eval-defender-office-365-overview.md

title	description	search.appverid	ms.service	f1.keywords	ms.author	author	ms.localizationpriority	manager	audience	ms.collection	ms.topic	ms.date
Step 3. Evaluate Microsoft Defender for Office 365 overview	Use this overview to learn the steps to set up an MDO pilot, including requirements, enabling or activating the eval, and setting up the pilot.	met150	defender-xdr	NOCSH	dansimp	dansimp	medium	dansimp	ITPro	m365-security m365solution-scenario m365solution-evalutatemtp zerotrust-solution highpri tier1	conceptual	05/27/2021

Step 3. Enable and pilot Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Applies to:

• Microsoft Defender XDR

This article outlines the process to enable and pilot Microsoft Defender for Office 365. Before starting this process, be sure you've reviewed the overall process for evaluating Microsoft Defender XDR, and you've created the Microsoft Defender XDR evaluation environment.

Use the following steps to enable and pilot Microsoft Defender for Office 365.

:::image type="content" source="/defender/media/defender/m365-defender-office-eval-steps.png" alt-text="The steps for adding Microsoft Defender for Office to the Microsoft Defender evaluation environment." lightbox="/defender/media/defender/m365-defender-office-eval-steps.png":::

The following table describes the steps in the illustration.

Step number	Link	Description
1	Review architecture requirements and key concepts	Understand the Defender for Office architecture and be sure your Exchange Online environment meets the architecture prerequisites.
2	Enable the evaluation environment	Follow the steps to set up the evaluation environment.
3	Set up the pilot	Create pilot groups, configure protection, and become familiar with key features and dashboards.
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