Microsoft has a range of different plans for Microsoft 365, its suite of business essentials, including Business Standard and Business Premium. Both plans offer an array of tools designed to boost productivity, but Business Premium includes a lot of additional features including advanced security and device management. When deciding between these options, consider Microsoft 365 Business Standard vs Premium.
The Business Standard plan is excellent for small-to-medium businesses that require essential productivity tools like Word, Excel and Outlook, plus collaboration platforms like Microsoft Teams. If your organisation prioritises robust security and comprehensive device management, then Business Premium offers greater cyber threat protection. Consider these factors in the context of Microsoft 365 Business Standard vs Premium.
Evaluating your business needs and priorities is key when selecting a plan. Consider the importance of advanced security features versus cost, and how each plan aligns with your operational goals. Knowing the right plan ensures you get the best support and tools for your business needs.
Understanding Microsoft 365 business plans
Key Differences: Microsoft 365 Business Standard vs Premium
Microsoft 365 offers different plans tailored to your business needs. Business Apps, Business Basic, Business Standard and Business Premium provide a range of services from essential tools to advanced options for security and management. Choosing the right plan depends on the specific needs of your business, including security and device management.
Overview of Apps for Business, Business Basic, Standard and Premium
At the most basic level, Microsoft 365 Apps for Business comes with cloud and desktop versions of Microsoft’s flagship productivity apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and cloud storage platform OneDrive. Users receive 1TB of free file storage through OneDrive.
Business Basic gives you access to these apps on web and mobile phones only, plus services including communication tool Microsoft Teams and collaboration platform Microsoft SharePoint. This plan is designed for companies that need basic tools without desktop versions.
Business Standard includes everything in Business Basic and adds desktop and mobile versions of Office apps. It comes with a custom business email and other business apps, including project tool Microsoft Loop and video-editing software Clipchamp, making it suitable for businesses looking for more features.
When comparing Microsoft 365 Business Standard vs Premium, it’s essential to evaluate the additional features offered by each plan, ensuring you select the one that best fits your organisational needs.
Business Premium builds on the Standard plan with enhanced security, advanced device management and additional features to protect your company’s data. These security features include advanced identity and access management, better protection against viruses and phishing attacks and endpoint protection. It’s ideal for businesses that need robust security on both company and mobile devices.
Users can choose to include Microsoft Copilot AI as an add-on with all plans.
Key features of Business Standard
When you opt for Microsoft 365 Business Standard, you get access to desktop and mobile versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. This plan supports seamless working across different devices, which is great for a mobile workforce.
A standout feature is the custom business email, which provides professional-grade email hosting. You also get Microsoft Teams, making collaboration straightforward regardless of where your team is located.
Key features of Business Premium
Business Premium incorporates everything that the Standard plan offers, alongside added advanced features that help you safeguard your business. It includes enhanced security features like advanced threat protection and identity management. This is the key difference between the two plans.
The plan allows for robust device management through tools like Intune, giving you control over desktop and mobile devices. This helps in protecting company data when accessing from any location.
Additionally, Business Premium has the functionalities for remotely wiping company devices and supports secure cloud-based services. It is particularly beneficial for businesses that handle sensitive information and require additional layers of security.
Additionally, understanding the implications of Microsoft 365 Business Standard vs Premium can help businesses make informed decisions regarding their cybersecurity needs.
When it comes to the current cyberthreat landscape, no business can afford to ignore cybersecurity. Microsoft is established as a leader in cybersecurity, so you can trust in its advanced features that come as part of Microsoft 365 Business Premium.
Comparing cost and value
Choosing between Microsoft 365 Business Standard vs Premium ultimately boils down to your business needs and the value you receive in return. Understanding the subscription fees and the potential for return on investment helps you make an informed decision regarding Microsoft 365 Business Standard vs Premium.
Subscription fees and commitments
When choosing a subscription, you need to consider the fees involved. Here are the current prices for all Microsoft 365 plans:
- Microsoft 365 Apps for Business: £8.10 per user per month.
- Microsoft 365 Business Basic: £4.60 per user per month.
- Microsoft 365 Business Standard: £9.60 per user per month
- Microsoft 365 Business Premium: £16.90 per user per month.
Assessing return on investment
Evaluating the return on investment involves looking at the features included in each plan and how they align with your business needs. Business Premium offers additional security features like Microsoft Defender and Microsoft Purview, which justify its higher cost if advanced security is a priority.
Overall, the decision between Microsoft 365 Business Standard vs Premium should reflect your business’s unique requirements.
Consider how the tools in your chosen plan can benefit your company in the long run. For example, if these services improve productivity or reduce IT management challenges, they can offer significant value. Calculating this return on investment not only helps justify current expenses but also aids in future planning to ensure you’re getting the most from your subscription.
When evaluating your options, keep in mind the differences between Microsoft 365 Business Standard vs Premium to ensure you select the best fit for your organisation.
Security and compliance features
Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Business Premium offer distinct security and compliance capabilities. Business Standard provides basic protection, while Business Premium offers enhanced features for those needing advanced security.
Standard vs advanced security measures
With Business Standard, you receive standard security features like Exchange Online Protection that provides spam and malware filtering in emails. It includes standard identity and access management, giving you essential protection.
Business Premium, on the other hand, provides robust security options like Microsoft Defender. This targets sophisticated threats such as phishing and ransomware. You gain advanced tools for conditional access, controlling who accesses your data and when. Additionally, you get mobile application management and endpoint protection to secure devices connecting to your business network.
For those looking for more advanced security measures, Business Premium enhances user management and offers advanced email protection that goes beyond Business Standard.
Compliance and data protection
Business Standard equips you with fundamental compliance features, including cloud storage that allows secure storage of files. It comes with basic anti-spam, anti-phishing and anti-malware capabilities.
In contrast, Business Premium ups the ante with advanced protection for your data, including the rights management service. This helps protect sensitive information from unauthorised access.
The tier also includes advanced cyberthreat protection capabilities, providing an extra layer of defence against potential data breaches. Business Premium delivers better tools for device management, ensuring that your business remains compliant and your data stays secure.
When comparing these two options, consider your specific needs for protection and compliance to choose the best plan for your business.
Additional business tools and support
Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Premium both provide a range of tools and support designed to enhance productivity. Business Premium, however, includes several advanced features that bolster security and management capabilities.
Collaborative and productivity tools
Both Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Premium offer a suite of cloud services that includes essential applications like Word, Excel and PowerPoint. These apps are available as both desktop client apps and downloadable office apps, allowing you to work seamlessly whether you’re online or offline.
Managing devices and mobile access
For optimal results, consider the features of Microsoft 365 Business Standard vs Premium and how they align with your specific business requirements.
For device management, Business Premium shines with its mobile device management capabilities. You get enhanced control over both company-owned and personal devices. This includes device management capabilities such as settings, security and application access through platforms like Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory).
Business Premium allows for advanced identity and access controls, making it easier to protect sensitive data across various devices. Secure cloud services ensure that your data is safe within the Microsoft ecosystem, offering the flexibility to work remotely with confidence.
The BITSmart verdict
When comparing Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Premium, the clear winner is Business Premium. We can’t overstate the importance of cybersecurity – global cyber-attacks doubled between 2020 and 2024. Now, with AI permeating nearly every area of our lives, we’re seeing AI-driven cyber-attacks in addition to those launched by cybercriminals.
Businesses who are in the early stages of their journey would find Microsoft 365 Business Standard an excellent starting point, with all the productivity tools that millions of businesses rely on. It’s useful until you build up enough capital to move up to Microsoft Business Premium. Businesses who already have cybersecurity protection in place from other providers may also prefer Business Standard.
But for any business that wants to protect its data and prevent many different types of cyber-attacks, Microsoft 365 Business Premium stands head and shoulders above other Microsoft 365 subscription options.
Frequently asked questions
Choosing between Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Business Premium depends on your needs, especially regarding extra features, costs, security, collaboration and benefits for small businesses. Each package offers unique advantages tailored to different business requirements.
What additional features does Business Premium offer over Business Standard?
Business Premium includes several advanced services not found in Business Standard. This includes Microsoft Entra ID (formerly Azure Active Directory), Intune for mobile device management and enhanced security features. These components help businesses manage operations more efficiently.
What are the cost implications of upgrading from Business Standard to Business Premium?
Business Premium is more expensive than Business Standard at £16.90 compared to Business Standard’s price of £9.60 per user, per month. The higher price reflects the additional features and enhanced security measures it includes. This makes it a suitable choice for businesses requiring more comprehensive services.
How does the security in Business Premium compare to Business Standard?
Business Premium provides superior security features. It offers more robust protection against threats like malware and spam. Enhanced security tools ensure that businesses’ sensitive data remains secure. This may be essential for those needing higher security assurance.
What are the collaboration benefits of Business Premium compared to Business Standard?
Business Premium includes advanced collaboration tools, which can improve workflow efficiency. These tools support better teamwork and coordination. With these features, teams can collaborate seamlessly, whether working remotely or in-office.
