Microsoft Defender Services
Microsoft Defender is Microsoft's built-in security suite covering endpoints, email, identity, and cloud apps. Most businesses already pay for parts of it through Microsoft 365 - the problem is almost none of it gets configured beyond the default settings. Code Hyper One sets up, monitors, and manages Defender properly, so it actually catches threats instead of sitting there unused.
Why This Matters Right Now
According to the Australian Signals Directorate's Annual Cyber Threat Report 2024–25, ASD received over 84,700 cybercrime reports in the past financial year - roughly one every six minutes - and the average self-reported cost of a cybercrime report for businesses rose to $80,850. Ransomware and business email compromise remain among the most damaging incident types reported by Australian organisations. Microsoft Defender won't stop every attack on its own, but properly configured and monitored, it closes off the most common ways attackers get in.
The Four Parts of Microsoft Defender We Manage
"Microsoft Defender" isn't one product - it's a family of tools, and most businesses are only using a fraction of what they're entitled to.
- Defender for Office 365 - filters phishing emails, malicious attachments, and dangerous links before they reach a staff inbox
- Defender for Endpoint - protects laptops, desktops, and mobile devices from malware, ransomware, and suspicious behaviour
- Defender for Identity - detects compromised accounts and unusual sign-in patterns by monitoring identity activity across your network
- Defender for Cloud Apps - gives visibility and control over the third-party SaaS apps your staff connect to their Microsoft 365 accounts, flagging risky or unsanctioned apps
We assess which of these you're already licensed for, then configure and tune each one - rather than leaving them switched off by default, which is how most Microsoft 365 tenants sit today.
What Our Managed Defender Service Includes
Configuration and Policy Management
We set up and tune Defender's security policies to match how your business actually operates, rather than relying on Microsoft's generic defaults, which are rarely strict enough for a real threat landscape.
Investigation and Response
Our team actively monitors Defender alerts and investigates anything flagged as suspicious, escalating and containing genuine threats before they spread - backed by our SOC/MDR monitoring service for 24/7 coverage.
Secure Score Management
We track and improve your Microsoft Secure Score - Microsoft's own benchmark of your security posture - identifying quick wins and larger gaps, and closing them in priority order.
Endpoint Protection
Full deployment and tuning of Defender for Endpoint across company laptops, desktops, and mobile devices, catching malware and ransomware behaviour before it can spread across your network.
Email and Collaboration Security
Defender for Office 365 configured to filter phishing, malicious links, and spam before they hit an inbox - paired with our dedicated email security services for a layered defence.
Message Trace and Audit
Full message trace and audit logging so you can see exactly what happened to any email - useful for both troubleshooting delivery issues and investigating a suspected phishing incident.
Compliance and Framework Alignment
A well-configured Defender deployment supports alignment with:
- ACSC Essential Eight - particularly application control, restricting admin privileges, and patch management
- ISO 27001 - through documented security controls, monitoring, and incident response
- Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and Australian Privacy Principles - via access logging and breach detection capability
(Defender configuration supports these frameworks as a technical control - for a full compliance assessment against a specific standard, we recommend pairing this with advice from a qualified compliance specialist.)
Who Needs Managed Defender?
- Businesses already paying for Microsoft 365 but not using the security features included in their licence
- Organisations without an internal security or IT security specialist on staff
- Businesses that have had a phishing incident, compromised account, or ransomware scare and want it to not happen again
- Companies needing to demonstrate a documented security posture to clients, insurers, or regulators
Our Defender Setup Process
- 1
Tenant and licence review - checking what Defender features you're already entitled to but not using
- 2
Baseline Secure Score assessment - establishing where you currently stand
- 3
Policy configuration - Office 365, Endpoint, Identity, and Cloud Apps protections switched on and tuned
- 4
Staff impact testing - rolling out in stages so protections don't disrupt daily work
- 5
Ongoing monitoring - continuous alert triage and response through our network security team
- 6
Regular reporting - clear reporting on Secure Score trends, blocked threats, and any incidents investigated
Defender Works Best Paired With
- Microsoft Entra ID - since Defender for Identity depends on properly configured Conditional Access and MFA
- Security awareness training - Defender catches technical threats; trained staff catch the social engineering attempts that slip past any filter
- Dark web monitoring - to flag if credentials Defender would otherwise trust have already been leaked
- Vulnerability scanning and penetration testing - to confirm your Defender configuration holds up under real attack conditions
- SaaS backup and M365 backup - because Defender prevents and detects threats, it doesn't replace having a clean backup to recover from one
Why Sydney Businesses Choose Code Hyper One for Microsoft Defender
- We check what's already switched on before recommending anything new - most tenants are already paying for Defender features sitting unused
- Local team, based in Bella Vista, Sydney - real people who pick up the phone, not an offshore ticket queue
- All four Defender products covered, not just antivirus-style endpoint protection
- Managed ongoing, not installed once - threats, staff, and devices change, and your configuration needs to keep up through our managed IT support
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I already have Microsoft Defender if I use Microsoft 365?
Most Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Enterprise plans include some level of Defender for Office 365 and Defender for Endpoint. However, these are rarely configured beyond default settings, which significantly limits their effectiveness.
Do I still need Defender if I already have antivirus software?
Traditional antivirus typically only covers known malware signatures. Microsoft Defender for Endpoint includes behavioural detection, automated investigation, and threat hunting capability that goes well beyond signature-based antivirus, and often replaces the need for separate third-party antivirus entirely.
What's the difference between Defender for Endpoint and Defender for Office 365?
Defender for Endpoint protects devices - laptops, desktops, and mobiles - from malware and suspicious behaviour. Defender for Office 365 protects your email and collaboration tools (Outlook, Teams, SharePoint) from phishing, malicious links, and attachments. Most businesses need both.
How much does managed Microsoft Defender cost?
Cost depends on which Defender licences you already have, how many users need coverage, and whether ongoing 24/7 monitoring is included. Book a free review and we'll tell you what you're already entitled to before quoting for anything additional.
Can Microsoft Defender help with cyber insurance requirements?
Increasingly, yes. Insurers are asking for evidence of MFA, endpoint protection, and monitoring as a condition of coverage or reduced premiums. A properly configured and monitored Defender deployment provides documented evidence of these controls.
How long does it take to set up managed Defender?
An initial configuration and Secure Score baseline typically takes one to two weeks, rolled out in stages to avoid disrupting staff. Ongoing monitoring and tuning continues after go-live.
Ready to Find Out What Defender Features You're Already Paying For?
Most Microsoft 365 tenants have Defender features included in their licence that have never been switched on. Book a free review and we'll show you exactly what's covered, what's missing, and what a properly managed setup looks like.
Get My Free Defender Review Or explore our full network security services and Microsoft 365 services.