Microsoft has unveiled three new add-on suites for Microsoft 365 Business Premium that bring enterprise-grade security and compliance features to small and mid-sized businesses, without the enterprise price tag. Announced in September 2025, these Security and Compliance add-ons are tailored for organizations with up to 300 users, enabling advanced protection and governance capabilities previously limited to large enterprises. Below, we break down what’s included, the key benefits for IT decision-makers, and how to get started.
New Add-Ons Introduced
3 Security & compliance suites now available for Business Premium
Cost per Suite
$10 Per user/month for Defender Suite or Purview Suite add-on
Combined Bundle Price
$15 Per user/month for Defender + Purview bundle (all-in-one)
Potential Savings
68% Cost savings vs. buying equivalent tools separately
Quick Overview
Enterprise-Grade Protection, SMB-Friendly Price
These add-ons close the SMB and enterprise security gap, letting businesses use the same tools as large corporations to defend identities, devices, email, and cloud apps without needing a dedicated security team or E5 license.
Simplified Compliance Management
Purview's toolset makes regulatory requirements easier to meet. SMBs can implement data governance, retention, and privacy controls much like an enterprise, which is crucial for healthcare, finance, and legal industries.
Unified & Integrated Experience
Because these tools are part of Microsoft 365, IT teams get a unified platform with seamless integration. There’s no need to juggle multiple security vendors or disparate systems; everything works together in the Microsoft ecosystem.
Faster Response to Threats
With the Defender suite’s real-time detection and automated responses, businesses can catch and contain threats much faster, reducing the impact of incidents. Shorter dwell times mean less damage if attackers do breach defenses.
FAQs
Q. What are the new Microsoft 365 Business Premium add-ons?
A. They’re extra packages you can add to your existing Business Premium plan that bring enterprise-level security and compliance tools to small and mid-sized businesses, without the enterprise price tag.
Q. How do these add-ons make my business more secure?
A. With the Defender Suite, you get advanced protection for your people, devices, email, and cloud apps. Think of it as having the same cybersecurity tools big companies use, but designed and priced for SMBs.
Q. How can the Purview Suite help with compliance?
A. The Purview Suite makes it easier to meet regulatory requirements like HIPAA, GDPR, or financial industry standards. It helps you protect sensitive data, prevent leaks, and respond quickly to audits, all without needing a large IT team.
Q. How much will it cost my business?
- Defender Suite: $10 per user/month
- Purview Suite: $10 per user/month Defender + Purview
- Bundle: $15 per user/month (a bundled discount that saves you up to 68%).
Q. Why should I choose these add-ons instead of upgrading to E5?
A. With Business Premium add-ons, you get the best of enterprise security and compliance at a fraction of the cost. No need to overpay for features you won’t use; these add-ons give you exactly what SMBs need to stay secure and compliant.
Microsoft Defender Suite Add-On
Advanced Threat Protection for SMBs
Price: $10 per user/month
What it is: The Microsoft Defender Suite for Business Premium is a security-focused add-on that unifies several advanced threat protection tools under one package. It extends Business Premium with capabilities equivalent to the Microsoft 365 E5 Security stack, helping you guard against sophisticated cyber threats without a full enterprise license upgrade.
Included Security Features: This suite brings together five key Microsoft security solutions that were once exclusive to larger E5 deployments:
- Microsoft Entra ID P2 (Azure AD Premium P2)
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Plan 2
- Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 2
- Microsoft Defender for Identity
- Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps (MCAS)
In essence, the Defender Suite add-on arms small and mid-size organizations with a full extended detection and response (XDR) toolset, covering identities, devices, email, and cloud apps, all integrated within Microsoft 365. This end-to-end security approach helps reduce risk and respond faster to incidents without adding complexity.
Microsoft Purview Suite Add-On
Comprehensive Compliance & Data Protection
Price: $10 per user/month
What it is: The Microsoft Purview Suite for Business Premium is a compliance-focused add-on that brings enterprise-grade data protection, governance, and compliance tools into the hands of smaller organizations. It mirrors the capabilities of Microsoft’s E5 Compliance suite, enabling robust information management without requiring an E5 license.
Included Compliance Features: The Purview Suite helps businesses protect sensitive information and stay compliant with regulations by providing solutions in several key areas:
- Information Protection & Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
- Insider Risk Management & Communication Compliance
- eDiscovery (Premium) & Audit (Premium)
- Microsoft Purview Message Encryption. Customer Key, and Records / Data Lifecycle Management
Bottom line: the Purview add-on gives you a one-stop toolkit to safeguard sensitive data and streamline compliance. It’s built to reduce the complexity and cost of meeting your legal and regulatory obligations, from preventing data leakage to responding efficiently to audits.
Defender + Purview Bundle
All-in-One Protection at a Fraction of the Cost
Price: $15 per user/month
Microsoft offers a combined Defender and Purview Suite bundle for organizations that need both advanced security and compliance. This all-in-one add-on includes everything from both suites above, delivering end-to-end security and compliance in a single package.
The bundle is convenient and highly cost-effective: Microsoft notes it provides up to 68% in savings compared to purchasing equivalent capabilities separately. The bundle unites the full Defender and Purview feature set and ensures that all your threat protection and data governance tools work in tandem. For example, if Defender for Cloud Apps flags a risky third-party app, your Purview DLP policies could automatically kick in to restrict data sharing until the threat is resolved, a level of integrated response normally requiring expensive third-party solutions or custom setups. With the combined suite, SMBs get enterprise-level integration out of the box, maximizing both security outcomes and value for money.
Why This Announcement Matters
In an era of rising cyber threats and stricter regulations, Microsoft 365 Business Premium’s new add-ons are a game-changer for IT leaders in mid-sized organizations. It increases accessibility to historically complex and costly solutions only enterprises could substantiate. Microsoft is addressing this long-standing gap: SMBs face the same threats as enterprises, but often lack comparable tools and budgets. With these add-ons,
Business Premium companies can bolster their security posture and compliance capabilities without jumping to a costly enterprise plan. Key takeaways include:
- Enterprise-Level Security for SMBs
- Ease of Compliance for Regulated Industries
- Cost Savings and Flexibility
- Familiar Platform, Minimal Disruption
Maximizing M365's Built-In Security
Ready to Strengthen Your Security and Compliance?
These new Microsoft 365 Business Premium add-ons offer a compelling opportunity for mid-market and growing businesses to level up their security and data protection without breaking budget. However, determining the right licensing mix and configuring these powerful tools can be complex; that’s where TrustedTech comes in.
TrustedTech is a certified Microsoft Solutions Partner specializing in licensing optimization and cloud enablement. Our experts can help you assess your organization’s needs and safely navigate the adoption of the Defender and Purview add-ons. We provide hands-on guidance to ensure you get maximum value from these features, from mapping out which employees need which licenses to implementing best-practice security policies tailored to your environment.
Next Step: Contact TrustedTech for a Personalized Consultation. If you want to enhance your Microsoft 365 security and compliance with these new add-ons, contact TrustedTech for licensing guidance and support. We’ll work with you to determine the most cost-effective strategy and ensure a smooth rollout so you can stay focused on running your business securely and confidently.
To learn more or get started, contact TrustedTech today. Our team is ready to help you leverage Microsoft’s latest innovations to protect your organization. Let’s make your IT simpler, smarter, and more secure together.
