How much does small-business endpoint protection cost?
Price the complete service you need: endpoint licenses, any server licenses, deployment and ongoing operations. As one dated reference, Microsoft’s US page lists Defender for Business at $3 per user per month, paid yearly, on an annual auto-renewing subscription. That is a license price, not an all-in security-service quote.
A transparent 20-user example
At the observed US list price, 20 user licenses work out to $60 per month on an annualized basis, or $720 for a year. This is arithmetic for a fictional team, before tax, server add-ons, implementation or management. The page was checked November 14, 2026; confirm current checkout and renewal terms.
On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to see every column.
| Line item | Illustrative calculation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 20 user licenses | 20 × $3 × 12 = $720/year | Annual license-only illustration |
| Servers | Separate quote | Not included in the $720 |
| Deployment | Separate quote or internal time | Enrollment and policy setup |
| Monitoring / response | Separate scope and quote | Work performed by staff or a service |
Source: Microsoft US: Defender for Business plans and pricing
Avoid paying twice for an entitlement
Microsoft’s documentation says Defender for Business is included in Business Premium as well as sold standalone. If your team already has that plan, check the existing entitlement before adding another standalone order. This does not mean that implementation or a managed service is already paid for.
How should you compare two quotes?
Ask suppliers to use the same inventory and service boundary. Separate a one-time setup fee from recurring charges, and record the billing unit: user, device, server or another measure. Then record minimum commitments, cancellation and renewal terms.
If one quote includes human investigation and another contains only a license, show that difference explicitly. A lower line-item price cannot settle the comparison until the work included is matched.
Example: an internal labor estimate
Suppose your administrator estimates three hours a month of routine management. Keep that estimate as its own line using your own loaded hourly cost. It is not a vendor fee or an industry benchmark, and it should not disappear simply because software is inexpensive.
For now, we have one dated public price anchor, not a verified market-wide price range. Use the worksheet to request comparable offers and keep all unquoted items visibly open.