Get Microsoft Defender for Business

This article describes how to get Microsoft Defender for Business.

Defender for Business is an endpoint security solution designed especially for small and medium-sized businesses with up to 300 users. For more information, see Microsoft Defender for Business.

How to get Microsoft Defender for Business

To get Defender for Business, you can choose from the following options:

• Work with a Microsoft partner who can help you get everything set up and configured.
• Try or buy the standalone version of Defender for Business.
• Get Microsoft 365 Business Premium, which includes Defender for Business.

Use the following tabs to learn more about each option.

Work with a Microsoft partner

Microsoft maintains a list of solution providers who are authorized to sell offerings, including Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Microsoft Defender for Business. To work with a Microsoft partner, use the following steps to find a solution provider in your area:

1. Open the Connect with partners page at https://appsource.microsoft.com/marketplace/partner-dir.

2. In the Browse partners pane, specify appropriate search criteria. For example:

   • Your location.

   • Microsoft customer size

   • Solution category: For example, Security and/or Threat Protection.

   • Services: For example:

     • Resellers > Licensing
     • Resellers > Managed Services (MSP)

   As soon as you select one or more criteria, the list of partners is filtered.

3. Review the results. Select a provider to learn more about their expertise and the services they provide.

Get Defender for Business (standalone)

Defender for Business provides advanced security protection for devices in eligible Microsoft 365, Office 365, and non-Microsoft organizations. For more information, see What is Microsoft Defender for Business??

1. Go to the Microsoft Defender for Business web page, and select an option to try or buy Defender for Business. Fill in the requested information.

   If you start a trial, look for the acceptance email that contains your promo code and a link to sign in. And be sure to see the Trial user guide for Defender for Business.

2. Go to the Microsoft Defender portal at https://security.microsoft.com and sign in using your existing work or school account, or follow the prompts to create a new account.

3. In the Microsoft Defender portal, go to Assets > Devices. Or, to go directly to the Devices page, use xxxx.

   This action initiates the provisioning of Defender for Business for your organization. You know this process started when you see the following message:

   Hang on! We're preparing new spaces for your data and connecting them.

   It might take a few hours for your organization to finish provisioning before you can onboard devices or complete the setup and configuration process.

Note

If you have Microsoft 365 Business Premium and you haven't set it up yet, see What is Microsoft Defender for Business?. This guidance walks you through how to set up and configure all of your productivity and security capabilities, including Defender for Business.

Get Microsoft 365 Business Premium

Microsoft 365 Business Premium includes Defender for Business, Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 1, and Microsoft 365 Apps (formerly known as Office apps). For more information, see Why should I choose Microsoft 365 Business Premium?.

1. Go to one of the following locations:

   • The Microsoft 365 Business Premium product page.
   • Microsoft 365 Business Premium on the Microsoft 365 Products site.

2. Choose to try or buy Microsoft 365 Business. For more information, see Try or buy a Microsoft 365 for business subscription.

3. After you sign up for Microsoft 365 Business Premium, you receive an email with a link to sign in and get started. Proceed to Set up Microsoft 365 Business Premium.

4. In the Microsoft Defender portal, go to Assets > Devices. Or, to go directly to the Devices page, use xxxx.

   This action initiates the provisioning of Defender for Business for your organization.

5. Follow the guidance in Microsoft 365 for business security best practices to set up your security capabilities.

Important

Be sure to complete all the steps described in What is Microsoft Defender for Business?.

How to get Microsoft Defender for Business servers

Microsoft Defender for Business servers is an add-on to Defender for Business that enables you to secure server operating systems with the same protection as client devices.

Tip

• To add Microsoft Defender for Business servers licenses, you need at least one paid license of Defender for Business (standalone) or Microsoft 365 Business Premium.
• You can add a maximum of 60 Microsoft Defender for Business servers licenses per subscription to Microsoft 365 Business Premium or Defender for Business.
• Instead of Microsoft Defender for Business servers, you can use Microsoft Defender for Servers Plan 1 or Plan 2.

1. In the Microsoft 365 admin center at https://admin.microsoft.com, go to Billing > Purchase services. Or, to go directly to the Purchase services page, use https://admin.microsoft.com/Adminportal/Home#/catalog.

2. On the Purchase services page, find and select Microsoft Defender for Business servers.

   • You need one Microsoft Defender for Business servers license for each instance of Windows Server or Linux.
   • You don't assign the license to users or devices.

3. Review the information, and complete the purchase process.

Portals you use for setup and management

When you use Defender for Business, you work with the following portals:

• The Microsoft 365 admin center at https://admin.microsoft.com.
• The Microsoft Defender portal at https://security.microsoft.com.
• The Microsoft Intune admin center at https://intune.microsoft.com.

The following table summarizes these portals and how you use them.

Portal	Tasks
Microsoft 365 admin center	Activate your trial and sign in for the first time. Assign user licenses. View your products and services. Complete setup tasks for your Microsoft 365 subscription. For more information, see Overview of the Microsoft 365 admin center.
Defender portal	Set up and configure Defender for Business. Monitor your devices and threat detections View your devices and device protection policies. View detected threats and take action. View security recommendations and manage your security settings. For more information, see Get started using the Microsoft Defender portal.
Intune admin center	Onboard iOS and Android devices. Configure certain capabilities, such as attack surface reduction rules. For more information about Intune, see Microsoft Intune securely manages identities, manages apps, and manages devices.

Next step

• Assign administrator roles

• Proceed to Step 2: Add users and assign licenses in Microsoft Defender for Business.