Microsoft 365 Business Plans: What’s Included?
- Office Apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams.
- Cloud Storage: 1 TB OneDrive storage for each user.
- Email Services: Business email hosting with custom domains.
- Team Collaboration: Microsoft Teams for meetings and file sharing.
- Security Tools: Advanced threat protection and data encryption.
- Device Management: Features for securing and managing devices.
- Regular Updates: Access to the latest app updates and features.
Microsoft 365 Business Plans: What’s Included?
Microsoft 365 has become a staple for small to medium-sized businesses seeking a comprehensive suite of productivity, collaboration, and security tools.
These plans are designed to meet the needs of organizations with up to 300 users, and they offer varying levels of functionality to cater to different business requirements.
This article will examine the main Microsoft 365 Business plans, their features, and how they can support your organization’s operations.
Microsoft 365 Business Basic: Core Services at a Great Price
The Microsoft 365 Business Basic plan is the entry-level option, offering essential cloud-based tools at an affordable price. It’s ideal for businesses just starting with Microsoft’s suite of products, especially those that rely heavily on web-based applications rather than desktop versions.
Core Services
- Exchange Online: Get business-class email hosting with a 50 GB mailbox per user. This service provides a professional email address and essential functionality for managing communications.
- SharePoint Online enables the creation of intranets and team sites, helping employees share and collaborate on documents and files.
- OneDrive for Business: Provides 1 TB of personal cloud storage per user, allowing team members to store, access, and share files securely from anywhere.
Productivity Apps
- Web and Mobile Versions of Office Apps: Access essential Office apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook via web and mobile versions. While you don’t get the full desktop versions, these options suit those on the go or working from multiple devices.
- Microsoft Teams: Teams allows you to communicate in one place through chat, calls, meetings, and collaboration on files and documents.
Security and Compliance
- Exchange Online Protection: Filters out spam and malware, ensuring your email communication is secure.
- Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Helps protect sensitive information in emails and files, reducing the risk of data leaks.
- Multi-factor Authentication: Adds an extra layer of security to user accounts, helping protect against unauthorized access.
Additional Features
- Microsoft Forms: You can create surveys and quizzes for customer feedback or employee assessments.
- Microsoft Planner: A simple task and project management tool to help teams stay organized.
- Microsoft Bookings: A web-based tool for scheduling appointments, perfect for businesses that need to manage client bookings.
Business Basic is perfect for businesses that rely mostly on cloud-based tools and don’t need full desktop versions of Office apps. It’s a low-cost option for businesses starting to build their productivity infrastructure.
Microsoft 365 Business Standard: Comprehensive Productivity Tools
The Microsoft 365 Business Standard plan is a step up from Business Basic. It includes all the features of Business Basic, full desktop versions of Office apps, and a wider range of business tools. It’s perfect for organizations that need more robust functionality and greater flexibility.
Everything in Business Basic, Plus:
Desktop Applications
- Full Desktop Versions of Office Apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher (PC only), and Access (PC only) are included. You can install these on up to five PCs or Macs per user.
Enhanced Collaboration
- Host Webinars: Business Standard allows you to host webinars with attendee registration and reporting, making it easier to engage with larger audiences.
- Microsoft Loop: Provides collaborative workspaces, helping teams organize tasks and projects with live updates.
Business Tools
- Microsoft Bookings: Full appointment scheduling functionality, available on desktop and mobile.
- Microsoft Invoicing: Create professional invoices and manage client billing, which is available on PC.
- MileIQ: A mileage tracking tool perfect for businesses with employees who drive frequently for work.
Additional Features
- Microsoft Clipchamp: A video editing tool for creating and editing videos for marketing, training, or internal communications.
Business Standard is ideal for businesses that need full desktop versions of Office apps and require additional tools for managing tasks, invoicing, and scheduling. It’s an all-in-one solution for businesses seeking both productivity and collaboration tools.
Microsoft 365 Business Premium: Security and Device Management
For businesses needing the most comprehensive solution, Microsoft 365 Business Premium includes everything from business standards to advanced security and device management features. Business Premium is the right choice if your organization handles sensitive data or needs to ensure compliance with strict regulations.
Everything in Business Standard, Plus:
Advanced Security Features
- Microsoft Defender for Office 365 protects against malware, phishing, and other security threats targeting email.
- Microsoft Defender for Endpoint: Offers endpoint security to detect, investigate, and respond to threats across your devices.
- Azure Information Protection: Helps you encrypt and protect documents and emails, ensuring your data remains secure even when shared outside your organization.
- Microsoft Intune: Manage and secure mobile devices and apps, perfect for businesses with remote or hybrid workforces.
- Azure AD Premium P1 includes advanced identity and access management, which helps secure company resources and data access.
Compliance and Information Protection
- Data Loss Prevention (DLP) protects sensitive data on all devices and ensures compliance with regulations such as GDPR or HIPAA.
- Information Rights Management (IRM): Protects documents from unauthorized viewing, editing, or forwarding.
- eDiscovery Tools: Essential for businesses needing to comply with legal requirements and retrieve electronically stored information (ESI).
Windows 10/11 Management
- Windows 10/11 Pro Upgrade Rights: This feature provides upgrade rights for users of older Windows versions, saving licensing costs.
- Windows Autopilot: A streamlined device deployment solution that helps businesses set up new devices quickly and easily.
Additional Features
- Azure Virtual Desktop: Offers a cloud-based virtual desktop infrastructure (VDI) solution, allowing remote workers to access a full Windows desktop environment.
- Microsoft Viva Learning: A learning platform that helps businesses foster employee development by integrating learning content into the workflow.
Business Premium is perfect for organizations that need strong security, compliance tools, and advanced device management features. It’s the most comprehensive plan, ideal for businesses that prioritize security and want the flexibility of managing devices and applications remotely.
Microsoft 365 Apps for Business: Essential Apps Without Extra Services
The Microsoft 365 Apps for Business plan is a streamlined option for businesses that only need the Office apps, without the cloud services or additional tools included in the other plans. It is suitable for businesses that have their own email and collaboration solutions but still need access to Microsoft’s productivity suite.
Key Features
Desktop Applications
- Full Desktop Versions of Office Apps: Includes the full desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher (PC only), and Access (PC only). These apps can be installed on up to five PCs or Macs per user.
Cloud Services
- OneDrive for Business: Provides 1 TB of personal cloud storage per user for file storage and sharing.
Updates and Support
- Always Up-to-Date: Enjoy the latest versions of Office apps as part of the subscription, ensuring you always have access to the newest features.
- Microsoft Support: Get phone and web support for any issues related to Microsoft 365.
Apps for Business is ideal for businesses that don’t need email hosting, team collaboration tools, or advanced security features but still want access to the full range of Office applications.
Key Differences and Considerations
When deciding which Microsoft 365 Business plan is right for your company, it’s important to consider the following:
- Desktop Applications: Only Business Standard, Business Premium, and Apps for Business include the full desktop versions of Office apps. Business Basic is web-based only.
- Email Hosting: Business Basic, Standard, and Premium include Exchange Online for email hosting, while Apps for Business does not.
- Security Features: Business Premium offers more advanced security and compliance features compared to other plans. This includes Microsoft Defender, Intune, and Azure AD Premium.
- Device Management: Business Premium is the only plan to include Microsoft Intune for managing devices and apps.
- Windows Licensing: Business Premium includes Windows 10/11 Pro upgrade rights.
- Collaboration Tools: All plans (except Apps for Business) include Microsoft Teams, but Business Standard and Premium offer more advanced collaboration features.
- Scalability: All plans are limited to 300 users, so larger businesses may need to consider Microsoft 365 Enterprise plans.
Choosing the Right Plan
To choose the right Microsoft 365 Business plan, consider the following factors:
- Budget: Make sure the plan fits your company’s budget while offering the tools your team needs.
- Security Needs: Business Premium’s advanced security features may be crucial if your business handles sensitive data.
- Collaboration Needs: If your team frequently collaborates, Business Standard or Premium offers more powerful collaboration tools.
- Device Management: Business Premium offers the best solution if your business manages many devices.
- Office Application Usage: If your team relies on desktop versions of Office apps, choose Business Standard, Business Premium, or Apps for Business.
- Growth Projections: Ensure your chosen plan can scale with your business as it grows.
Read how to best manage your Microsoft 365 licenses.
FAQ: Microsoft 365 Business Plans: What’s Included?
What is Microsoft 365 Business?
Microsoft 365 Business provides apps, cloud storage, and security features tailored for businesses to support productivity.
What apps are included with these plans?
Plans include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Teams for various work and collaboration purposes.
Does Microsoft Teams support virtual meetings?
Teams provide video calls, messaging, and file-sharing tools for virtual collaboration and team meetings.
How much cloud storage is provided per user?
Each user receives 1 TB of storage via OneDrive for file storage, backups, and sharing.
Are professional email services included?
Yes, all plans offer business-class email hosting options for custom domain integration.
Can apps be installed on multiple devices?
You can install Microsoft apps on up to five PCs, tablets, and smartphones for each user.
What security features come with the plans?
Features include advanced threat protection, data loss prevention, and device management capabilities for added safety.
Is it possible to work offline with these apps?
Apps can be used offline, but an internet connection is needed for cloud storage and syncing features.
How are updates managed with these plans?
Updates are automatic, ensuring you have the latest features and security improvements without extra cost.
Does Microsoft 365 integrate with other platforms?
Yes, it connects with various third-party applications to support workflows and collaboration.
Does Microsoft provide customer support?
Support is available for setup, troubleshooting, and ongoing technical issues to ensure smooth operation.
What happens to my data if I cancel the plan?
You can download your data before the subscription ends, but access to services will stop after cancellation.
Can I customize the services for my business?
Yes, plans allow customization, such as configuring email domains and setting permissions to suit your needs.
Is Microsoft 365 suitable for small businesses?
Yes, it offers tools and features that effectively meet small to medium-sized businesses’ demands.
Are there training materials for these tools?
Microsoft provides extensive tutorials, guides, and resources to help users learn and optimize the tools.
