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Microsoft Defender – What Does it Actually Do?

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Corbel Solutions Limited, based in Ipswich, offer Business IT Support and recommend that you continually look for where you can optimise your Cyber Security in order to keep your business protected – Microsoft Defender for individuals is just one of ways your company can stay cyber secure.

When adding new applications to Microsoft the business version of these applications tends to be added as well to maximise security. Although, it should be taken into consideration that the workplace is just not what it used to be… we now exist in a hybrid working world. In order to achieve a better work-life balance employees tend to mix it up and work both from home and in the office and most employers adopt this principle.

As well as the changing working dynamic, something that has contributed to the changes in company’s networks is the market for outsourcing. Businesses will outsource work to pass over tasks or processes to a third-party in order to achieve results outside of the business. Typically, outsourcers (also known as freelancers) can still work similar hours to employees, but the main difference to your business is that there is less taxes and overheads to pay, meaning it can be a cheaper alternative to achieve results. It is now becoming more common than ever for businesses to outsource part of their work e.g., marketing or accounting.

Both these points indicate that company data can now be situated across various locations around the world, where employees and freelancers are working from home. Many employees opt to use their own devices from home for ease.

Microsoft’s latest release – Microsoft Defender, indicates that they have adapted to this shift in the working world accordingly. This new security feature is not just for business use but also personal use – it was released for individuals on June 16, 2022, and it is a digital security tool for the home.

What you Need to Know About Microsoft Defender for Individuals

It is important to note – this new security feature provides no additional cost for 365 users – it can be downloaded free.

The idea of this new feature being created is described by Microsoft as a way of protecting personal users and small businesses (small businesses typically use an individual plan as it is cheaper than a business one)

A range of protections are all grouped together onto one dashboard, and they will be outlined within this blog.

Visualising Online Security Platform

Typically, within a network, families will have multiple devices connected to them e.g., laptops, mobile phones and tablets. Although this proposes the problem that a hacked device may infect other ones and you will then be unable to tell which devices are the vulnerable ones.

With Microsoft Defender you are able to visually see your devices security status – it is all grouped together in one place, and it gives you opportunity to add or remove devices accordingly.

Safeguarding Features for your Device

There are a range of additional features within Microsoft Defender that can help to maximise protection from online threats. It has integrated anti-phishing and antivirus protection measures in place.  

This element of the application allows you to scan for threats amongst both new and existing devices and you are able to control it to only scan particular devices if needs be.

Recommendations in Real-Time

In order to spread their attacks, hackers will use a combination of artificial intelligence and automation – criminals are becoming increasingly clever over time. This means after an attack has occurred, you need to be extremely quick to react to prevent it from speedily getting any worse.

You need to be given an alert when something is wrong to help you to react to it quickly and Microsoft Defender will be able to do this through giving you real-time alerts. In addition to the alert, there will BE a series of recommendations that can help you to react accordingly in the correct and safest way.

Additional Information about Microsoft Defender

Now you know more about what Microsoft Defender is, here are some additional points that you may want to take into consideration…

Downloading it

In order to download Microsoft Defender for Individuals, you need to have a Microsoft 365 subscription to either a personal or family plan. This can be downloaded directly from Microsoft’s website.

Devices it can be used on

Microsoft Defender for individuals can be used as a security application across the following devices:

  • Windows – 10 version 19041.0 and higher
  • Mac – Intel Macs from Catalina 10.15 and above, and Apple devices silicon-based from 11.2.3 and higher
  • Iphone – iOs 13.0 or later
  • Android – Android OS 6.0 or later

Number of Devices that Can be Used

Defender for individuals allows you to monitor the security of a range of your devices. The M365 plan you are on will dictate the specific number of devices that you can download the application on.

The Microsoft 365 Personal plan allows you to have up to 5 devices at the same time on Microsoft Defender for Individuals and the Family plan allows protection on up to 30 devices at the same.

Differences between Personal and Family Plans

Both personal and family plans provide users with access to applications that are available as a part of the plan – the main difference between them is the amount of people and the number of devices they can each have.

The 365 Personal plan allows the use of 1 person on up to 5 devices, whilst the 365 Family Plan allows up to 6 people with 5 devices per person.

Both plans can access the many different Office and other Microsoft applications. The main difference is how many people and devices can use the Microsoft 365 services.

The 365 Personal plan is priced at £59.99 a year and 365 Family is priced at £79.99 a year, so even if you just wanted to sign two users up, it will work out much more cost effective to use the Family plan.  

Difference between the Microsoft Security on Windows and Microsoft Defender

The Microsoft Security app is pre-installed with Windows, but Microsoft Defender requires you to download it onto Windows yourself – it does not come automatically installed. There are various other differences that Microsoft Defender have to this traditional security app.

Microsoft Defender for Individuals can be used across many different devices and includes a series of alerts and additional security tips which the typical security app does not.

Want to Learn more about Defender for Individuals and Microsoft 365?

Is your business looking to make the switch to Microsoft 365? Ipswich based Corbel Solutions offer IT support Suffolk and provide a range of IT consultancy services/365 support that can help to make the switch much easier and help keep your business protected.

Ipswich based Corbel Solutions Limited will work alongside you as a proactive IT Support Partner, offering a range of services to businesses across Ipswich, Felixstowe, Stowmarket, and the surrounding Suffolk area. A wide range of services are available including Cyber Security, Business IT Support, and IT Consultancy Services.

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