Note
We’ve renamed Microsoft Cloud App Security. It’s now called Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps. In the coming weeks, we’ll update the screenshots and instructions here and in related pages. For more information about the change, see this announcement. To learn more about the recent renaming of Microsoft security services, see the Microsoft Ignite Security blog.
This article describes the differences between Defender for Cloud Apps and Office 365 Cloud App Security.
For information about licensing, see the Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps licensing datasheet.
Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps
Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps is a comprehensive cross-SaaS solution bringing deep visibility, strong data controls, and enhanced threat protection to your cloud apps. With this service, you can gain visibility into Shadow IT by discovering cloud apps in use. You can control and protect data in the apps once you sanction them to the service.
Office 365 Cloud App Security
Office 365 Cloud App Security is a subset of Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps that provides enhanced visibility and control for Office 365. Office 365 Cloud App Security includes threat detection based on user activity logs, discovery of Shadow IT for apps that have similar functionality to Office 365 offerings, control app permissions to Office 365, and apply access and session controls.
Feature support
| Capability | Feature | Microsoft Defender for Cloud Apps | Office 365 Cloud App Security |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cloud Discovery | Discovered apps | 20,000 + cloud apps | 750+ cloud apps with similar functionality to Office 365 |
| Deployment for discovery analysis |
|
Manual log upload | |
| Log anonymization for user privacy | Yes | ||
| Access to full Cloud App Catalog | Yes | ||
| Cloud app risk assessment | Yes | ||
| Cloud usage analytics per app, user, IP address | Yes | ||
| Ongoing analytics & reporting | Yes | ||
| Anomaly detection for discovered apps | Yes | ||
| Information Protection | Data Loss Prevention (DLP) support | Cross-SaaS DLP and data sharing control | Uses existing Office DLP (available in Office E3 and above) |
| App permissions and ability to revoke access | Yes | Yes | |
| Policy setting and enforcement | Yes | ||
| Integration with Azure Information Protection | Yes | ||
| Integration with third-party DLP solutions | Yes | ||
| Threat Detection | Anomaly detection and behavioral analytics | For Cross-SaaS apps including Office 365 | For Office 365 apps |
| Manual and automatic alert remediation | Yes | Yes | |
| SIEM connector | Yes. Alerts and activity logs for cross-SaaS apps. | For Office 365 alerts only | |
| Integration to Microsoft Intelligent Security Graph | Yes | Yes | |
| Activity policies | Yes | Yes | |
| Conditional Access App Control | Real-time session monitoring and control | Any cloud and on-premises app | For Office 365 apps |
| Cloud Platform Security | Security configurations | For Azure, AWS, and GCP | For Azure |