Microsoft 365 Business Basic vs Standard vs Premium
It is important to understand the difference between the plans in selecting the most appropriate one to be used by your organization. This article will outline the characteristics, advantages, and optimal applications of each plan to help you in deciding.
Overview
The Microsoft 365 Business Basic is an entry level plan. It is suitable to cater to the needs of a small business that requires cloud-based productivity and collaboration tools. In addition, it does not require PC-based installations of the Office application suite. Mobile and web versions of PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Outlook
Chat, meetings, and calls with Microsoft Teams
Windows Office 365 professional email hosting (50 GB mailbox per user)
OneDrive for Business, including 1 TB of cloud storage per user
Intranet and document sharing in SharePoint Online
Fundamental security and compliance functions
This plan is perfect when the business has remote or mobile staff and wants the services of web-based applications and requires effective collaborative tools. It also works well on startups or those businesses with little IT infrastructure.
The lack of desktop apps is one of the key drawbacks. It is not possible to install the complete version of Office apps such as Word or Excel on a computer. This may not be an advantage for teams that need offline services or complicated Office installations.
Overview
Microsoft 365 Business Standard is one level up from the Basic plan, and it fits into a business that requires cloud and desktop applications in the office, together with extended productivity features.
It includes everything that Business Basic contains, and: Office applications desktop
Appointment scheduling with Microsoft Bookings
Improved email features with custom domains
Microsoft Publisher (PC only)
This plan works well with businesses that have higher demands in terms of productivity. Business Standard is probably the right solution, in case your team needs to work offline, has the full abilities of working in Office applications, or deals with complex documents and spreadsheets.
Although the Business Standard plan provides more functionality, it lacks the advanced security options and continued device management tools of the Premium plan.
Overview
Microsoft 365 Business Premium is the best business plan and has the whole set of features of Business Standard with the addition of extra protection and device management. It is meant to support businesses with sensitive data, remote employees, or those working in industries with high regulations.
It includes everything that Business Standard contains, and:
· Mobile management and app management with Microsoft Intune
· Data classification and protection by Azure Information Protection
· Endpoint security in Microsoft Defender Business
· Proprietary protection and security policies
· Data loss prevention and compliance management tools
· Policy of conditional access and multifactor authentication
Business Premium is most appropriate for organizations that need an integrated solution that encompasses productivity applications alongside highly effective cybersecurity. It is particularly suitable for companies in the field of healthcare, finance, law, as well as those that must adhere to regulations like GDPR or HIPAA.
The added features come with increased complexity, which may require IT personnel to manage properly. It might be more than necessary for small businesses with basic needs.
When selecting between Business Basic, Standard, and Premium, companies should consider the following:
If your employees work mostly online and remotely, then the Business Basic plan will most likely be sufficient.
However, if your team needs to work offline or use advanced Office tools, the Business Standard plan will serve as a better choice.
If your company handles sensitive or confidential information, the Business Premium's security measures will be critical.
On the other hand, for businesses less concerned with data governance, the Standard plan would be more than enough.
Smaller teams with limited IT help may find Business Basic or Standard easier to handle.
Meanwhile, enterprises who have greater IT resources or stricter standards can benefit from Premium's advanced management tools.
It is critical to consider future development. If you expect your company to grow and encounter advanced security challenges, even in just the initial phase, it is best to start with the Premium plan, as it may be more cost-effective in the long term.
Microsoft 365 Business plans are aimed to support businesses in different growth and complexity levels. Business Basic enables the fundamentals of collaboration and communication. Business Standard comes as a balanced strategy that suits the larger activities of the majority of medium and small-sized firms that require comprehensive productivity features. Business Premium is even more comprehensive as it adds more powerful security and compliance features that are growing to be more crucial in the modern threat environment.
In the end, it is advisable to allocate some time analysing your requirements so that the plan you choose has added value, increased productivity and offers security to your digital world.
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