Microsoft Defender For Individuals
Microsoft often adds the business version of security apps to M365. However, the pandemic fundamentally changed the way we see the workplace. The business environment shifted to a hybrid world, made up of multiple connected miniature offices within employee homes.
Increases in outsourcing also contributed to massive change within company networks. Freelancers now often work the same hours as employees, offering the benefits of less overhead and taxes to the hiring company. Right about 68% of the larger consumer product companies outsource parts of their workforce to freelancers.
What we’re getting at is that the need for home devices and network security has never been greater. Company data is now at the mercy of employee devices, situated in homes across the globe.
The point of all this is that people need home devices that function to industrial levels, and network security requirements have never been greater. Industrial data now sits at the mercy of employee devices, scattered in home offices around the world.
55% of employees use their personal devices and software while working from home.
Microsoft remains at the forefront of this huge shift in the work environment. Their latest release represents another example of adapting their products to address new needs.
The latest security offering by Microsoft breaks from their traditional business plans. It’s for individual home users of Microsoft 365, both single and families. The company announced Microsoft Defender for Individuals on June 16, 2022 as a brand-new digital home security tool.
Basics of Microsoft Defender for Individuals
Microsoft Defender comes as a new app that Microsoft 365 subscribers download. Any person with a Personal or Family plan to M365 can access it as part of the plan they already paid for.
According to Microsoft, the main driver for offering Microsoft Defender was to protect the digital life of small businesses and families. Small companies often use consumer Microsoft 365 plans because they are less expensive than the business plans.
This particular app combines multiple digital protections together into one dashboard, including the following.
Online Security Visibility
Most families connect multiple devices to their network, including computers, tablets, and smartphones. It can be hard to identify which devices are vulnerable before a hacked device infects the others.
Microsoft Defender provides visibility into the security status of each of your devices in a single place. So, for example, you could see if that Jess enabled the antivirus on her new smartphone. You can also easily add or remove devices to the network.
Device Safeguards
The app offers beefed up protections from online threats in the form of help from antivirus and anti-phishing protection.
You can set it to continually scan devices for threats, both new and already known. You also gain control of customizing your own scanning. For instance, you can note certain apps as safe and tell Microsoft Defender what exactly to scan.
Real-Time Alerts & Recommendations
Hackers use automation and AI to unleash their attacks and help them spread virally. It’s often a race against the clock to stop a breach from getting worse.
In order to react fast, first you need to know something is wrong. Microsoft Defender helps by giving you real-time alerts combined with recommended actions. So, you not only know something is wrong immediately, but you also know what to do about it fast.
What Else Should You Know?
Ok, those were the basics. However, any program that big has more to it. So, here are a few other important things to know about using Microsoft Defender for Individuals.
Where Can You Download It?
Download Microsoft Defender for Individuals from Microsoft here. To access it, all you need is a Microsoft 365 subscription to either the Personal or Family plan.
What Devices Can Use It?
Use Defender to secure and monitor the following devices:
- Windows: Windows 10 version 19041.0 and higher
- Mac: Intel Macs from Catalina 10.15 and higher, and Apple silicon-based devices from 11.2.3 and up
- iPhone: iOS 13.0 or later
- Android: Android OS 6.0 or later
How Many Devices Can You Add?
Microsoft Defender allows security monitoring of multiple of your home or work devices. The M365 plan you have will dictate the upper limit on number of devices.
- The Microsoft 365 Personal plan offers protection on up to 5 devices at the same time.
- With the Microsoft 365 Family plan, you can receive protection on up to 30 devices at the same time. (5 devices per person, 6 people total)
Key Differences Between the Personal & Family Plans
Both plans access the many different Office and other Microsoft applications. The main difference between them is the number of people and devices who can use the Microsoft 365 services on one subscription.
- Microsoft 365 Personal: $69.99 US/year, 1 person, 5 devices
- Microsoft 365 Family: $99.99 US/year, 6 people, 5 devices per person
So, if you want to sign up even 2 people, each person having their own Personal plan comes out to about $140, while getting the Family plan would only be a hundred. If you have six people total using the service, it’s even more of a no brainer.
What’s the Difference Between The Security That Comes With Windows and Microsoft Defender?
Most Windows users are already familiar with the Microsoft Security app, whether they wanted to be or not. It comes pre-installed on Windows. Microsoft Defender presents multiple differences from the Security app.
Microsoft Defender:
- It does not come pre-installed on Windows. You must download it.
- Defender is a cross-device application used on many different devices
- Features for online security come with Defender, not with Security
- It includes alerts and security tips
Why Is This Published By A Business Phone Company?
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