Microsoft 365 licensing is not hard because there are no options. It is hard because too many options look similar until you need one specific feature. This guide gives you an interactive decision builder, a feature matrix mapped to licence tiers, persona-based licensing models, security and compliance licensing tables, Copilot readiness guidance, an add-ons vs E5 decision framework, and the practical advice you need to stop guessing and start making licensing decisions you can defend.

Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 is being added to Office 365 E3 and Microsoft 365 E3 with the July 2026 update. This article explains what you actually get, what still belongs to Plan 2, and the key settings to configure so the licence becomes real protection.