Server protection for small business now in preview within Microsoft Defender for Business.

Microsoft Defender for Business brings enterprise-grade endpoint security to small businesses to help secure devices from cyberthreats such as ransomware and malware. For customers with Microsoft 365 Business Premium, we added endpoint security on 1st March 2022. For customers with Microsoft 365 Business Basic or Standard, working with on-premises IT or 3^rd party cloud solutions, we launched endpoint security standalone with Defender for Business on 2nd May 2022. 

Microsoft Defender for Business servers preview

We’re pleased to announce that endpoint security for Windows and Linux Servers for small and medium-sized businesses is now available to preview within Microsoft Defender for Business. The Microsoft Defender for Business servers experience delivers the same level of protection for both clients and servers within a single admin experience inside of Defender for Business, helping you to protect all your endpoints in one location.

Throughout the duration of the preview, server protection can be activated within the Microsoft 365 Defender security admin portal at no cost. The preview will end when general availability is announced. At that time, a Microsoft Defender for Business servers license must be purchased for each onboarded server, or those servers can be offboarded.

Configure and onboard your servers

To configure endpoint security for servers you will need to visit the Microsoft 365 Security admin portal. Open the settings page and click on Endpoints and then Advanced features, find, and turn on Preview features. Then for Windows Servers you will need to switch on Enforcement Scope for Windows Server devices. Learn more at https://aka.ms/Get-MDBServersPreview.

Figure 1: Start using the Preview of Microsoft Defender for Business servers by switching on Preview Features and onboarding servers.

Windows Servers

Manage Windows clients and servers with the same simplified security administration experience when using Windows Server 2012R2 and later. Recommended security settings are activated out-of-the-box, and wizard-driven antivirus and firewall policies are available. You can onboard servers using local scripts, Group Policy, or with Configuration Manager. Learn more at Onboard devices to Microsoft Defender for Business.

Linux servers

Linux servers use deployment scripts allowing you to manually onboard or integrate into an existing management platform such as Chef, Puppet, and Ansible to onboard your servers. Supported Linux versions can be found here. Learn more at Onboard devices to Microsoft Defender for Business.

Figure 2: Defender for Business onboarding options for Windows and Linux servers now available in preview.

Microsoft 365 Lighthouse with Defender for Business servers

Microsoft CSP partners using Lighthouse can view security alerts, incidents, and the device list across multiple customers with client and servers onboarded to Defender for Business, from a single admin experience. With the addition of Windows and Linux servers you will now see the same information coming through in the Device Security page. Proactively manage and respond to security incidents across your customers clients and servers today with Microsoft 365 Lighthouse. Explore more with the Microsoft 365 Lighthouse documentation.

Purchasing server security with Defender for Business servers

At general availability, Microsoft Defender for Business servers will be made available as an add-on priced at $3 per server instance per month. Subscriptions can be added to Microsoft 365 Business Premium or Microsoft Defender for Business standalone, as server endpoint security licensing is not included in those base plans.

Feedback and community engagement

Now server security is in preview, we want you to get hands on with Defender for Business and tell us about your experience. Your input is important to us, and we want to capture as much of your feedback as possible. Here are some ways you can engage with us during the preview:

1. In-product help and support
2. Yammer for Microsoft 365 Partners

 Learn more

For customers

• Microsoft Defender for Business – Web page 
• Microsoft Defender for Business – Documentation
• Microsoft Defender for Business - Trial Playbook

For IT partners

• Microsoft Defender for Business Partner webinars 
• Microsoft 365 Lighthouse – Partner web page
• Microsoft 365 Lighthouse – Documentation

FAQ

• Microsoft Defender for Business – FAQ