What Defender for Office 365 does
Defender for Office 365 builds on the baseline security offered by EOP, adding layers of protection against sophisticated email-borne threats. Core capabilities include Safe Links, which protects against malicious URLs; Safe Attachments, which scans attachments for malware; and advanced anti-phishing features to identify and block deceptive emails. Threat Explorer provides visibility into threat activity, while Attack Simulation Training helps users recognise and avoid phishing attacks. Plan 1 offers preventative controls, while Plan 2 includes post-delivery investigation and automated response capabilities.
Defender for Office 365 in Australian tenants today
For AU mid-market organisations, MDO is typically included with Microsoft 365 E5 subscriptions or available as an add-on for E3 and Business Premium plans. It’s crucial to understand how MDO complements EOP; MDO doesn't replace EOP, but enhances it. Despite MDO’s native integration, many AU organisations continue to utilise third-party security email gateways (SEGs) like Mimecast or Proofpoint, often for features like advanced data loss prevention (DLP) or specific compliance requirements mandated by APRA CPS 234 or ASIC. Alignment with the ACSC Essential Eight and the OAIC Privacy Act 2024 remains a priority when configuring MDO.