License & Subscription Issues

Fix Microsoft Defender for Office 365 P1 Missing from Secure Score

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is experiencing an issue where Microsoft Secure Score reports that the Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 license is missing, even though their organization appears to possess the correct licenses.

Product: Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 1
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Reviewing security posture and license entitlements via the Microsoft Secure Score dashboard.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Secure Score falsely indicates that the Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 license is missing, despite two organizations showing identical subscription details.

Before you start

Ensure you are logged into the Microsoft 365 admin center with Global Administrator or Billing Administrator privileges to properly view and verify license SKUs.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify Exact License SKUs and Assigned Services

Subscriptions that appear identical may have different underlying entitlements. You must check the exact service plans included in the license SKU for each tenant.

Microsoft Secure Score relies on specific service plans being active within a tenant. Sometimes, a bundled subscription in one tenant might not include the exact Defender for Office 365 P1 entitlement as a similarly named bundle in another tenant.

Access the Microsoft 365 Admin Center

Navigate to Billing Licenses

On the left-hand menu, expand the Billing section and click on Licenses.

Review Service Plans

Click on the specific subscription in question. Scroll down to the 'Service plan details' to verify if 'Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 1' is explicitly listed and active.

Check User Assignments

Ensure that the license containing the Defender P1 service plan is properly assigned to the users in the organization.

Update Delay: Keep in mind that Microsoft Secure Score can take 24 to 48 hours to update and reflect recent licensing changes.

Solution 2

Contact Microsoft Licensing Support

If you have confirmed that the correct SKU and service plans are active but Secure Score still reports the license as missing, escalate the issue to official support.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Secure Score take so long to update my new licenses?

Microsoft Secure Score is not a real-time dashboard. It aggregates data across various services and typically takes 24 to 48 hours to accurately reflect newly assigned licenses or security configuration changes.

Is Microsoft Defender for Office 365 P1 included in Microsoft 365 Business Premium?

Microsoft 365 Business Premium includes Microsoft Defender for Business (endpoint protection) and Defender for Office 365 Plan 1. However, older legacy bundles or differently sourced SKUs might vary, so it is crucial to check the specific service plans in your admin center.

Can I buy Microsoft Defender for Office 365 P1 as a standalone license?

Yes, if your base Microsoft 365 or Office 365 subscription does not include Defender for Office 365 P1, you can purchase it as a standalone add-on license and assign it to your users.

Why would two identical-looking subscriptions have different entitlements?

Microsoft frequently updates subscription bundles and features. An organization that purchased a subscription recently might be on a different underlying SKU or updated service plan than an organization that purchased a seemingly identical subscription years ago.

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