Microsoft Defender for Business: Security designed for SMBs now included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium

Josine Bustalino — Mon, 21 Mar 2022 19:03:42 +0000

As SMBs expand their IT infrastructure, comprehensive security is more important than ever. Make sure your SMB customers have the tools and resources they need to protect their users, apps, data, devices, and infrastructure—both on-premises and in the cloud.

Register here for the Security for SMB Technical Training on April 7, 2022.

Your SMB customers have a variety of options when it comes to cloud solutions and services plans. We’re excited to introduce Microsoft Defender for Business, a new endpoint security solution that’s now generally available within Microsoft 365 Business Premium, and standalone solution in preview.

Microsoft Defender for Business is specially built to bring enterprise-grade endpoint security to businesses with up to 300 employees, in a solution that’s easy-to-use and cost-effective. Customers who may not be ready to purchase Microsoft 365 Business Premium or don’t have a Microsoft 365 subscription can still purchase and use Microsoft Defender for Business. We’re keeping the licensing model as flexible as possible to serve customers—whether on-premises, using Microsoft 365, or using a competitive solution.

Microsoft Defender for Business is designed to integrate with Microsoft 365 Lighthouse. If you’re a member of the Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) program and have Microsoft 365 Lighthouse, you can manage your SMB customers’ security requirements at scale. This will allow you to view security incidents across tenants in your Microsoft 365 Lighthouse portal.

Both partners and customers can sign up for the public preview here.

What is Microsoft Defender for Business?

Microsoft Defender for Business is a standalone endpoint security solution that’s purpose-built for businesses with up to 300 employees. As cyberattacks targeting SMBs continue to rise and become increasingly sophisticated, Microsoft Defender for Business keeps SMBs better protected from ransomware, malware, phishing, and other security threats. At General Availability, Microsoft Defender for Business will be offered via Direct and CSP channels.

SMB customers who already have Microsoft 365 Business Basic or Standard can add Microsoft Defender for Business to gain additional threat protection capabilities. Customers who have Microsoft 365 Business Premium, our most comprehensive security and productivity solution for SMBs, will automatically get the added benefits of Microsoft Defender for Business.

Elevate your customers’ security and grow your business

Microsoft Defender for Business will help protect your SMB customers’ devices and data, whether they’re using Microsoft 365, on-premises, or third-party cloud services. Benefits to customers include:

Enterprise-grade protection. Provides next-generation protection, endpoint detection and response, and threat and vulnerability management across devices.

Ease of use. Streamlined experiences deliver actionable insights. Includes wizard-driven configuration and default security policies activated out of the box, so no specialized knowledge is required.

Cost-effectiveness. Endpoint security keeps SMBs productive and works with IT without compromising budget.

Partners can grow their customer base by using Microsoft Defender for Business as an on-ramp to new customers not using Microsoft 365 and by upselling existing Microsoft 365 customers to Microsoft 365 Business Premium.

Next steps

Engage your customers in a conversation around Microsoft 365 Business Premium and how Microsoft Defender for Business can improve their security posture.

Attract a wider range of customers with the Teams Essentials standalone app

Josine Bustalino — Mon, 07 Mar 2022 20:17:51 +0000

Microsoft 365 SMB Security Fundamentals

It’s been almost two years since the business world was forced to adapt, quickly and without warning, to a new way of working. Now, as SMBs transition from remote to hybrid work, they need the right tools to keep their employees connected and business thriving. That’s why Microsoft recently introduced its first standalone offering of Microsoft Teams designed specifically for small businesses: Microsoft Teams Essentials.

Teams Essentials delivers the full Teams experience—meetings, chat, storage, collaboration, and more—for organizations with up to 300 people. At a cost of only $4 per user per month, Teams Essentials is the most affordable all-in-one solution for meetings and collaboration currently in the market.

What are the benefits to you?

Teams Essentials benefits your SMB customers by helping them grow their businesses easily and cost-effectively. It allows SMB teams to stay connected, organized, and to keep projects moving forward from wherever they are. But what are the benefits to you?

As a Microsoft partner, Teams Essentials allows you to acquire new customers that can then be upsold to more premium offerings within the Microsoft 365 portfolio.

Suggested target customers for Teams Essentials:

SMB customers using Microsoft Office on-premises or Hosted Exchange
SMB customers interested in standalone meetings and calling solutions who already use a competitor solution
SMB customers interested in expanding their coverage to Frontline Workers who may not need desktop-installed Office but do need the ability to collaborate and communicate with Teams

Teams Essentials is available to partners through the Cloud Solution Provider (CSP) program. It provides the same enterprise-grade meetings, chat, channels, and file collaboration that comes with Teams as part of the Microsoft 365 suite, without needing to fully deploy Microsoft 365. Partners have full manageability and can easily transition customers into more advanced Microsoft 365 for business suites as their needs grow.

Help your customer choose the right solution

The first step is to find out which SMB customers to target for Teams Essentials versus which customers would benefit more from other available Microsoft 365 services. Go here to find the right solution for your customer’s needs.

Use these selling resources and customer-ready materials to help you position the service that best addresses your customer’s needs. At the same time, you’ll help your customers feel confident that they have the right product in place to facilitate collaboration, be productive, and stay secure in the cyberworld.

Josine Bustalino, Author at Americas Partner Blog