--- title: "Microsoft Defender for Business Explained | StartCloud" description: "Most Australian SMEs hit by a cyberattack were running antivirus at the time. Here is what Microsoft Defender for Business does, and how EDR goes further." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": [ "LocalBusiness", "ProfessionalService" ], "@id": "https://startcloud.au/#business", "name": "StartCloud", "legalName": "Start Technologies Pty Ltd", "alternateName": "StartCloud Australia", "identifier": { "@type": "PropertyValue", "propertyID": "ABN", "value": "17 676 121 449" }, "slogan": "Go Beyond", "description": "StartCloud is Perth's cybersecurity-first AI MSP: managed IT, Essential Eight security, Microsoft 365 and cloud, networking, and practical AI for Australian businesses with 5 to 50 staff.", "url": "https://startcloud.au", "logo": "https://startcloud.au/og-image.png", "image": "https://startcloud.au/og-image.png", "telephone": "+61862850001", "email": "web@startcloud.com.au", "priceRange": "$$", "currenciesAccepted": "AUD", "paymentAccepted": "Invoice", "foundingDate": "2023", "contactPoint": { "@type": "ContactPoint", "telephone": "+61862850001", "contactType": "customer service", "areaServed": "AU", "availableLanguage": "English" }, "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "Ground Floor West, 6 Gibberd Road", "addressLocality": "Balcatta", "addressRegion": "WA", "postalCode": "6021", "addressCountry": "AU" }, "geo": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": -31.8648813, "longitude": 115.8095638 }, "openingHoursSpecification": [ { "@type": "OpeningHoursSpecification", "dayOfWeek": [ "Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednesday", "Thursday", "Friday" ], "opens": "07:00", "closes": "16:30", "description": "General support hours" }, { "@type": "OpeningHoursSpecification", "dayOfWeek": [ "Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednesday", "Thursday", "Friday", "Saturday", "Sunday" ], "opens": "00:00", "closes": "23:59", "description": "Security Operations Centre (SOC) with 24/7/365 threat monitoring" } ], "areaServed": [ { "@type": "City", "name": "Perth" }, { "@type": "State", "name": "Western Australia" }, { "@type": "Country", "name": "Australia" } ], "serviceArea": { "@type": "GeoCircle", "geoMidpoint": { "@type": "GeoCoordinates", "latitude": -31.8648813, "longitude": 115.8095638 }, "geoRadius": "50000" }, "knowsAbout": [ "Cybersecurity", "Managed Security Services", "Essential Eight", "Microsoft 365", "Microsoft Azure", "IT Support", "Network Security", "Disaster Recovery", "Compliance Management", "Microsoft Copilot", "AI Readiness", "AI Governance", "AI Agent Development" ], "hasOfferCatalog": { "@type": "OfferCatalog", "name": "IT and Cybersecurity Services", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "Offer", "itemOffered": { "@type": "Service", "name": "Cybersecurity Services", "url": "https://startcloud.au/cybersecurity" } }, { "@type": "Offer", "itemOffered": { "@type": "Service", "name": "Managed IT Services and Support", "url": "https://startcloud.au/technology" } }, { "@type": "Offer", "itemOffered": { "@type": "Service", "name": "Microsoft 365 and Cloud Solutions", "url": "https://startcloud.au/cloud" } }, { "@type": "Offer", "itemOffered": { "@type": "Service", "name": "Managed Networking", "url": "https://startcloud.au/networking" } }, { "@type": "Offer", "itemOffered": { "@type": "Service", "name": "AI and Automation", "url": "https://startcloud.au/ai" } } ] }, "sameAs": [ "https://www.linkedin.com/company/startcloudau", "https://www.facebook.com/startcloudaus/", "https://www.cloudtango.net/providers/12375/startcloud", "https://clutch.co/profile/startcloud", "https://abr.business.gov.au/ABN/View?abn=17676121449", "https://www.yellowpages.com.au/balcatta-wa/bpp/startcloud-581735301", "https://www.truelocal.com.au/balcatta-wa/tlp/startcloud-581735301", "https://www.google.com/maps/place/StartCloud/@-31.8648767,115.8069889,739m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x2a32a5b5d9e864b5:0x9f02690968f0e50c!8m2!3d-31.8648813!4d115.8095638!16s%2Fg%2F11vzbgtytj" ] }, [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://startcloud.au/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Resources", "item": "https://startcloud.au/resources" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Deep Dives", "item": "https://startcloud.au/resources/deep-dives" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Microsoft Defender for Business", "item": "https://startcloud.au/resources/deep-dives/microsoft-defender-for-business" } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "What is the difference between antivirus and EDR?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Antivirus compares files against a list of known bad ones and blocks matches. Endpoint detection and response watches what programs do, so it can flag a process suddenly encrypting thousands of files or a script reaching out to an unusual address even when that specific malware has never been seen before. EDR catches the attacks antivirus was never designed to see." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is Defender for Business included in Business Premium?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes. Defender for Business is part of Microsoft 365 Business Premium, alongside Intune and Entra ID P1. It is also available standalone per device for businesses on other plans." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do you still need a separate antivirus product?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "For most SMEs, no. Running a second real-time scanner alongside Defender usually causes conflicts and performance problems rather than adding protection. The gap worth filling is not another product, it is having someone monitor and respond to the alerts Defender generates." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Does Defender for Business protect Macs and servers?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Defender for Business covers Windows, macOS, iOS and Android endpoints. Server coverage requires the separate Defender for Business servers add-on, which is worth accounting for if you still run on-premises servers." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Is Defender any good if nobody is monitoring it?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "It will still block a great deal automatically, but its real value is in the detections it surfaces, and a detection nobody reads is not a defence. This is the gap a managed security service or SOC fills, and it is the single biggest difference between businesses that catch an intrusion early and those that find out weeks later." } } ] }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "WebPage", "url": "https://startcloud.au/resources/deep-dives/microsoft-defender-for-business", "speakable": { "@type": "SpeakableSpecification", "cssSelector": [ ".deep-dive-question", ".deep-dive-answer" ] } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "BlogPosting", "headline": "Microsoft Defender for Business: what real threat protection looks like for a 50-person company", "description": "A practical guide for Perth SMBs covering the difference between antivirus and EDR, attack surface reduction rules, automated investigation, and what real endpoint protection looks like.", "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "StartCloud", "url": "https://startcloud.au" }, "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "StartCloud", "url": "https://startcloud.au", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://startcloud.au/startcloud-logo.png" } }, "datePublished": "2026-05-12", "dateModified": "2026-08-13", "image": "https://startcloud.au/og-image.png", "inLanguage": "en-AU", "isAccessibleForFree": true, "timeRequired": "PT12M", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://startcloud.au/resources/deep-dives/microsoft-defender-for-business" }, "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Microsoft Defender for Business" } } ] ] --- [![StartCloud](/assets/StartCloud-Logo-ByZE1kzP.svg "StartCloud: Cybersecurity-First Managed IT Services Perth")](/ "StartCloud | Managed IT Services Perth") - Cybersecurity - AI Solutions - Cloud - Technology - Networking - Explore [Contact Us](/contact "Contact StartCloud, Perth IT Support") Open menu Deep Dive Short Answer TL;DR What It Is Features Pros & Cons Pricing Use Cases Attack Walkthrough In Practice How We Deploy Pitfalls Verdict FAQs Related References A long-form deep dive into Microsoft Defender for Business for Australian small and mid-sized businesses. Covers EDR versus antivirus, what Defender actually detects, attack surface reduction rules, automated investigation, AUD pricing, deployment best practice, and a side-by-side scenario showing what an attack looks like with and without Defender for Business configured. [Home](/)[Resources](/resources)[Deep Dives](/resources/deep-dives)Defender for Business Product Deep Dive Recommended for Perth businesses on M365 Business Premium, or any business evaluating endpoint security # Microsoft Defender for Business: what real threat protection looks like for a 50-person company 62 per cent of Australian SMEs have experienced a cyberattack. Most were running antivirus when it happened. Antivirus stopped being enough around 2015. Here is what endpoint detection and response actually does, and why the difference matters for your business. StartCloud Published 12 May 2026 Last updated 13 August 2026 12 min read The short answer ## Is Microsoft Defender for Business good enough, or do you need a separate antivirus? Microsoft Defender for Business is a genuine endpoint detection and response product rather than the basic antivirus its name suggests, and for most Australian SMEs it is more than good enough to replace a third-party antivirus, provided it is actually configured properly and somebody is watching the alerts it produces. StartCloud's verdict: Recommended for any Perth SME on Microsoft 365 Business Premium TL;DR ## The short version **Microsoft Defender for Business is not antivirus.** It is an endpoint detection and response (EDR) platform using the same detection engine as Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Plan 2, which protects enterprise organisations globally. It monitors behaviour, not just files. It records a six-month timeline of every action on every managed device. When something suspicious happens, it investigates automatically and contains the threat, including at 2am on a Sunday when no one is watching. It is included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium at no extra cost, or available as a standalone product for approximately A$4.40 per device per month. This guide covers what it actually does, what it sees that antivirus misses, and what a properly configured deployment looks like. Prices in this guide are indicative AUD figures excluding GST, checked against Microsoft's Australian list pricing in August 2026 and are subject to change. Always confirm with your licensing partner before purchase. What it is ## EDR, not just antivirus **Microsoft Defender for Business** is an enterprise-grade endpoint detection and response (EDR) platform scaled for businesses with up to 300 users. It monitors every device in your environment, detects threats that traditional antivirus cannot see, investigates automatically, and can contain an attack before it spreads. The key distinction is **what it watches**. Traditional antivirus watches files. Defender for Business watches behaviour. It monitors running processes, network connections, memory activity, user logons, registry changes and script execution in real time across every managed device simultaneously. When a pattern of behaviour matches a known attack technique, or looks suspicious even if it has never been seen before, Defender flags it, investigates it, and in many cases contains it automatically. **Who it is for:** Perth businesses with 1 to 300 employees running Windows, macOS, iOS or Android devices. Particularly important for businesses handling client data, subject to the Essential Eight, cyber insurance requirements, or recovering from a previous incident. **Who it is not for:** Businesses over 300 users (move to Defender for Endpoint Plan 2 via E5 licensing). Businesses that rely solely on Linux servers will need additional tooling. ### Where it sits in the Microsoft security lineup Product What it is Who it is for Windows Security (built-in antivirus) Basic signature-based antivirus. No EDR, no central management, no cross-device visibility. Home users. Not adequate for business use. Microsoft Defender Antivirus (M365 managed) Antivirus managed from the M365 admin centre. Better than unmanaged, still no EDR. Small businesses on Basic or Standard wanting managed AV only. Microsoft Defender for Business Full EDR platform: behavioural detection, automated investigation, threat hunting, six-month device timeline. Included in M365 Business Premium. SMBs up to 300 users. The focus of this article. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Plan 2 Enterprise EDR: advanced threat hunting, custom detections, deception, sandbox analysis. Businesses over 300 users or those needing enterprise-grade hunting. The jump from managed antivirus to Defender for Business is the most important security upgrade most Perth SMBs can make. It is not a marginal improvement. It is a fundamentally different level of visibility into what is happening on your devices. Features that matter ## What you actually get Stripped of the marketing language, here is what Microsoft Defender for Business puts in your hands. ### Next-generation antivirus Cloud-delivered malware protection that goes beyond signature matching. Defender uses machine learning models trained on Microsoft's global threat intelligence (65 trillion signals per day) to detect and block threats it has never seen before, including fileless and polymorphic malware. ### Endpoint detection & response Continuous monitoring of device behaviour, with a six-month timeline of every process, network connection, file change, and user action recorded per device. When an alert fires, you can rewind the timeline and see exactly what happened, when, and what was touched. ### Automated investigation & remediation When Defender detects a threat, it automatically investigates related alerts, traces the attack path, and in many cases remediates without human intervention. For a 50-person business without a dedicated security team, this is what contains an attack at 2am on a Sunday. ### Attack surface reduction (ASR) rules Configurable rules that block the techniques attackers use most often: scripts from email attachments, unsigned executables from downloads, abusing Office macros, and using PowerShell or WMI for malicious purposes. ASR blocks the technique before it can be used. ### Threat & vulnerability management Continuous assessment of every managed device: which applications are unpatched, which OS versions are out of support, which misconfigurations are present. Prioritised by real-world exploitation risk, not just CVE score. ### Microsoft Secure Score A measurable security score for your device fleet, with specific recommended actions to improve it. Useful for reporting to leadership, cyber insurers, or clients who ask about your security programme. ### Cross-platform coverage Covers Windows 10 and 11, macOS (Monterey and later), iOS and Android. One platform, one portal, one security policy for every device regardless of operating system. ### Sentinel & Entra ID integration Defender alerts feed into Microsoft Sentinel for centralised monitoring, and integrate with Entra ID Conditional Access. A device flagged as compromised by Defender can automatically trigger a policy in Entra ID to block the user's sign-in until remediated. The honest take ## Pros and cons No vendor is perfect. Here is what works and what doesn't. ### What works well - Included in M365 Business Premium. If you are already on Business Premium, you are paying for this. The question is whether it is deployed and configured. - Same engine as enterprise Defender for Endpoint. The detection intelligence is the same as what protects Fortune 500 companies, not a cut-down SMB version. - Automated investigation and response. For a business without a 24/7 security team, automated response is what contains an attack outside business hours. - Six-month device timeline. When something goes wrong, you can see exactly what happened, when, and in what order. - Essential Eight aligned. Directly addresses malicious code prevention, patch applications and restrict admin privileges controls. - Threat and vulnerability management built in. No separate vulnerability scanner needed. Continuously assesses your fleet and prioritises by real-world risk. ### Where it falls short - Standalone licence is per-device, not per-user. At ~A$4.40/device/month, shared devices count as one licence per device. Worth confirming with your licensing partner. - Advanced hunting requires Endpoint Plan 2. Custom detection rules and deception technology require an upgrade to Defender for Endpoint Plan 2 (E5 licensing). - macOS features lag behind Windows. Some ASR rules and automated response capabilities are more limited on macOS. Coverage is improving but Windows remains the stronger platform. - Value depends on configuration. An unconfigured deployment misses most of the value. ASR rules, automated response and vulnerability management must be properly configured.StartCloud configures all of this as part of our [Microsoft 365 setup](/cloud/microsoft-365). - Alerts require someone to act on them. Automated response handles many threats, but high-severity alerts still need a human to investigate.Without an internal SOC, our [Managed Security service](/cybersecurity/mssp) covers alert review and response. What it costs ## Pricing in real Perth dollars Microsoft Defender for Business is available two ways: included in [Microsoft 365 Business Premium](/cloud/microsoft-365), or as a standalone product for businesses that need enterprise-grade endpoint protection without the full Microsoft 365 stack. Option Approximate AUD cost What you get Included in M365 Business Premium ≈ $32.90/user/month (full licence) Defender for Business plus Intune, Entra ID P1, Defender for Office 365 and the full M365 productivity stack. Defender for Business standalone ≈ A$4.40/device/month Defender for Business only. Up to 300 devices. No M365 productivity apps included. Defender for Endpoint Plan 2 (enterprise) ≈ A$9.90/user/month add-on Full enterprise EDR: advanced hunting, custom detections, deception, sandbox. Requires E3 or E5 base. For most Perth SMBs already on Microsoft 365 Business Premium, there is no additional cost for Defender for Business. The investment is in deployment and configuration. Compare the standalone option at A$4.40/device/month against typical third-party EDR products at A$8 to A$15 per endpoint per month, with a weaker threat intelligence feed and no Microsoft 365 integration. Indicative figures only. Prices checked against Microsoft's Australian list pricing in August 2026 and subject to change. Always confirm with your licensing partner before purchase. Real-world use cases ## Who gets the most from it ### Professional services firms handling client data Law firms, accounting practices and financial advisers face Privacy Act obligations and client confidentiality requirements. Defender for Business provides detection and response capability to catch an intrusion before data is exfiltrated, and timeline evidence to demonstrate exactly what was and was not accessed if an incident does occur. ### Businesses with high-value targets on devices Finance teams with banking credentials. HR teams with payroll system access. Directors with board documents and M&A information. These users are targeted specifically because compromising their device gives an attacker high-value access. Defender's EDR means that even if an attacker gets onto a device, their behaviour is detected and contained before they reach the data they are after. ### Remote and hybrid workforces Devices that leave the office and connect to home networks, client WiFi and public hotspots face a different threat profile than devices on a managed corporate network. Defender for Business protects the device regardless of where it connects, and integrates with Intune to ensure only compliant devices can access corporate resources. ### Businesses recovering from a previous incident After a breach, insurers, auditors and clients ask: what have you done to prevent this happening again? Defender for Business with documented configuration, a Secure Score improvement plan and a managed security service is a credible, demonstrable answer. ### Businesses pursuing Essential Eight compliance The ACSC Essential Eight includes malicious code prevention, application control and patch applications as core controls. Defender for Business addresses all three directly. For businesses with clients, government contracts or cyber insurance policies requiring Essential Eight alignment, see our [Essential Eight assessment](/cybersecurity/essential-eight). The scenario that matters ## What your devices look like to an attacker A staff member at a 50-person Perth business clicks a link in a phishing email. Here is what happens next, with and without Defender for Business configured. Stage Without Defender for Business With Defender for Business configured Malicious link clicked, payload downloads Traditional antivirus scans the file against known signatures. The payload is new and obfuscated. It passes. The payload executes. Defender's cloud protection checks the file against real-time threat intelligence. If seen anywhere in Microsoft's global network, blocked instantly. If novel, behaviour monitoring activates. Payload runs in memory (fileless attack) Antivirus has nothing to scan, no file was written to disk. The attacker has a foothold. No alert has fired. EDR detects the anomalous process behaviour: a browser spawning a PowerShell child process is flagged immediately. Automated investigation begins. Attacker establishes persistence Registry keys are modified to survive a reboot. Antivirus still has nothing to detect. The attacker is now resident on the device. ASR rules block common persistence techniques. Registry modification by the suspicious process is flagged and automated remediation rolls back the changes. Lateral movement attempted The attacker probes the network, attempting to move to a file server or workstation with higher privileges. No visibility. Network traffic analysis detects the internal port scanning. The device is automatically isolated from the network. The IT partner receives an alert within minutes. Data accessed or exfiltrated The attacker accesses the file server, copies client data, and begins exfiltration. Discovery may take weeks, if it happens at all. Device isolation prevented network access. Exfiltration is blocked. The full attack path is recorded in the six-month device timeline. Business discovers the incident Often via a ransom note, a client notification, or a bank flagging suspicious activity. Days or weeks after the fact. No forensic trail. Alert generated within minutes. IT partner reviews the timeline, confirms scope, and closes the incident. Client informed within hours with a clear account of what was contained. Malicious link clicked, payload downloads Without Defender Traditional antivirus scans the file against known signatures. The payload is new and obfuscated. It passes. The payload executes. With Defender Defender's cloud protection checks the file against real-time threat intelligence. If seen anywhere in Microsoft's global network, blocked instantly. If novel, behaviour monitoring activates. Payload runs in memory (fileless attack) Without Defender Antivirus has nothing to scan, no file was written to disk. The attacker has a foothold. No alert has fired. With Defender EDR detects the anomalous process behaviour: a browser spawning a PowerShell child process is flagged immediately. Automated investigation begins. Attacker establishes persistence Without Defender Registry keys are modified to survive a reboot. Antivirus still has nothing to detect. The attacker is now resident on the device. With Defender ASR rules block common persistence techniques. Registry modification by the suspicious process is flagged and automated remediation rolls back the changes. Lateral movement attempted Without Defender The attacker probes the network, attempting to move to a file server or workstation with higher privileges. No visibility. With Defender Network traffic analysis detects the internal port scanning. The device is automatically isolated from the network. The IT partner receives an alert within minutes. Data accessed or exfiltrated Without Defender The attacker accesses the file server, copies client data, and begins exfiltration. Discovery may take weeks, if it happens at all. With Defender Device isolation prevented network access. Exfiltration is blocked. The full attack path is recorded in the six-month device timeline. Business discovers the incident Without Defender Often via a ransom note, a client notification, or a bank flagging suspicious activity. Days or weeks after the fact. No forensic trail. With Defender Alert generated within minutes. IT partner reviews the timeline, confirms scope, and closes the incident. Client informed within hours with a clear account of what was contained. In practice ## What Defender for Business looks like day-to-day Once deployed and configured, your team will not see most of it. Security should protect people without disrupting them. Who Their experience Staff member on a managed Windows laptop Windows Security shows 'Defender is active'. They work normally. If they accidentally download a malicious file, it is quarantined automatically with a brief notification. Staff member on a managed MacBook Defender runs silently in the background. Network protection blocks connections to known malicious domains. They may never see it act. IT manager or IT partner The Microsoft 365 Defender portal shows a real-time view of alerts across all devices, a Secure Score with recommended actions, and a vulnerability dashboard showing which devices need patching urgently. StartCloud (managed security) High and medium severity alerts generate notifications to the StartCloud SOC. Automated investigation results are reviewed, confirmed, and closed. Monthly security review reports pull from Defender data. An attacker who compromises a device Their behaviour is detected within minutes. Automated response isolates the device. The attack does not spread. The full timeline of their activity is available for investigation. How StartCloud deploys Defender for Business ## From licence to fully configured protection Deploying Defender for Business is not simply switching it on. The default configuration provides basic protection. Proper configuration, ASR rules, automated response settings and Intune integration, is what delivers the full value. ### Step 1. Licence and device inventory We confirm your Microsoft 365 Business Premium licence (or set up the standalone Defender for Business licence), audit the number and types of devices in your environment, and identify any existing security tools that may conflict with Defender deployment. ### Step 2. Intune integration & device enrolment Defender for Business is most effective when managed through Microsoft Intune, which is also included in Business Premium. We enrol devices into Intune, apply device compliance policies, and push the Defender configuration to all managed devices at once. No manual agent installation required. ### Step 3. Security baseline configuration We apply Microsoft's recommended security baseline tuned for your business: enabling cloud-delivered protection, configuring attack surface reduction rules, enabling network protection, and setting automated investigation and remediation to the appropriate level. ### Step 4. ASR rule deployment (audit mode first) Attack surface reduction rules are deployed in audit mode first, logging what would have been blocked without actually blocking it. We review the audit output for two weeks, add necessary exclusions for legitimate tools, then switch to enforcement mode. This prevents the most common cause of ASR deployment failures. ### Step 5. Alert routing and escalation We configure alert notifications to route to the appropriate people. High-severity alerts generate immediate notifications to the StartCloud SOC. Medium alerts are reviewed in daily security triage. Low alerts are reviewed weekly. ### Step 6. Secure Score baseline & improvement plan We document your Defender Secure Score as the baseline and produce a prioritised list of recommended actions to improve it: a measurable security metric to report against and a clear roadmap for ongoing improvement. Watch out ## Common pitfalls The mistakes we see most often when businesses try to deploy Defender for Business without expert guidance. - Defender in the licence but never deployed. The most common situation we encounter. Business Premium includes Defender for Business, but it is not on by default. Many businesses pay for it for months without switching it on. - Default configuration only. The default provides basic next-generation antivirus. ASR rules, automated investigation and vulnerability management are not active until configured. The gap between default and fully configured is significant. - Running conflicting third-party antivirus. Defender for Business cannot run in active mode alongside another antivirus product. The existing AV tool must be uninstalled before Defender for Business is activated. - ASR rules enabled in enforcement mode immediately. ASR rules in enforcement mode can block legitimate business tools if exclusions are not configured first. Always audit for two weeks before enforcing. - No one reviewing alerts. Automated response handles many threats, but high-severity alerts still require human review. Without a process for alert review, things slip. Our [Managed Security service](/cybersecurity/mssp) provides this oversight. - Not integrating with Entra ID Conditional Access. Defender's device risk signal can feed into Entra ID to block sign-ins from compromised devices. Without this integration, a compromised device can still authenticate to Microsoft 365. See our [Entra ID deep dive](/resources/deep-dives/microsoft-entra-id) for the identity side. The verdict ## Should your Perth business deploy Defender for Business? **Yes, and if you are on Microsoft 365 Business Premium, you should be asking why it is not already deployed.** The question most Perth SMBs ask is "do we really need EDR? We have antivirus." The answer is that 62 per cent of Australian SMEs that experienced a cyberattack had some form of antivirus running at the time. Antivirus detects known threats. EDR detects behaviour. Modern attacks are designed specifically to evade signature-based detection. Defender for Business closes that gap. The honest caveat is the same as every other security tool: it only works if it is deployed and configured. A properly configured Defender for Business, with ASR rules enforced, automated investigation active, Intune integration done, and alert routing to a managed security partner, protects against the vast majority of attacks that target Perth SMBs today. ### Where StartCloud fits in The licence is the start. Here is where we plug in next. [ Deploy and configure Defender for Business Microsoft 365 security setup ](/cloud/microsoft-365)[ Ongoing alert monitoring and response Managed Security service ](/cybersecurity/mssp)[ Essential Eight gap assessment Essential Eight engagement ](/cybersecurity/essential-eight)[ Pair Defender with identity protection Microsoft Entra ID deep dive ](/resources/deep-dives/microsoft-entra-id)[ Sign-in and security reporting Security reporting service ](/cloud/security-reporting)[ Talk to the Perth team Get in touch ](/contact) Common questions ## Microsoft Defender for Business: the questions we get asked ### What is the difference between antivirus and EDR? Antivirus compares files against a list of known bad ones and blocks matches. Endpoint detection and response watches what programs do, so it can flag a process suddenly encrypting thousands of files or a script reaching out to an unusual address even when that specific malware has never been seen before. EDR catches the attacks antivirus was never designed to see. ### Is Defender for Business included in Business Premium? Yes. Defender for Business is part of Microsoft 365 Business Premium, alongside Intune and Entra ID P1. It is also available standalone per device for businesses on other plans. ### Do you still need a separate antivirus product? For most SMEs, no. Running a second real-time scanner alongside Defender usually causes conflicts and performance problems rather than adding protection. The gap worth filling is not another product, it is having someone monitor and respond to the alerts Defender generates. ### Does Defender for Business protect Macs and servers? Defender for Business covers Windows, macOS, iOS and Android endpoints. Server coverage requires the separate Defender for Business servers add-on, which is worth accounting for if you still run on-premises servers. ### Is Defender any good if nobody is monitoring it? It will still block a great deal automatically, but its real value is in the detections it surfaces, and a detection nobody reads is not a defence. This is the gap a managed security service or SOC fills, and it is the single biggest difference between businesses that catch an intrusion early and those that find out weeks later. Keep reading ## Related guides [ Identity & Security ### Microsoft Entra ID: the identity layer your business is probably missing The other half of the M365 security stack. Conditional Access, MFA and what a compromised account looks like with and without it. 12 min read ](/resources/deep-dives/microsoft-entra-id)[ Microsoft 365 ### Microsoft 365 Business Premium: a deep dive for Australian SMEs The licence that includes Defender for Business. What's inside, what it costs, and where Business Premium makes sense. 12 min read ](/resources/deep-dives/microsoft-365-business-premium)[ Cybersecurity ### Essential Eight maturity for Perth SMEs Defender for Business directly addresses three Essential Eight controls. See where you stand against the framework. Service ](/cybersecurity/essential-eight) Coming soon ### Microsoft Intune: managing every device your team uses, from one place The device management platform that pairs with Defender for Business. Mobile device and application management across Windows, macOS, iOS and Android. Deep Dive: 19 May [ Security Strategy ### Zero Trust security: what it actually means for a small business Stripping the buzzword down to the practical building blocks: never trust, always verify. 11 min read ](/resources/deep-dives/zero-trust-security) Coming soon ### Huntress: what managed detection and response looks like A look at the third-party MDR platform many Perth SMBs use alongside or in place of Microsoft Defender. Deep Dive: 7 July ## Already on Microsoft 365 Business Premium? Defender for Business is included in your licence. StartCloud checks whether it is deployed and configured correctly, and fixes it if it is not. [Book a security health check](/contact) No obligation. Straight answers. Perth-based team. Sources ## References 1. Microsoft Defender for Business product page [https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/security/business/endpoint-security/microsoft-defender-business](https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/security/business/endpoint-security/microsoft-defender-business "Visit source: Microsoft Defender for Business product page") 2. Microsoft Defender for Business documentation [https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-business/](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-business/ "Visit source: Microsoft Defender for Business documentation") 3. Defender for Business vs Defender for Endpoint comparison [https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-business/compare-mdb-m365-plans](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-business/compare-mdb-m365-plans "Visit source: Defender for Business vs Defender for Endpoint comparison") 4. ACSC Essential Eight Maturity Model [https://www.cyber.gov.au/resources-business-and-government/essential-cyber-security/essential-eight](https://www.cyber.gov.au/resources-business-and-government/essential-cyber-security/essential-eight "Visit source: ACSC Essential Eight Maturity Model") 5. ASD Cyber Threat Report 2022–2023 [https://www.cyber.gov.au/about-us/reports-and-statistics/asd-cyber-threat-report-2022-2023](https://www.cyber.gov.au/about-us/reports-and-statistics/asd-cyber-threat-report-2022-2023 "Visit source: ASD Cyber Threat Report 2022–2023") 6. Attack surface reduction rules reference [https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-endpoint/attack-surface-reduction-rules-reference](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-endpoint/attack-surface-reduction-rules-reference "Visit source: Attack surface reduction rules reference") 7. Microsoft Defender for Business setup guide [https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-business/mdb-setup-configuration](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/defender-business/mdb-setup-configuration "Visit source: Microsoft Defender for Business setup guide") Document prepared May 2026 by StartCloud (Start Technologies Pty Ltd), last reviewed August 2026. Pricing and feature information is indicative only and current as of the date of preparation. Microsoft licensing changes frequently, so confirm with your licensing partner before any purchase decision. ![StartCloud](/assets/StartCloud-Logo-ByZE1kzP.svg "StartCloud: Cybersecurity-First Managed IT Services Perth") Cybersecurity-led IT for Australian businesses. We manage security, compliance, and modern IT environments, so risk is governed, not guessed. 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