One of the questions we often hear at ACUTEC is, “Should I choose Microsoft 365 Business Standard or Business Premium? Is Premium worth the additional cost?” Let’s dive into the details so you can decide if upgrading to Premium is the right call for your business.
To start with, both plans offer some impressive features. For example, they include a 50GB mailbox. That’s massive! To put it into perspective, a typical inbox, which houses over 200,000 emails, only takes up 13GB. Unless you’re planning to archive the entire internet, this mailbox size has you covered. On top of that, both plans come with 1TB of cloud file storage. Whether you’re saving project files or an embarrassing number of cat memes, you’ve got plenty of space to spare.
When it comes to pricing, Business Premium is approximately 40% more expensive than Standard. But before you stop reading at the price difference, consider what you’re getting in return.
What Does Business Premium Offer That Standard Doesn’t?
If you’re the kind of person who likes to keep every email (even the ones about office birthday cakes from 2015), or if your business has compliance needs, Business Premium’s 1.5TB email archive is a dream come true. Store emails to your heart’s content and never worry about hitting a limit.
Advanced Security with Defender for Office 365
These days, cybersecurity is non-negotiable. Business Premium includes Defender for Office 365, which scans email attachments and links before they land in your inbox. If anything looks suspicious, it’s quarantined before you even see it. Pair that with Exchange Online Protection blocking spam and viruses, and you’ve got a fortress guarding your communications.
Azure Virtual Desktop
Imagine being able to access your entire work desktop, complete with apps, files, and emails, from any device with a browser. That’s what Azure Virtual Desktop offers. It’s perfect for businesses embracing remote work or implementing bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policies.
Microsoft Intune for Device Management
Microsoft Intune takes the headache out of device management. You can enforce security measures like multi-factor authentication (MFA) for accessing company data and ensure that personal devices accessing work files follow your policies. Intune even lets you prevent users from copying company files onto personal drives, keeping sensitive data secure.
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Want to keep sensitive information on lockdown? With Azure Information Protection, you can classify and control access to files based on sensitivity. Set permissions to prevent forwarding, printing, or even screenshots of specific content. You can even secure data stored on USB drives—if the device is lost, your information stays safe.
Is Business Premium Worth the Extra Cost?
If your business values security, flexibility, and advanced management tools, the answer is a resounding yes. While Business Standard is a fantastic option for productivity basics, Business Premium equips your business with essential tools to stay secure and adaptable in today’s digital environment.
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