'/%3E%3Cpath%20fill='%23b2b2b2'%20d='M241%20382q0%2016%2017%2026%2017%2011%2042%2011t42-11q16-11%2017-26V269H241'/%3E%3Cpath%20fill='%239f7e00'%20d='M241%20379q0%2014%208%2023%209%209%2021%209%2014%200%2021-9%209-9%209-23V269h-59'/%3E%3Cpath%20d='M241%20339v-70h59v110q0%2014-9%2023l-6%205v-68h-15v72q-8%200-14-4v-68zm59%2040c0%2022%2015%2032%2029%2032%2021%200%2030-18%2030-32v-40h-59'/%3E%3Cpath%20fill='%239f7e00'%20d='M266%20277v5h2v12h-3v-5h2v-5h-9v5h2v5h-4v9h3v18h-5v10h34v-10h-5v-18h3v-9h-4v-5h2v-5h-9v5h2v5h-3v-12h2v-5zm42%20101q0%2010%206%2017%206%206%2015%207%2010-1%2016-7%206-7%206-17v-29h-43'/%3E%3Ccircle%20fill='%230044ad'%20cx='329.5'%20cy='372'%20r='6'/%3E%3Cellipse%20fill='%230044ad'%20cx='300'%20cy='340'%20rx='16'%20ry='21'/%3E%3C/svg%3E){kind=small}
Microsoft Defender consulting and deployment
We deploy and improve Microsoft Defender to protect your organisation’s email, devices, identities and applications.
Defender configured for your environment and your team
A security licence is the starting point. You also need to know which devices are reporting, who receives each policy and who reviews an alert when a threat appears. Controls need to work with the applications and processes your business relies on.
MSAdvance can deploy Defender, review an existing implementation or support a move from another security solution. We agree on the products and assets in scope, the priorities and the acceptance criteria. We then roll out to defined groups and tune the configuration with your IT or security team.
- Known coverage across the users, devices and services in scope.
- Changes tested before they are extended across the organisation.
- Practical procedures for investigation, escalation and ongoing administration.
A practical starting point for your project
You already have Defender licences
You need to check whether available capabilities are being used, whether devices still need onboarding or whether existing policies leave gaps in coverage.
You are replacing an antivirus or EDR
You want to move from another tool while maintaining visibility. We plan coexistence, removal and validation for the groups included in the project.
Alerts arrive without a clear process
The portal receives alerts, but the team needs to agree what to review, who can act and how to record investigations and exceptions.
Which Defender products does your organisation need?
Defender for Endpoint
Protection and detection on devices. We review device onboarding, sensor health and the controls available for each platform. EDR, investigation and response capabilities depend on the plan and operating system.
Defender for Office 365
Protection for email and collaboration. We configure the licensed anti-phishing, Safe Links and Safe Attachments policies, and validate quarantine, notifications and exceptions with users and the email administration team.
Defender for Identity
Detection of identity-related threats. We review prerequisites, signal sources and the deployment appropriate to your environment, including Active Directory services and their dependencies.
Defender for Cloud Apps
Visibility and control across SaaS applications. We agree which applications to connect, what activity to review and which policies to apply. Integrations and session controls are validated against the required permissions and licences.
Defender for Business
Device security for small and medium-sized organisations with up to 300 users. We review available coverage, setup and administration. It is included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium and is also available separately; servers and other security requirements need their own licensing review.
Defender for Cloud
Cloud security posture and workload protection. Where servers, storage or containers need coverage, we review the relevant resources, recommendations and plans. These are explicitly scoped for your infrastructure; Microsoft 365 licensing is not assumed to cover all Azure workloads.
Microsoft Defender XDR brings the signals together
XDR combines incidents and signals from deployed products to support investigation and response. We define roles, notifications and the actions your team can take. Actual coverage depends on the configured components; portal access alone does not mean every asset is protected.
Coverage you can verify. We document enabled products, included users and assets, and the controls tested. Capabilities that require another licence or additional work are identified in the proposal or the outstanding-actions register.
Microsoft Defender consulting services
Coverage assessment
We review licences, users, devices, policies, connectors and service health within the agreed scope. We identify gaps and configuration issues, with prioritised actions and a clear view of dependencies.
Design and deployment plan
We define deployment groups, policies, administrative permissions and rollout sequence. We agree exceptions, change windows and the tests that determine whether each phase is ready to expand.
Configuration and rollout
We onboard the agreed assets and configure the available controls. Where Intune is involved, we coordinate security policies so that settings do not conflict and each configuration has a clear management source.
Pilot and detection testing
We test with representative devices and users through controlled, authorised checks. We validate reporting, alert generation and the planned response actions, alongside the effect on everyday applications and workflows.
Alert and exception tuning
We review pilot results and alerts with your team. We tune policies and justified exceptions, and agree what needs investigation, what should be escalated and which actions require approval.
Documentation and handover
We deliver the design, configuration and validation results. Your team receives guidance for routine administration, service-health checks, alert investigation and subsequent configuration changes.
Defender controls we can configure and assess
The project defines which policies will change, who receives them and how they will be tested. We work from your existing licences and platforms and coordinate each setting with your applications and management tools.
Device onboarding and health
We prepare a supported onboarding method for each platform and check that included devices appear in the inventory and report to the service. Connectivity, agents and pending assignments are reviewed. Where Intune is involved, its inventory is compared with Defender coverage to identify differences.
Antivirus, firewall and attack surface reduction
We configure the contracted device-protection settings and review attack surface reduction rules. Rules that may affect everyday work are tested with the appropriate mode and group first. Exceptions are documented with a reason and an owner responsible for reviewing them.
Email, links and attachments
We review anti-phishing, impersonation, Safe Links and Safe Attachments according to the plan. Policy recipients, priorities, quarantine and notifications are agreed. Legitimate mail handling and the process for suspicious messages are tested with the Exchange Online administration team.
Applications and integrations
We agree the applications and data sources to connect, the permissions needed and the expected outcome. If Defender for Cloud Apps is included, we review supported connectors and policies. Integration is validated against the information received and the operating process it needs to support.
Roles and response actions
We define who can view information, investigate alerts or take action on devices and messages. Routine tasks are separated from actions requiring approval. Roles are matched to the products and permissions model available in the environment.
Notifications, exclusions and follow-up
We prepare notifications and escalation routes for the contracted scope. Exclusions, changes and outstanding actions have documented owners. Where a recommendation requires changes to an application or infrastructure managed by another provider, we coordinate with that team.
From the initial review to validated protection
Assess
Existing coverage, licences, dependencies and priorities.
Design
Products, groups, policies, owners and acceptance criteria.
Pilot
Controlled tests with representative assets and applications.
Roll out
Deployment to further groups with agreed checks and adjustments.
Hand over
Final validation, documentation and knowledge transfer.
How we verify that deployment is ready
Enabling a service does not complete the implementation. We agree evidence of successful operation with your team and review the results before expanding the pilot or closing the deployment.
Coverage and reporting
We compare assets in scope with those actually reporting to Defender. Devices without signals, pending agents or connectivity problems are identified for resolution or follow-up.
Applied policies and application compatibility
We check policy assignments and status in the test groups. The pilot includes everyday business applications and tasks so that blocks can be identified and justified exceptions adjusted before wider rollout.
Detection, notifications and escalation
We perform the controlled, authorised checks defined in the test plan. We confirm where alerts appear, who receives them and which procedure the owner follows. Response actions are tested only within the agreed scope.
Documented handover and outstanding actions
Your team receives the results, configuration and administration guidance. Handover separates successful checks from outstanding issues, with an owner and an agreed next step for each.
What your team receives
- Coverage inventory and gaps across the reviewed assets.
- Design for policies, groups, permissions and integrations.
- Configuration of the contracted products and controls.
- Test plan, results and resolved or outstanding issues.
- Procedures for alert review, escalation and response.
- Exception register and maintenance recommendations.
- Technical documentation and a knowledge-transfer session.
Microsoft Defender administration and support for your team
We can support the initial deployment and provide ongoing administration under a separate agreement. Implementation and operations have different tasks and responsibilities, which are defined in each proposal.
Administration can include service-health reviews, follow-up of outstanding devices, policy tuning, exception reviews and support for investigating alerts within scope. We agree frequency, contacts, service hours and the reports your team needs. Explore our Microsoft 365 and Azure managed services for related support.
If Defender is integrated with Microsoft Sentinel or another monitoring system, we define who receives each incident and where the working record is maintained. Connectors, permissions and ingestion or retention costs are reviewed when included in the engagement. A 24/7 SOC, active-breach response and forensic investigation require a separate scope.
What we check before selecting licences
We start with your existing subscriptions and the controls you need. We do not assume that the same plan covers every user, device or server. Products, platforms and feature prerequisites are reviewed separately.
Microsoft Defender for Business is designed for organisations with up to 300 users and is included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium. Servers require additional licensing review. For enterprise environments, we assess the appropriate Endpoint, Office 365 and other product plans or suites.
If another security product is already in use, the transition plan is part of the decision. Agent removal, application compatibility and policy ownership need to be ready before existing protection is replaced.
Scope, requirements and ongoing support
Is Microsoft Defender just an antivirus?
The product family covers devices, email, identities and applications. Antivirus is one part of device protection. We define the products you need and the capabilities your licences provide, then configure and validate that agreed coverage.
Can you review an existing Defender deployment?
Yes. We can assess coverage, service health, policies and operating procedures. We provide findings and a prioritised improvement plan. Implementation of the recommended changes is included when agreed in the scope.
Can you replace our current antivirus or EDR?
Yes, after reviewing platforms, installed agents and removal requirements. We prepare a pilot, check compatibility and agree the transition sequence. Coexistence depends on the products and configuration in your environment.
Do we need Microsoft Intune?
It depends on the product, platforms and management approach. We assess Intune and other supported methods. Where several tools already manage security, we define ownership of each setting to avoid conflicting policies.
Does Business Premium include every Defender capability?
Business Premium includes Defender for Business, but it does not provide every capability in every Defender product. We check existing subscriptions, prerequisites and the plans needed for your proposed scope.
Can you integrate Defender with Microsoft Sentinel?
We can include integration in the design. We agree connectors, data, permissions and procedures, and review ingestion and retention implications. Sentinel is explicitly scoped alongside the intended operating model.
Who handles alerts after deployment?
That is agreed at the start. It may be your team, your security provider or MSAdvance under a separately contracted administration service. Handover defines owners, escalation channels and procedures; service hours and response times are agreed for that service.
What do you need to prepare a proposal?
Your current licences, approximate user and device counts, operating systems, existing security products and any Defender services already enabled. Critical applications, the responsible team and your target date also help define the work.
Is the antivirus included with Windows enough?
That depends on the protection and response capability your organisation needs. Built-in antivirus and a Defender for Endpoint or Defender for Business implementation have different scopes. We review licences, devices and operating procedures to define the capabilities required and who will manage them.
Can you deploy Defender on Windows, macOS and Linux?
We can include platforms supported by the chosen product. Versions, prerequisites, connectivity and available features are checked first: capabilities and deployment methods differ across systems. Servers and mobile devices are reviewed within their own agreed scope.
How is a Microsoft Defender deployment priced?
The scope is based on products, licences, users, device counts and operating systems, existing tools and integrations. The proposal separates professional services, required licensing and ongoing administration. The schedule is agreed after reviewing dependencies and the pilot.
Identity, devices and information protection
Microsoft Intune
Microsoft Entra ID
Microsoft PurviewLet’s define the protection your organisation needs
Tell us about your licences, the users and devices you want to protect and your current security solution. We will review the starting point and prepare a Microsoft Defender deployment or improvement scope.
