Is the upgrade to Microsoft 365 Business Premium worth it for a small team?

Question

We are currently looking at Microsoft 365 for our company. I understand that Business Standard has all the core productivity apps (Word, Excel, Teams, etc.), but I'm trying to figure out if Business Premium is worth the extra cost per user

I see that Premium adds things like Microsoft Defender for Business and Intune. For those of you managing a small or medium business, did you find that those extra security and device management features were strictly necessary, or is Business Standard usually enough for a simpler setup?

Answer 1

Hi Jane E

Whether Microsoft 365 Business Premium is worth the additional cost depends mainly on your security and device management requirements.

Business Standard includes the core productivity tools most small businesses need, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Exchange Online, OneDrive, and SharePoint. If your team has a straightforward setup and does not need centralized device management or advanced security controls, Business Standard may be sufficient.

Business Premium includes all Business Standard features and adds Microsoft Intune, Microsoft Defender for Business, Microsoft Entra ID capabilities, and additional security protections. These features can help organizations manage company devices, apply security policies, protect against phishing and malware, and control access to company data.

For a small business, Business Premium is generally worth considering if you:

• Manage company laptops or mobile devices.
• Have remote or hybrid workers.
• Need stronger security and access controls.
• Want centralized device and application management.

If your organization primarily needs productivity applications and collaboration tools with minimal IT management requirements, Business Standard may be enough.

In short, Business Standard focuses on productivity, while Business Premium adds security and device management capabilities. The better choice depends on how important those additional protections and management features are for your organization.

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