Direct Answer
Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 1, Plan 2, and Sophos Email Advanced all protect law firms against email-based threats, but they differ in features, management, and cost.
Microsoft Defender Plan 1 costs $2 per user per month and focuses on prevention and detection. Plan 2 costs $5 per user per month and adds phishing simulations, threat hunting, automated investigation, and response capabilities.
The Microsoft prices are licensing costs. They do not include an IT technician to configure and manage the product for the law firm.
Sophos Email Advanced is often provided by IT companies as a managed service, so the price includes both the software license and technician management.
Why This Matters
Law firms regularly receive emails containing documents, links, invoices, payment requests, and confidential information. Phishing and Business Email Compromise can use these normal business activities to trick employees.
Email security should be evaluated on more than its ability to block spam.
Editor’s Insight
When comparing email security products, look at both the technology and who will manage it.
How Do Microsoft Defender Plan 1, Plan 2, and Sophos Email Advanced Compare?
1. Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 1
Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 costs $2 per user per month, paid yearly.
It includes:
- Anti-phishing and impersonation protection
- Safe Links
- Safe Attachments
- Protection against zero-day malware
- Real-time detections
Plan 1 provides protection against phishing, malware, malicious links, attachments, and Business Email Compromise.
It does not include the advanced investigation, automation, or phishing-simulation tools included with Plan 2.
The $2 price is for the software license. Someone still needs to configure policies, review security information, manage quarantined messages, and respond to incidents. Microsoft’s deployment guidance includes these administrative responsibilities.
2. Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 2
Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 2 costs $5 per user per month, paid yearly.
It includes everything in Plan 1, plus:
- Phishing simulations and employee security-awareness training
- Threat Explorer
- Threat Trackers
- Campaign analysis
- Advanced threat hunting
- Automated Investigation and Response
These tools give administrators additional capabilities to investigate attacks, identify affected users and messages, and respond to security incidents.
As with Plan 1, the $5 price is for the software license. The firm still needs qualified internal staff or an IT company to configure and manage it.
3. Sophos Email Advanced
Sophos Email Advanced costs $10 per user per month through Avenue M, including the software license and management by Avenue M technicians.
It includes:
- Anti-phishing protection
- Impersonation and Business Email Compromise protection
- Malicious link protection
- Malicious attachment protection
- Email authentication and policy controls
- Phishing simulations and employee security-awareness training
Sophos Email Advanced through Avenue M combines email protection and phishing training with technician management.
The $10 price therefore includes more than the software license. Avenue M technicians also configure and manage the service.
| Option | Price per User/Month | Technician Management Included |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Defender Plan 1 | $2 | No |
| Microsoft Defender Plan 2 | $5 | No |
| Sophos Email Advanced through Avenue M | $10 | Yes |
Which Option Fits the Firm's Needs?
The three choices address different requirements.
Defender Plan 1 provides advanced email protection at the lowest licensing cost.
Defender Plan 2 adds phishing simulations, investigation, threat hunting, and automated response capabilities.
Sophos Email Advanced through Avenue M combines advanced email protection and phishing training with technician management.
A law firm should consider not only the subscription price, but also whether it has someone responsible for configuring, monitoring, and responding to the security system.
Two Questions We Hear
Is Microsoft Defender for Office 365 automatically managed by Microsoft?
Microsoft operates and maintains the Defender platform, but purchasing the license does not provide the law firm with a dedicated technician who manages its security settings, alerts, quarantines, and incidents.
The firm needs qualified internal staff or an IT provider to perform those responsibilities. Microsoft’s deployment documentation assigns configuration, permissions, investigation, and response tasks to administrators and security personnel.
Does advanced email security eliminate the need for employee training?
No.
Email security can block many malicious messages, but no filtering system should be expected to stop every phishing attempt.
Employees still need to recognize suspicious messages and calendar events, fraudulent payment requests, impersonation attempts, and other forms of social engineering.
Four Key Takeaways
- Microsoft Defender Plan 1 costs $2 per user per month and provides advanced email threat protection.
- Microsoft Defender Plan 2 costs $5 per user per month and adds phishing simulations, investigation, threat hunting, and automated response.
- Sophos Email Advanced through Avenue M costs $10 per user per month and includes both the software license and technician management.
- Microsoft's published prices are software licensing costs and do not include an IT technician to manage Defender for the law firm.
Related Articles
- What Is Business Email Compromise (BEC), and How Can Law Firms Prevent It?
- What Is SIEM, and Why Do Law Firms Need It?
- How Often Should Law Firms Conduct Cybersecurity Awareness Training?
- How Should Law Firms Prepare for Cyber Insurance Questionnaires?
- What Cybersecurity Requirements Should NY and NJ Law Firms Meet?
Technology should help your law firm practice law more securely, efficiently, and confidently, not become another distraction.
