Managing separate security and compliance tools is expensive and complex. Microsoft's new combined Defender and Purview bundle aims to solve this by bringing security and compliance capabilities into a single, cost-effective offering for organizations already on Microsoft 365.
What's Included in the New Bundle
The combined bundle brings together Microsoft's security and compliance suites:
- Microsoft 365 Defender — endpoint detection and response (EDR), email security, identity protection, and cloud app security
- Microsoft Purview — data governance, information protection, insider risk management, compliance management, and eDiscovery
Key Security Capabilities (Defender)
The Defender suite provides layered protection across the Microsoft ecosystem:
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint — next-generation antivirus, EDR, and threat hunting on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS
- Microsoft Defender for Office 365 — anti-phishing, anti-spam, and safe attachments/links for email and collaboration
- Microsoft Defender for Identity — identity threat detection using on-premises Active Directory signals
- Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps — shadow IT discovery and app governance across SaaS applications
Key Compliance and Data Governance Capabilities (Purview)
Purview helps organizations manage and protect their data:
- Data Classification and Labeling — automatically identify and label sensitive data across Microsoft 365
- Data Loss Prevention (DLP) — prevent accidental sharing of sensitive information
- Insider Risk Management — detect and respond to risky user behavior
- Audit and eDiscovery — search and export data for legal and compliance requests
- Compliance Manager — track compliance posture against regulations like GDPR, HIPAA, and more
Cost and Licensing Advantages
For organizations already on Microsoft 365 E3 or E5, the new bundle can deliver significant cost savings compared to purchasing Defender and Purview separately. It also reduces administrative overhead by providing unified management through a single portal.
How Virtue Helps Plan and Deploy
Our team can help you: - Assess whether the bundle is right for your organization - Plan the deployment based on your current Microsoft 365 licensing - Configure security policies for maximum protection without disrupting productivity - Set up compliance policies aligned with your regulatory requirements - Train your team on using the new capabilities
Conclusion
Bundled security and compliance is a foundation, not a finish line. The Microsoft 365 Defender and Purview bundle simplifies licensing, reduces costs, and improves security posture — but it still requires proper planning and configuration to deliver real value.
Thinking about the new Microsoft bundle? Contact Virtue Technology Solutions for a no-obligation assessment of your current Microsoft 365 environment.