microsoft's licensing details and offerings can change.

Recommendations:

Check with Microsoft Directly: Given that licensing details can be updated frequently, and offerings might vary depending on regions or other factors, it's a good idea to contact Microsoft's sales or support directly for the most accurate and up-to-date information.

Consider Your Needs: If DLP is essential for your organization, and if "Microsoft 365 Information Protection and Governance" can indeed be added to your Business plans, it might be a viable solution without moving to Business Premium. However, also factor in other benefits you'd get with a Business Premium subscription, such as Intune for device management and advanced threat protection capabilities. These might make the upgrade more worthwhile.

Trial or Pilot: If you're considering the "Microsoft 365 Information Protection and Governance" add-on and if it's compatible, consider piloting it with a subset of users first. This will let you gauge its effectiveness and understand any implementation challenges.

All the best,