I believe this is solved:
Our supplier has confirmed that we do not (can not) assign licenses to the servers - we just need to ensure that we have purchased the correct amount.

Answer from Nick Fuller on learn.microsoft.com
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Microsoft Learn
learn.microsoft.com › en-us › defender-endpoint › onboard-server
Onboard servers through Microsoft Defender for Endpoint's onboarding experience - Microsoft Defender for Endpoint | Microsoft Learn
November 17, 2025 - Defender for Endpoint provides your security team with deeper insight into server activities, coverage for kernel and memory attack detection, and the ability to take response actions when necessary.
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BlueVoyant
bluevoyant.com › home › microsoft defender for endpoint: architecture, features, and plans
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint: Architecture, Features & Plans
December 1, 2022 - Protection and product updates—pushes updates of Microsoft Defender Antivirus to endpoints, even if it is working in passive mode. Supports distribution of updates through Windows Server Update Service (WSUS), Microsoft Endpoint Configuration ...
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Discussions

How to add Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Server license to servers
Hi, We have bought Window ATP for our servers. Now Microsoft has added Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Server licenses on our O365 portal. The servers doesn't have users in O365. How do I need to assign these licenses to our servers? More on learn.microsoft.com
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Defender For Servers/ Defender for Endpoint
User licenses only let you onboard user devices (5 per user), not servers. The usual way these days to get servers onboarded and licensed is to onboard them with Defender for Servers from the Azure portal. The cheaper plan (P1) provides you with MDE, P2 also has extra features. https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-cloud/plan-defender-for-servers-select-plan More on reddit.com
🌐 r/DefenderATP
10
2
March 22, 2024
Choosing between Defender for Endpoint and Defender for Server for servers with no internet connectivity
We are planning to migrate from Symantec® Endpoint Security to Microsoft, specifically looking for EDR and XDR features for our On Prem servers that have no connectivity to the internet. Should we use Defender for Endpoint or Defender for Servers? We are… More on learn.microsoft.com
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1
0
April 23, 2024
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Server if less than 50 users
You could always do the following Enroll the device into Azure using Arc Enable Azure Defender for Cloud on that device Defender for cloud costs $15 per month per device and includes a license for Defender for Endpoint on that server. https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/azure/defender-for-cloud/integration-defender-for-endpoint?tabs=windows More on reddit.com
🌐 r/Office365
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May 28, 2021
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Microsoft Community Hub
techcommunity.microsoft.com › microsoft community hub › communities › products › microsoft security › microsoft defender for endpoint › microsoft defender for endpoint
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint for Servers is Back | Microsoft Community Hub
August 15, 2023 - Last year Microsoft announced that they will stop the "Microsoft Defender for Endpoint for Servers" licenses and introduced "Microsoft Defender for Servers" that is licensed through an Azure Subscription.
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Microsoft Learn
learn.microsoft.com › en-us › azure › defender-for-cloud › defender-for-servers-overview
Overview of Defender for Servers in Defender for Cloud - Microsoft Defender for Cloud | Microsoft Learn
November 2, 2025 - Protect against threats in near real-time: Defender for Servers identifies and analyzes real-time threats and issues security alerts as needed. Get intelligent threat detection: Defender for Cloud evaluates events and detects threats using advanced security analytics and machine-learning technologies with multiple threat intelligence sources, including the Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC). Defender for Endpoint and Defender for Vulnerability Management integrate into Defender for Cloud.
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Microsoft
microsoft.com › en-us › security › business › endpoint-security › microsoft-defender-endpoint
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint | Microsoft Security
Offers all the capabilities of P1, plus exposure management, endpoint detection and response, automatic attack disruption, and cyberthreat and vulnerability management. ... This product is not available in your market. Includes everything in Defender for Endpoint P1, plus:
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Microsoft Learn
learn.microsoft.com › en-us › defender-endpoint › microsoft-defender-endpoint
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint - Microsoft Defender for Endpoint | Microsoft Learn
November 6, 2025 - Microsoft Defender for Endpoint is an enterprise endpoint security platform designed to help enterprises prevent, detect, investigate, and respond to advanced threats on their endpoints.
Find elsewhere
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YouTube
youtube.com › playlist
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint - YouTube
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, previously known as Microsoft Defender ATP.
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Microsoft Learn
learn.microsoft.com › en-us › defender-endpoint › gov
Microsoft Defender for Endpoint for US Government customers - Microsoft Defender for Endpoint | Microsoft Learn
October 23, 2025 - The following OS versions are supported when using Microsoft Defender for servers: If a proxy or firewall is blocking all traffic by default and allowing only specific domains through, add the domains listed in the downloadable sheet to the allowed domains list. ... You can use the streamlined connectivity feature to onboard new government devices to Defender for Endpoint, using a reduced URL set or static IP ranges.
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Microsoft Learn
learn.microsoft.com › en-us › defender-endpoint › azure-server-integration
Integration with Microsoft Defender for Cloud - Microsoft Defender for Endpoint | Microsoft Learn
March 27, 2025 - For more information on Microsoft Defender for Cloud onboarding, see Use the integrated Microsoft Defender for Endpoint license. ... The integration between Microsoft Defender for servers and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint has been expanded to support Windows Server 2019 and Azure Virtual ...
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Bytes
bytes.co.uk › info › news › microsoft-defender-servers-cheat-sheet-faq
Microsoft Defender for Servers Cheat Sheet & FAQ | Bytes
Microsoft Defender for Cloud provides a comprehensive suite of cloud protection technologies. Defender for Servers sits under the Cloud Workload Protection part of Defender for Cloud · Effectively, Defender for Cloud is a suite of multiple products, one of which is Defender for Servers. ... Whilst Defender for Endpoint is based on a user license, Defender for Servers operates on a per virtual machine (VM) model.
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Simon Angling
simonangling.com › home › defender for endpoint for servers vs defender for cloud server
Defender for Endpoint for Servers vs Defender for Cloud Server - Simon Angling
December 31, 2023 - Microsoft Defender for Endpoint ... are interested in servers and Defender for Endpoint for Servers is the equivalent of Microsoft Defender for Endpoint P2....
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Microsoft
jeffreyappel.nl › home › microsoft defender for endpoint series – onboard using defender for cloud – part3b
How to onboard Defender for Endpoint using Defender for Cloud
January 3, 2024 - Specific question or content idea part of Defender for Endpoint? Use the contact submission form and share the post ideas. Microsoft Defender for Cloud/ Defender for Servers is the way for onboarding Windows Servers in Defender for Endpoint.
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Microsoft 365
m365maps.com › files › Microsoft-Defender-for-Servers.htm
Microsoft Defender for Servers License Diagram
Microsoft Defender for Servers licensing diagram from the m365maps.com collection by Aaron Dinnage
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/defenderatp › defender for servers/ defender for endpoint
r/DefenderATP on Reddit: Defender For Servers/ Defender for Endpoint
March 22, 2024 -

Hi all, quick question.

With Defender for Endpoint we can onboard servers into the Defender portal using the onboarding package. Does anyone know how the licenses work for this? I've had a scope around the Microsoft documentation but can't see anything outright.

I'm guessing that if we have Defender for Endpoint capabilities then we can onboard as many servers we like. However I wouldn't put it past Microsoft to operate a ratio module, 1:10 for example

Cheers

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Microsoft Learn
learn.microsoft.com › en-us › defender-endpoint › configure-environment
Configure your network environment to ensure connectivity with Defender for Endpoint service - Microsoft Defender for Endpoint | Microsoft Learn
October 23, 2025 - Before you onboard devices to Defender for Endpoint, make sure your network is configured to connect to the service, by allowing outbound connection and bypassings HTTPS inspection for the service URLs. The first step of this process involves adding URLs to the allowed domains list if your proxy server ...
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Hi @milo last , Defender for Endpoint and Defender for Servers both provide endpoint protection, but they have different features and capabilities. Defender for Endpoint is a cloud-based solution that provides advanced endpoint protection, including endpoint detection and response (EDR) capabilities. It requires an internet connection to function properly. On the other hand, Defender for Servers is an on-premises solution that provides endpoint protection for servers. It does not require an internet connection to function properly.

If your servers have no connectivity to the internet, Defender for Servers would be the better choice for you. It provides endpoint protection for servers without requiring an internet connection. However, if you have some servers that can connect using a proxy, you can use Defender for Endpoint for those servers.

It's important to note that if you choose Defender for Servers, you will not have access to the advanced EDR capabilities provided by Defender for Endpoint. However, Defender for Servers does provide basic endpoint protection for servers, including antivirus and antimalware protection.

If you have servers with no internet connectivity, Defender for Servers would be the better choice for you. If you have some servers that can connect using a proxy, you can use Defender for Endpoint for those servers.

Please let me know if you have any questions and I can help you further.

If this answer helps you please mark "Accept Answer" so other users can reference it.

Thank you,

James

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Nerdio
getnerdio.com › home › glossary › microsoft defender for endpoint
Defender for Endpoint: Features and Comparisons
May 5, 2025 - By leveraging cloud-based security intelligence, machine learning, and artificial intelligence, Defender for Endpoint helps you proactively detect, investigate, and respond to threats targeting your devices, such as laptops, desktops, and servers.
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Microsoft Learn
learn.microsoft.com › en-us › defender-endpoint › microsoft-defender-antivirus-on-windows-server
Microsoft Defender Antivirus on Windows Server - Microsoft Defender for Endpoint | Microsoft Learn
October 22, 2025 - Applies to: Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Plan 1, Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Plan 2, Microsoft Defender Antivirus ... By default, Microsoft Defender Antivirus is installed and functional on Windows Server 2016 and later.