As businesses grow and adapt, they require reliable and secure software solutions that facilitate collaboration, enhance productivity, and offer comprehensive security. Microsoft 365 Business Premium, often referred to as Microsoft Office 365 Business, provides these capabilities and more, making it an ideal solution for small to medium-sized businesses looking for a complete IT suite.
In this article, we’ll explore what Microsoft 365 Business Premium is, its features, the benefits of Office 365 for businesses, and how it compares to other plans such as Microsoft 365 Business Standard.
What is Microsoft 365 Business Premium?
Microsoft 365 Business Premium is a subscription-based service designed to equip SMEs with a suite of powerful productivity, collaboration, and security tools. It builds on the core features of Microsoft Office 365 Business (now called Microsoft 365), offering enhanced security and device management capabilities to safeguard businesses in today’s threat landscape.
While Microsoft 365 Business Standard focuses on delivering essential productivity tools like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams, Business Premium goes a step further by offering advanced cybersecurity solutions and mobile device management (MDM) to protect company data across all devices. This plan is particularly beneficial for businesses handling sensitive information or those that need to meet strict regulatory compliance requirements.
Microsoft 365 Business Premium features
Microsoft 365 Business Premium includes all the core Office 365 applications and introduces advanced tools designed to enhance security and streamline operations. Some of the most notable Microsoft 365 Business Premium features include:
Full access to Microsoft Office Applications
Microsoft 365 Business Premium offers the full suite of Office applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Access. These are available across multiple devices such as desktops, laptops, tablets, and mobile phones, ensuring users have access to essential business tools no matter where they are.
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is a powerful collaboration tool that allows businesses to chat, meet, call, and collaborate on documents in real-time. With Business Premium, users can benefit from advanced features like meeting recordings, full integration with Office 365, and secure guest access, making remote work easier and more efficient.
Advanced threat protection
Cybersecurity is a significant concern for all businesses. Microsoft 365 Business Premium includes tools like Microsoft Defender for Office 365 and Exchange Online Protection. These features protect against phishing, malware, and sophisticated ransomware attacks, providing peace of mind in an age of growing cyber threats.
Mobile Device Management (MDM)
Managing devices used for work purposes, especially in an era of hybrid and remote working, is essential for maintaining security. Microsoft 365 Business Premium comes with Microsoft Intune, an MDM service that allows businesses to manage and secure employees’ devices remotely, ensuring sensitive company data remains protected.
Information protection
Data breaches and leaks can be devastating for businesses. Business Premium includes tools like Azure Information Protection, which ensures sensitive information is properly labelled, encrypted, and accessed only by authorised users. This is crucial for maintaining compliance with regulatory standards such as GDPR.
Windows Virtual Desktop
For businesses needing remote desktop functionality, Microsoft 365 Business Premium integrates with Azure Virtual Desktop. This feature allows employees to access a full Windows 10 or 11 desktop experience from any device, providing flexibility and continuity of work, regardless of location.
Microsoft Bookings
This scheduling tool simplifies the process of booking appointments and meetings. Microsoft Bookings allows businesses to manage appointments, set up services, and coordinate with customers effortlessly.
Office 365 benefits for businesses
Microsoft Office 365 has become the gold standard for business productivity software. The benefits of using Microsoft Office 365 Business Premium for your business are substantial:
Boosted productivity
Office 365 provides employees with access to the full range of productivity tools, allowing them to work seamlessly across devices. Cloud-based collaboration means that teams can work together on the same documents in real-time, regardless of their physical location.
Improved security
Cyber threats are on the rise, and SMEs are increasingly being targeted. With Office 365 Business Premium, businesses have access to advanced threat protection tools like Microsoft Defender and multi-factor authentication (MFA), ensuring that data and systems remain secure.
Simplified IT management
Managing IT infrastructure can be complex, but with Office 365’s cloud-based services, businesses can simplify operations. Microsoft handles software updates, ensuring that you always have access to the latest features without the need for manual installation or maintenance.
Cost-effective solution
Microsoft 365 Business Premium is a subscription-based service, meaning businesses can avoid significant upfront costs for software purchases and only pay for the licences they need. This offers flexibility and scalability, allowing businesses to add or remove licences as they grow or change.
Compliance with regulations
Many industries are subject to strict regulatory requirements regarding data security and privacy. Office 365 Business Premium includes tools that help businesses meet these requirements, such as data encryption and information protection policies.
Microsoft 365 Business Premium vs. Standard
When choosing between Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Microsoft 365 Business Standard, it’s essential to understand the differences in features and the value each plan offers.
Microsoft 365 Business Standard includes core Office 365 applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, etc), email hosting, and 1TB of OneDrive storage per user. It is a great option for businesses focused primarily on productivity and collaboration but that do not require advanced security features.
Microsoft 365 Business Premium, on the other hand, includes everything from Business Standard but adds advanced cybersecurity features like Microsoft Defender, device management via Intune, and information protection tools. This plan is ideal for businesses dealing with sensitive information or needing to meet compliance standards such as GDPR.
For businesses concerned with security, mobility, and data protection, Business Premium is the superior option, especially for those that have remote or hybrid work environments.
What comes with Microsoft 365 Business Premium?
To summarise, Microsoft 365 Business Premium includes:
- Full desktop versions of Office applications: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, Publisher, and Teams
- Email hosting with a 50GB mailbox and a custom domain name
- OneDrive with 1TB of storage per user
- Microsoft Teams for collaboration and communication
- Advanced Threat Protection and Exchange Online Protection
- Microsoft Intune for mobile device management
- Azure Information Protection for data classification and encryption
- Windows Virtual Desktop
- Secure sharing and real-time collaboration across all devices
How much is Microsoft 365 Business Premium?
Pricing for Microsoft 365 Business Premium varies depending on where you are and the number of users you have. As of 2024, the standard pricing for Business Premium is around £16.60 per user, per month. This price includes the entire suite of features mentioned above, making it a cost-effective solution for businesses needing enhanced security and productivity tools.
However, Microsoft often offers discounts or promotions, and businesses can also benefit from flexible pricing if they commit to annual plans. It’s worth checking with the Mintivo team, or a similar managed IT service provider, for tailored pricing and additional support!
Is Microsoft 365 Business Premium right for your business?
Choosing the right Microsoft 365 plan depends on the specific needs of your business. Microsoft 365 Business Premium is an excellent choice for businesses that require not only the best productivity tools but also enhanced security and device management. If your business deals with sensitive data, faces regulatory requirements, or has a mobile workforce, Business Premium provides the protection, scalability, and flexibility you need.
For businesses focused primarily on productivity without the need for advanced security features, Microsoft 365 Business Standard may be sufficient. However, upgrading to Business Premium ensures that your business is equipped to handle the evolving challenges of today’s digital workplace.
Ready to take your business productivity and security to the next level? Whether you’re looking to enhance collaboration, protect sensitive data, or streamline IT management, Microsoft 365 Business Premium provides everything you need. Contact Mintivo today to learn more about how Microsoft 365 Business Premium can transform your business or to get a personalised consultation.
