As cloud technologies evolve, safeguarding them is imperative for ensuring a secure and reliable digital environment. Microsoft has been at the forefront of providing robust security solutions, and one such offering is the Microsoft Defender for Cloud. The platform has seen significant updates, enriching its capabilities to provide an encompassing shield for your cloud resources.
This post will delve into the new features of Microsoft Defender for Cloud, guiding you on connecting your Azure subscriptions and exploring the pricing options available.
Discover the New Features
Microsoft has rolled out several enhancements to the Defender for Cloud, aiming to offer a cloud-native application protection platform (CNAPP) that encapsulates a suite of security measures. You can learn about these updates on the release notes page provided by Microsoft. The platform now includes:
- Development Security Operations (DevSecOps) solution for unified security management across multicloud and multiple-pipeline environments.
- Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) solution to help you prevent breaches by surfacing actionable recommendations.
- Cloud Workload Protection Platform (CWPP) provides specific protections for your servers, containers, storage, databases, and other workloads.
Connecting Your Azure Subscriptions
Connecting your Azure subscriptions is the first step to leverage the Defender for Cloud. A comprehensive guide on how to connect your Azure subscription is available to walk you through the process. By following the guide, you will learn how to enable Defender for Cloud on your Azure subscription, allowing you to take advantage of the basic features provided by the platform.
Delving Into Pricing
Regarding pricing, Microsoft has structured the Defender for Cloud to include a foundational CSPM plan for free, with additional paid plans to cover all aspects of your cloud resources. To understand the costs associated with these plans, you can visit the Defender for Cloud pricing page.
Enabling Advanced Features
Once you have the Defender for Cloud-enabled on your subscription, you can opt for additional paid plans to activate advanced protections for the workloads you wish to secure. The procedure involves signing into the Azure portal, navigating to the Defender for Cloud menu, and selecting the Environment settings to enable all the plans for Defender for Cloud on your desired subscription or workspace.
Conclusion
Microsoft Defender for Cloud emerges as a potent tool in your security arsenal, providing a comprehensive suite of protections for your cloud-based resources. With the new upgrades and a structured pathway to connect your Azure subscriptions and understand the pricing, embarking on a secure cloud journey has never been easier.
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