We can confirm that Microsoft Defender for Business remains fully included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium. Recent Microsoft licensing updates introduced optional Defender add‑ons and new purchasing flexibility, which may have caused confusion, but Microsoft is not removing Defender from Business Premium. Your current security coverage remains intact, and we will advise you if any future changes impact your environment.
Licensing changes announced for 2025–2026 may cause confusion, as Microsoft introduced new Defender add‑ons, removed Business Premium as a prerequisite for certain Defender suites, and added security entitlements to other SKUs. Business Premium still includes Microsoft Defender for Business as before.
Below is the breakdown of timing, what changed, and a list of optional, advanced, enterprise-grade add-ons that extend security and compliance capabilities, now available at a lower price point for Business Premium customers.
Is Microsoft Defender being removed from M365 Business Premium?
No Defender for Business remains included. Business Premium continues to include Microsoft Defender for Business (EDR/P1-level capabilities). Microsoft’s 2025–2026 licensing updates do not indicate its removal.
Here’s what changed in late 2025: Microsoft introduced new optional add‑ons for Business Premium customers.
- Defender Suite for Business Premium (add‑on) - Includes Defender for Endpoint P2, Defender for Office 365 P2, Defender for Identity, Defender for Cloud Apps, and Entra ID P2.
- Purview Suite for Business Premium (add‑on) - Adds compliance + DLP + eDiscovery Premium capabilities.
- Combined Defender + Purview Suite (add‑on) - Bundles both suites.
These supplement (not replace) the Defender for Business already included in Business Premium.
What change might make customers think Defender was “removed”?
Two new Microsoft licensing changes (Sept–Oct 2025) created confusion:
1. Microsoft 365 Business Premium is no longer required as a prerequisite for purchasing the Defender Suite.
- Before Oct 1, 2025, advanced Defender add‑ons (E5 Security equivalents) could only be purchased if the customer already had Business Premium.
- After Oct 1, 2025, this prerequisite was removed. This led some partners to mistakenly think Microsoft was “decoupling Defender from Business Premium,” but the built‑in Defender for Business was not removed.
2. New add‑on suites created the impression that customers must buy those for Defender. Microsoft introduced:
- Defender Suite for Business Premium
- Purview Suite for Business Premium
- Combined Defender + Purview Suite
Some customers mistakenly thought “Defender moved out of Business Premium,” but these add-ons deliver P2-level advanced security, not the baseline Defender for Business already included in Business Premium.
Has Microsoft changed what Defender features are included in Business Premium?
No changes have removed or reduced the Defender for Business entitlement in Business Premium. Business Premium still includes:
- Microsoft Defender for Business (EDR / endpoint security)
- Conditional Access
- Mobile + endpoint management via Intune
- Attack surface reduction
- Threat & vulnerability management
None of the 2025–2026 announcements state that any of these are being removed.
Relevant timeline of announcements
| Date | What Happened | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Sept 2025 | New SMB Security Add-ons announced (Defender Suite, Purview Suite, Combined) | Add-ons introduced; core Defender unchanged (blog-en.topedia.com) |
| Oct 1, 2025 | Business Premium no longer required to buy Defender Suite | More flexibility; no removal from Business Premium 2026 roadmap |
| 2026 | Security baseline expanding across M365 (e.g., Defender for Office P1 added to E3) | No removal from Business Premium; security is expanding overall |
Microsoft Defender and Business Premium Update for 2026
Microsoft Defender has not been removed from M365 Business Premium. Your existing security protections remain fully included. Optional advanced enterprise-grade add-ons that extend security and compliance capabilities are now available at a lower price point for Business Premium customers.
Promo - Purview Suite for Business Premium, 50% off available until Mar 31, 26. Eligibility: Must have a Business Premium and Copilot bundle, Business Premium and Microsoft 365 Copilot, or Microsoft 365 Copilot Business
| Capability | Included | Requires Add-On | MSRP | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Defender for Business (EDR) | Yes | No | - | Included as core protection |
| Threat & Vulnerability Management | Yes | No | - | Included |
| Attack Surface Reduction | Yes | No | - | Included |
| Intune Device Management | Yes | No | - | Included |
| Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Plan 2 | No | Yes (Defender Suite) | $10 | Part of Defender Suite Add-On |
| Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 2 | No | Yes (Defender Suite) | $10 | Part of Defender Suite Add-On |
| Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps | No | Yes (Defender Suite) | $10 | Part of Defender Suite Add-On |
| Microsoft Defender for Identity | No | Yes (Defender Suite) | $10 | Part of Defender Suite Add-On |
| Microsoft Entra ID Plan 2 | No | Yes (Defender Suite) | $10 | Advanced identity governance |
| Microsoft Purview Suite (Compliance P2 Features) | No | Yes (Purview Suite) | $10 | Purview Suite Add-On |
| Combined Defender + Purview Suite | No | Yes (Combined Suite) | $15 | Full Security + Compliance Add-On |
