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5.2. Quick Reference: Key Comparisons and Decision Rules
Admin Center Decision Table
| Task | Admin Center |
|---|---|
| Create a user account | Microsoft 365 admin center |
| Assign a license | Microsoft 365 admin center |
| Configure a distribution list | Exchange Online admin center |
| Configure anti-phishing policy | Microsoft Defender portal |
| Configure Safe Links | Microsoft Defender portal |
| Create a SharePoint site | SharePoint admin center |
| Restrict external sharing org-wide | SharePoint admin center |
| Configure Teams meeting policies | Teams admin center |
| Configure Conditional Access | Microsoft Entra admin center |
| Configure PIM | Microsoft Entra admin center |
| Create sensitivity labels | Microsoft Purview |
| Create DLP policies | Microsoft Purview |
| Run eDiscovery search | Microsoft Purview |
| Monitor Copilot adoption | Microsoft 365 admin center (Copilot Analytics) |
| Monitor agent usage metrics | Power Platform admin center |
| Configure pay-as-you-go billing | Microsoft 365 admin center |
Purview Tool Decision Table
| Scenario | Use This Tool |
|---|---|
| Prevent SSN from being emailed externally | DLP |
| Encrypt a document and restrict who can open it | Sensitivity label |
| Detect a user downloading 500 files before resigning | Insider Risk Management |
| Monitor executives' Teams messages for inappropriate conduct | Communication Compliance |
| Find all emails about a lawsuit for legal review | eDiscovery (Content Search + holds) |
| See what sensitive data exists in your tenant | Data Explorer |
| Measure compliance against GDPR framework | Compliance Manager |
| Discover what Copilot is doing with sensitive files | DSPM for AI |
| See when a sensitivity label was removed from a file | Activity Explorer |
| Prevent files from being permanently deleted for 5 years | Retention label or retention policy |
Zero Trust vs. MFA
| MFA Only | Zero Trust | |
|---|---|---|
| Verifies identity | ✅ | ✅ |
| Checks device compliance | ❌ | ✅ |
| Evaluates location/context | ❌ | ✅ |
| Enforces least privilege | ❌ | ✅ |
| Monitors continuously | ❌ | ✅ |
| Assumes breach design | ❌ | ✅ |
Copilot Licensing Comparison
| M365 Copilot Per-User License | Pay-as-You-Go | |
|---|---|---|
| Billing model | Flat monthly per user | Per message/action |
| Azure subscription required | ❌ | ✅ |
| Covers Word, Excel, Teams, Outlook | ✅ | ❌ |
| Covers SharePoint Copilot | ❌ | ✅ |
| Best for | Heavy daily users | Occasional / pilot use |
Written byAlvin Varughese
Founder•15 professional certifications