I have Microsoft 365 Business Premium. I have upgraded from the regular M365 E3 licences. It is totally crap that you have to pay extra for security, but both Microsoft and Google do it.
I was already set up on M365 and have my laptop connected to my “Work” account, and already had Defender, and Office installed on my Laptop. Get some help with this bit. I use Your IT - even though they are based in Brisbane they do things virtually and do a great job.
Note I have both GSuite and Microsoft 365 because I work for clients that have one or the other or both, and it’s important for me to work how my clients work. But for your business, you may have GSuite because GMail is the superior email solution but need M365 because you create complex documents in Word, or even the most simple but important spreadsheets that you really need Excel for rather than Google Sheets.
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/business-video/setup-overview?view=o365-worldwide
The video on this page seems simple, but it is completely overly simplistic.
The steps are:
I had already done 1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 8.
Step 1 to 3 - Basic Setup
First you buy the licence, and assign them and install the Office apps on your computer (or skip this step).
Next you get a whole heap of extra Admin centres in your M365… what next.
Step 4 - Threat Protection
“Then you’ll enable Threat Protection and Data Loss Protection”. What is this, and why do we need it, and how do we do it?
Protect you from clicking links or opening files that have malicious content.
So why isn’t that already what Defender on my Laptop is doing?
Ah, it is, it’s just that I already had Defender and Bitlocker with my Windows 10 Pro that came with my Surface device… this is just to give you Defender if you have bought a regular laptop from a regular retailer that is not Windows 10 Pro.
Defender is Microsoft Antivirus, Anti Malware and Anti Ransomware.
Bitlocker is encryption of your laptop contents.
“By default, you'll receive help with core protection against common online threats, but you can customize these settings later to fit your business needs.” And this is where it starts to get complex…
Step 6 - Windows 10 Pro
Ensuring all your laptops are Windows 10 Professional is pretty easy.
Step 7 - Connect your PC
This step is pretty easy too - just go into User Management and Add Work Account
Step 9 - Email and Files
I had to set up my One Drive linked to my business account on my PC. I only had One Drive for personal. It’s good to have them both there, separated like that.
Step 5 and 10 - Devices and Phones
“Securing and management of your computers and phones”