Latest news with #Microsoft365BusinessPremium
Time Business News
2 days ago
- Business
- Time Business News
Microsoft 365 Business Basic vs Standard vs Premium
Microsoft 365 is a productivity tool suite that has transformed how organizations, large or small, conduct their workflows through a combination of productivity applications, collaboration tools, cloud services, and management of online security. There are three important plans that Microsoft provides under the Business subcategory to suitably serve small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs): Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Microsoft 365 Business Standard, and Microsoft 365 Business Premium. All the plans are customized according to various operational requirements and volumes of IT complexity. 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. TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Techday NZ
09-07-2025
- Business
- Techday NZ
Huntress & Microsoft partner to boost business cybersecurity
Huntress has announced a partnership with Microsoft aimed at improving cybersecurity for businesses using Microsoft's security products and services. The partnership will see Huntress' cybersecurity solutions integrated with Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Defender for Business, Defender Antivirus, as well as Microsoft 365 Business Premium, E3, and E5 licenses. The companies state that the collaboration is designed to offer enhanced protection to businesses of all sizes that rely on Microsoft's ecosystem, many of whom face resource and expertise challenges in making full use of their security investments. Addressing cybersecurity challenges Over 300 million organisations worldwide use Microsoft's software, but according to Huntress, many struggle to access the complete capabilities of the security tools included with their Microsoft licenses. Organisations with limited in-house cybersecurity abilities often leave advanced threat protection features underutilised. Huntress' solutions - including Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR), Identity Threat Detection and Response (ITDR), Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), and Security Awareness Training (SAT) - are designed to integrate smoothly with existing Microsoft environments. These tools are supported by a 24/7 Security Operations Center (SOC) which the company says enables continuous protection against emerging threats. Quotes from leadership "Huntress was founded to make enterprise-grade security accessible to all businesses. Businesses worldwide trust Microsoft's ecosystem, but often don't fully use its potential due to limited resources or expertise. We deliver the technology and integrations needed to unlock the full value of Microsoft's security solutions, empowering businesses of all sizes to operate securely and confidently in an evolving threat landscape," said Chris Bisnett, CTO at Huntress. Microsoft's Steve Dispensa, Corporate Vice President of Security, also commented on the collaboration: "With cyberattacks growing in both volume and complexity, businesses face mounting pressure to protect their environments with limited resources. Huntress' integrations with Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Microsoft Defender for Endpoint empower organizations to not only strengthen their security posture but also fully benefit from their Microsoft security investments. Together, we're equipping businesses worldwide to prioritize growth and innovation without compromising on security." Integration and benefits According to Huntress, the partnership seeks to make it easier for organisations of all sizes to turn on advanced security features. The integrations allow Microsoft customers to deploy Huntress' suite of tools through their Microsoft platforms, aiming to provide greater threat visibility, incident response capabilities, and cyber awareness for their employees. The collaboration between Huntress and Microsoft is also intended to help businesses optimise their security spending. By using existing Microsoft licenses in combination with Huntress' managed security suite, organisations are expected to reduce the need for multiple standalone solutions, potentially offering cost efficiencies. Background and recognition Huntress focuses its efforts on supporting organisations that typically lack enterprise-scale resources to counteract cyber threats. Their Security Operations Center provides around-the-clock monitoring and support for businesses, with an emphasis on remediation and a low rate of false positives. The company states its mission is to break down barriers to enterprise-level security and enable both outsourced IT contractors and internal IT staff to better prepare for and deal with cyber threats. Huntress has also been recognised with Microsoft Verified Small & Medium Business solution status through the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association, which reflects Microsoft's assessment of trusted security products for its partner ecosystem. The integration of Huntress solutions into Microsoft security environments will be available to all organisations using Microsoft 365 Business Premium, E3, and E5 licensing, as well as Microsoft Defender security products. The companies indicate that ongoing support and updates will be provided as the threat landscape evolves.
