Microsoft to Offer Unlicensed Web Content Filtering in Defender ATP

In the future, Microsoft will implement Web Content Filtering in all versions of the Defender Advanced Threat Protection enterprise package. Users do not need to purchase an additional partner license for this.

Microsoft says in a blog post that it will continue to offer Web Content Filtering for Defender Advanced Threat Protection customers after the trial period. That will be free, apart from the costs for ATP.

Web Content Filtering is a feature that allows system administrators to set certain web usage policies for their organizations through Microsoft Defender ATP. This works via Network Protection in Chrome and Firefox, and via SmartScreen in Edge. Microsoft itself mentions the example of blocking certain types of websites on an entire network, for example, but other types only on specific groups.

Microsoft began a public beta of the service in late January. During that time, it emerged that users found it too expensive to implement the service, as it required a special partner license for Defender ATP. That’s why those licenses will no longer be needed in the future, Microsoft says.

Users could take a 60-day trial license during the preview period. Microsoft says that license will remain active even after the trial period ends. If users had a preview in the past, the policies will still be active. The feature will remain in beta for the time being, according to Microsoft.