Microsoft Defender for Endpoint P1 is a foundational security solution that provides essential endpoint protection for businesses. It includes antivirus and antimalware capabilities to safeguard devices running Windows 10, Windows 11, and Windows Server operating systems against known and emerging threats. Defender for Endpoint P1 offers endpoint detection and response (EDR) features, enabling detection, investigation, and response to advanced attacks and breaches. It also provides device control and conditional access policies to enforce security measures based on device health and compliance. Integrated with Microsoft's security ecosystem, Defender for Endpoint P1 delivers centralized management, threat analytics, and real-time threat intelligence to help organizations protect their endpoints effectively and maintain a secure IT environment.
 
Features of Microsoft Defender for Endpoint P1:
 
1. Next-Generation Antivirus (NGAV):
Real-Time Malware Protection: Blocks known malware and viruses by using signature-based and heuristic detection techniques.
Cloud-Delivered Protection: Continuously updates threat definitions from the cloud, ensuring endpoints are protected from the latest threats without manual updates.
File and URL Filtering: Blocks malicious files and websites, preventing users from downloading or accessing harmful content.
2. Basic Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR):
Threat Detection: Monitors endpoint activity to identify known threats and anomalies that might indicate an attack or infection.
Alerting: Provides security alerts based on detected suspicious behaviors and potential threats on endpoints.
Basic Investigation Tools: Offers limited tools for investigating alerts, including basic details about the detected threat and affected endpoints.
3. Attack Surface Reduction (ASR):
Basic Exploit Prevention: Uses rules to block certain behaviors that are typically associated with exploit techniques (e.g., blocking macros in files, or stopping credential dumping tools).
Application Control: Blocks malicious or untrusted applications from running, helping prevent attacks that exploit vulnerabilities in software.
Controlled Folder Access: Protects sensitive folders from ransomware and other malicious applications by restricting unauthorized apps from making changes.
4. Web Protection and Anti-Phishing:
Browser Protection: Detects and blocks malicious websites that could be used for phishing or hosting malware.
URL Filtering: Monitors and restricts access to dangerous URLs, protecting users from drive-by downloads and social engineering attacks.
Anti-Phishing Policies: Helps defend against phishing attacks that could lead to data theft or compromise.
5. Centralized Management via Microsoft 365 Defender:
Defender Security Center: Centralized console for managing and viewing security events and configurations for endpoints.
Security Dashboards: Provides basic visibility into endpoint security status and potential threats across the organization.
Device Inventory: Lists all devices in your organization, helping administrators track and monitor endpoint health and compliance.
6. Automated Investigation and Response (Limited):
Basic Automated Response: When a threat is detected, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint can automatically take actions like isolating the device, blocking malicious files, or killing harmful processes.
Security Actions: Security teams can quickly act on alerts by triggering predefined response actions to contain or neutralize threats.
7. Cloud-Based Threat Intelligence:
Threat Intelligence Feeds: Leverages Microsoft's global cloud-based threat intelligence to quickly detect new threats and attack vectors.
Regular Updates: Cloud-based updates ensure that endpoint protection is always up-to-date without requiring manual intervention.
8. Security Recommendations and Insights:
Security Posture Guidance: Provides actionable recommendations to improve the security posture of endpoints, such as enabling specific protections or applying certain security configurations.
Health Monitoring: Monitors the health of endpoint devices and alerts administrators to devices that are out of compliance or need attention.
9. Integration with Microsoft Defender for Office 365 and Microsoft 365:
Unified Security with Microsoft Defender: Works in conjunction with Microsoft Defender for Office 365 and other Microsoft security services, offering an integrated security ecosystem.
Cross-Product Security Insights: Correlates alerts from Defender for Endpoint with other Microsoft security products for a more holistic view of your organization's security landscape.
10. Support for Windows, Mac, and Mobile Devices:
Cross-Platform Support: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint P1 supports endpoint protection across Windows, macOS, and mobile platforms (iOS, Android), providing a basic level of security for diverse device environments.
Multi-Platform Monitoring: Monitors activity and applies security protections across various device types, ensuring that security is maintained across endpoints in the organization.
11. Basic Incident Management:
Incident Reporting: Provides alerts and detailed reports about incidents detected on endpoints, helping security teams understand the scope of attacks.
Incident Investigation: Although more limited compared to Plan 2, P1 offers basic incident investigation capabilities for understanding the details of a security event on an endpoint.