Microsoft 365 Enterprise Plans Explained
- Enterprise Apps: Access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams.
- Advanced Security: Protection against threats and data breaches.
- Cloud Storage: OneDrive with up to 5 TB of storage per user.
- Device Management: Centralized control over business devices.
- Collaboration Tools: Microsoft Teams and SharePoint for teamwork.
- Compliance Tools: Data loss prevention and regulatory compliance.
- Scalable Solutions: Plans designed for large organizations.
Microsoft 365 Enterprise Plans
Microsoft 365 Enterprise plans are designed to meet the diverse needs of large organizations. They offer advanced productivity tools, robust security features, and comprehensive management capabilities.
These plans provide a complete suite of applications and services that help businesses improve collaboration, streamline operations, and ensure compliance with regulatory standards.
This article will explore the key aspects of Microsoft 365 Enterprise plans, breaking down their features, pricing, and deployment options to help businesses make informed decisions.
Core Enterprise Plans
Microsoft 365 offers two core enterprise plans: Microsoft 365 E3 and Microsoft 365 E5. These plans form the backbone of Microsoft’s enterprise offerings, each catering to organizations of different sizes and with varying security and management needs.
Microsoft 365 E3
Microsoft 365 E3 is a comprehensive solution for businesses that need essential productivity tools and security features. Priced at $33.80 per user per month, the E3 plan includes the following features:
- Microsoft 365 apps for desktop and mobile: This includes the full desktop versions of Office apps such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Users also get access to web and mobile versions of these apps.
- Windows Enterprise: E3 subscribers are granted a license to use Windows Enterprise, which offers enhanced security and management features over Windows Pro.
- 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage: Each user gets 1 TB for document storage, collaboration, and file sharing.
- Core security and identity management capabilities include basic tools to manage user identity and access, helping prevent unauthorized access and protect sensitive data.
- Data loss prevention: Tools to prevent accidental or intentional data leakage by monitoring and restricting sensitive data sharing.
- Information protection: Provides tools to classify, label, and protect data based on its sensitivity level.
Microsoft 365 E5
Microsoft 365 E5 builds on the capabilities of E3, adding more advanced security, compliance, and analytics features. At $54.80 per user per month, E5 is the most comprehensive enterprise plan. In addition to all the features offered in E3, Microsoft 365 E5 includes:
- Advanced security and compliance capabilities: Enhanced security tools such as Microsoft Defender for Endpoint and Azure Active Directory Premium provide higher threat protection and compliance management.
- Scalable business analytics with Power BI: Power BI Pro, included in E5, provides advanced business intelligence and analytics tools that allow businesses to analyze data from across their organization and generate insights.
- Advanced threat protection (ATP): E5 includes more advanced threat detection tools, such as Microsoft Defender for Office 365, which protect users from sophisticated phishing attacks, malware, and other cyber threats.
- Enhanced compliance tools: Additional features for managing legal compliance, data governance, and regulatory requirements, including tools for advanced auditing and data retention policies.
Enterprise Features and Capabilities
Microsoft 365 Enterprise plans are built around several key features that support productivity, security, and management.
Productivity Applications
One of the main benefits of the Microsoft 365 Enterprise plans is access to a comprehensive suite of productivity applications.
Both E3 and E5 plans include:
- Full desktop versions of Office apps: Users get access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more, and they can install them on up to five PCs or Macs, five tablets, and five smartphones per user.
- Web and mobile versions: Office apps for the web and mobile allow users to access their documents and collaborate on projects.
- OneDrive cloud storage: E3 and E5 plans come with 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage per user, enabling secure file storage, sharing, and collaboration.
Security and Compliance
Security is a key component of Microsoft 365 Enterprise plans, with both E3 and E5 offering robust protection against modern threats. The security capabilities of the two plans differ in the following ways:
E3 Security Features:
- Core identity and access management: Tools to help control access to organizational resources based on user roles and policies.
- Data loss prevention (DLP): Helps organizations protect sensitive information by restricting its sharing and access.
- Information protection: Classify, label, and encrypt documents to maintain control over company data.
- Basic threat protection: Protects users from common threats, such as spam, phishing, and malware.
E5 Additional Security:
- Advanced threat protection: E5 includes enhanced security features such as Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, which provides comprehensive protection against cyber threats.
- Insider threat detection: Detects and prevents malicious or accidental insider threats, such as employees leaking sensitive data.
- Advanced information rights management: Provides more granular control over access to sensitive data, including rights management for documents and emails.
Device and Application Management
Both E3 and E5 plans offer robust device and application management features:
- Microsoft Intune for Device Management: This software enables businesses to manage devices, applications, and security settings from a centralized location, ensuring that only compliant devices can access corporate resources.
- Windows Enterprise: This allows organizations to take advantage of the latest Windows Enterprise features, which are designed to provide better security, management, and scalability for large organizations.
- Centralized administration tools: Both plans provide admin tools that allow IT departments to configure, monitor, and manage applications and security across the enterprise.
Read how to choose the right Microsoft 365 plan for your business.
Specialized Enterprise Plans
In addition to the core E3 and E5 plans, Microsoft also offers a specialized plan for frontline workers:
Microsoft 365 F3
Microsoft 365 F3 is designed for organizations with large numbers of frontline workers who require basic productivity tools and essential security features. Priced at $7.50 per user per month, F3 includes:
- Web and mobile versions of Office apps: Frontline workers can access Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook through web and mobile versions, ensuring they can collaborate and communicate on the go.
- Basic security capabilities: F3 offers essential security tools, such as identity and access management and data protection features.
- Centralized collaboration hub: Frontline workers can access a central hub for communication, collaboration, and task management.
Enterprise Add-ons
To enhance the functionality of their E3 or E5 subscriptions, organizations can purchase a range of add-ons, such as:
- Identity & Threat Protection: Add advanced features to secure users and devices.
- Information Protection & Compliance: These add-ons provide additional compliance and data protection tools for organizations that need to meet strict regulatory requirements.
- Microsoft 365 E5 Compliance: A set of compliance and governance tools designed to help businesses manage legal, regulatory, and compliance risks.
Deployment Options
When transitioning to Microsoft 365 Enterprise, organizations have several deployment options to choose from:
- FastTrack Partnership: Microsoft engineers assist with migration, customized planning, and direct support during implementation.
- Microsoft Consulting Services: For businesses that require expert guidance, Microsoft offers professional analysis and deployment planning through its consulting services.
- Self-Deployment: Organizations can opt for a self-deployment approach by leveraging detailed documentation, network planning tools, and implementation roadmaps available through Microsoft.
Storage and Infrastructure
Enterprise plans come with significant storage capabilities:
- OneDrive storage: The E3 and E5 plans include up to 5 TB of OneDrive storage per user, with the option to request additional storage if needed.
- Mailbox capacity: Each user gets a 100 GB mailbox capacity, with 1.5 TB of archive storage available for email data retention and compliance.
Compliance and Governance
Microsoft 365 Enterprise plans offer a suite of compliance tools to help organizations stay aligned with legal and regulatory requirements:
E3 Compliance Features:
- Basic auditing and eDiscovery: This service provides essential tools for auditing, monitoring, and preserving data in response to legal requests.
- Litigation hold and retention policies help ensure that critical data is preserved for legal purposes and protected from accidental deletion.
E5 Enhanced Compliance:
- Advanced eDiscovery: Includes more advanced tools for managing eDiscovery, such as legal hold, advanced searching, and case management features.
- Advanced auditing and retention policies: Offers more granular control over data retention, deletion, and auditing, ensuring that organizations meet specific compliance requirements.
Business Intelligence and Analytics
The Microsoft 365 E5 plan is particularly distinguished by its integration of advanced business intelligence tools:
- Power BI Pro: E5 includes Power BI Pro, which allows organizations to analyze their data and create interactive reports and dashboards for deeper insights into business performance.
- Advanced analytics capabilities: E5 provides access to advanced analytics tools for data visualization, reporting, and decision-making.
Licensing Considerations
When selecting an enterprise plan, organizations should carefully consider the following factors:
- Scalability: Microsoft 365 plans are highly scalable, with no user limit restrictions. Organizations can mix and match licenses across the organization to meet specific needs.
- Cost Management: Monthly and annual payment options are available, as is volume licensing for organizations that must purchase large quantities of licenses.
- Migration and Implementation: Successful migration requires careful planning, including evaluating existing infrastructure, creating adoption strategies, and ensuring security and compliance requirements are met.
FAQ: Microsoft 365 Enterprise Plans Explained
What is Microsoft 365 Enterprise?
It’s a suite of tools and services for large organizations, including productivity apps, advanced security, and compliance features.
What apps are included in enterprise plans?
Plans include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, and SharePoint for enterprise use.
What distinguishes enterprise plans from business plans?
Enterprise plans include more advanced security, compliance tools, and scalability suited for large-scale organizations.
How much cloud storage is available?
Users get up to 5 TB of OneDrive storage per user, depending on the specific plan.
What security features are included in enterprise plans?
Features like threat protection, data loss prevention, and endpoint management are included to secure business operations.
Can Teams handle large-scale collaboration?
Yes, Teams supports large meetings and company-wide announcements and integrates with SharePoint for enhanced collaboration.
Are compliance tools included in all enterprise plans?
The plans include compliance features such as GDPR support, eDiscovery, and data classification.
Can enterprise apps be used offline?
Apps like Word and Excel can be used offline, but syncing requires an internet connection.
How do enterprise plans support device management?
Plans provide centralized tools to manage and secure business devices, ensuring consistent control.
What are the licensing options for enterprise plans?
Licensing is flexible, allowing organizations to scale the number of users as needed for growth or changes.
Does Microsoft 365 Enterprise integrate with other systems?
It integrates with various third-party tools and internal systems to support workflows.
What support does Microsoft offer for enterprise plans?
Microsoft provides 24/7 support, setup guidance, and resources for enterprise customers.
What will happen to the data if we cancel the subscription?
Data can be downloaded before cancellation, but access to services ends once the subscription expires.
Can plans be customized for specific organizational needs?
Enterprises can tailor features like compliance settings and security policies to fit their requirements.
Is training available for enterprise users?
Microsoft offers detailed guides, webinars, and training resources for IT teams and end-users.
