- Agent 365 features matched to the problem
- The registry and the agents map
- Lifecycle rules and governance cards
- The security tools it plugs into
- Who can approve agents
- Why the first dashboard looks thin
- Agent 365 price vs Microsoft 365 E7
- Setting up Agent 365: the first steps
- Do you need Agent 365?
- Frequently asked questions
Microsoft Agent 365 is a control plane for IT and security leaders to manage the AI agents in their organisation. It keeps a registry of every agent, shows how they perform, sets lifecycle rules and applies Microsoft's security tools to them. It's $15.00 per user per month paid yearly, or included in Microsoft 365 E7, as of October 2026.
Control plane is jargon for the place you manage things from, rather than the place the work happens. Agent 365 doesn't build agents. It's how you keep track of the ones already built, by Microsoft, by partners and by your own people, before nobody can say how many exist or who owns them.
Agent 365 features matched to the problem
| What you need | Agent 365 feature |
|---|---|
| Know which agents exist | Registry and agents map |
| Prove agents are worth it | Agent analytics, including ROI |
| Stop agents piling up | Lifecycle rules |
| Control who and what gets access | Access control through Entra |
| Stop data leaking | Data security through Purview |
| Block threats | Threat protection through Defender |
The registry and the agents map
The registry lists all your agents: Microsoft's, partners' and any you register yourself. The agents map shows them together so you can see what's running. On the admin overview, Microsoft shows the registry count, active users over the last 30 days, agent run-time measured in hours worked, and registry sync for external platforms, so agents built elsewhere can sit alongside Microsoft's.
Agent analytics then report on performance, speed, quality, business impact and ROI. That last one is the figure your finance team will ask for, and it's rare to get it from the tool that runs the agent.
Lifecycle rules and governance cards
This is where Agent 365 earns its keep. Lifecycle rules can expire inactive agents, flag agents without an owner and block risky ones. Onboarding workflows come with security policy templates, and activity is audited and logged.
The admin overview turns this into four governance cards: pending agent requests, agents without owners, agents at risk and agents with exceptions. If you've ever found a shared mailbox nobody owns, you'll understand why ownerless agents get a card of their own.
The security tools it plugs into
- Microsoft Entra for access control, including conditional access for agents.
- Microsoft Purview for data security.
- Microsoft Defender for threat protection.
- Microsoft Intune policies.
If you already use these for people and devices, Agent 365 brings agents under the same controls rather than asking you to learn a separate set of tools.
Who can approve agents
Only two admin roles can approve agent requests and assign ownership: AI Administrator and Global Administrator. Other roles can monitor what's happening but can't act on it. That split is handy: someone in security can watch the agents at risk card day to day without being able to wave a new agent through. Before you switch Agent 365 on, decide who'll hold the AI Administrator role, or every approval will queue up behind your Global Administrator, who usually has plenty else to do.
Why the first dashboard looks thin
For third-party agents, metrics start when your organisation activates its Agent 365 licences. So your first reports cover fewer than 30 days, and an agent that's been running for a year will look brand new. Don't judge ROI from the first month's numbers.
Agent 365 price vs Microsoft 365 E7
| Option | Price as of October 2026 | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Agent 365 | $15.00 per user per month, paid yearly | The agent control plane, on an annual commitment |
| Microsoft 365 E7 | $99.00 per user per month, paid yearly | Microsoft Copilot and Agent 365, on an annual commitment |
Both are US list prices from Microsoft's Agent 365 page. E7 only makes sense if you're buying Copilot for the same people anyway.
Setting up Agent 365: the first steps
- Give the AI Administrator role to whoever will own agent approvals.
- Activate your Agent 365 licences, either on their own or through Microsoft 365 E7.
- Open the registry and agents map to see which agents already exist.
- Work through the governance cards, starting with agents without owners.
- Set lifecycle rules to expire inactive agents and block risky ones.
- Review agent analytics after a full 30 days, once third-party data has caught up.
Most of the agents you'll govern start life in Copilot Studio or come from partners. If you're a small business still choosing your first one, my list of the best AI agents for small business is a better starting point than governance.
Want AI doing the heavy lifting in your marketing?
I build the systems that handle the boring 80 percent, so you get your week back. Done properly, with the human kept in.
Do you need Agent 365?
If your team runs a couple of agents, you don't need it yet; a shared list of who owns what will do. Once agents are being built across departments and nobody can say how many exist, Agent 365 is the tool built for exactly that problem. Sort out the AI Administrator role first, give it a full month before you judge the analytics, and only look at E7 if Copilot for everyone is already on the table.
Governance works best when people know how to build and use agents well in the first place. I run AI training and workshops for teams, and help businesses with AI enablement, AI automation and GEO, which is about getting your business seen and cited in AI answers. Most of that work is with SaaS marketing teams, telecom companies and small businesses. Here's how we can work together.
Frequently asked questions
What is Microsoft Agent 365?
Agent 365 is Microsoft's control plane for IT and security leaders to manage AI agents. It includes an agent registry, an agents map, analytics, lifecycle rules, audit and logging, and security through Entra, Purview, Defender and Intune.
How much does Agent 365 cost?
Microsoft lists Agent 365 at $15.00 per user per month paid yearly, on an annual commitment, as of October 2026. It's also included in Microsoft 365 E7 at $99.00 per user per month paid yearly.
Who can approve agents in Agent 365?
Only the AI Administrator and Global Administrator roles can approve agent requests and assign ownership. Other roles can monitor but can't act.
Does Agent 365 manage third-party agents?
Yes. The registry covers Microsoft, partner and registered agents, and registry sync brings in external platforms. Metrics for third-party agents start when your organisation activates Agent 365 licences.
What are the governance cards in Agent 365?
The admin overview shows four governance cards: pending agent requests, agents without owners, agents at risk and agents with exceptions.
Is Agent 365 included in Microsoft 365 E7?
Yes. Microsoft says Microsoft 365 E7 includes Microsoft Copilot and Agent 365.
