Introduction
Navigating Microsoft’s licensing options can often seem daunting due to the variety of choices and complex structures.
Our goal with this guide is to simplify the differences between the main Microsoft 365 Business and Enterprise subscriptions to help you choose the right one for your business. It isn’t exhaustive, so if your situation is different, please get in touch with our team.
Microsoft 365 Business Plans
Microsoft offers several business plans which include Business Basic, Business Standard, Business Premium, and Apps for Business. Each plan is designed to accommodate up to 300 users, making them ideal for small to medium-sized businesses.
Business Basic: Best for small businesses that need the core Microsoft 365 features but without the need for the desktop versions of the Office applications. Includes cloud versions of Office apps, cloud file storage and business email.
Business Standard: Includes everything in Business Basic, plus desktop Office applications, as well as some additional features like webinars and video editing.
Business Premium: Builds on Business Standard by adding advanced security features and device management capabilities, including Entra ID, Intune, and Defender.
Apps for Business: This is for businesses who only want the Office apps.
As the plans increase, the price per user also increases, so it’s best to choose the right mix between price and features.
It’s also worth considering that as your business grows, the need for device management becomes more crucial due to the increasing overhead of managing more devices and people. The security features are also more important as the bigger your business gets, the bigger the threat and impact from cyber attacks.
Here’s a breakdown of the differences between the 3 plans: Microsoft 365 Business Plans
Microsoft 365 Enterprise Plans
For larger organisations that need more advanced capabilities, Microsoft offers their Enterprise plans. At the highest level, these are categorised into two main types: E plans for heavy/enterprise users and F plans for frontline workers.
E Plans: Designed for users who need to heavily use the M365 features, such as desk workers who require extensive access to IT systems.
F Plans: These are cut-down plans intended for users who don’t necessarily sit at a desk or require desktop apps but still need essential access. This type of license is more suitable for less frequent technology users like frontline or field workers.
A good example to understand the difference might be a care home. The staff who work in the office are likely to require an E license, whereas the care workers or maintenance staff who rarely sit at a computer may be an F license user.
The most commonly used Enterprise plans are E3 and E5:
E3: Offers standard security and compliance tools, along with desktop versions of Office apps.
E5: Includes everything in E3 with the addition of more advanced analytics tools like PowerBi Pro and enhanced security and compliance features, ideal for heavily regulated industries.
Similar to the point made in the Business plans section, it can be tempting to go for the lower priced plans to reduce costs, but this has to be weighed against the potential cost that comes with increased management or disruption from cyber attacks.
Here’s a breakdown of the differences between the 3 most popular plans: Microsoft 365 Enterprise Plans
Office 365 Enterprise Plans
Just to complicate things further, at the enterprise level, you can also choose from so-called Office 365 Enterprise plans.
You might remember around four years ago, Microsoft rebranded Office 365 to Microsoft 365 and announced it was retiring the Office 365 brand. However, Office 365 is still alive and kicking in a limited form. It’s now the name for enterprise plans aimed for businesses that only want the Office apps.
These plans focus on providing Office apps without the broader range of features included in Microsoft 365 plans.
These are suitable for enterprise businesses that need the Office applications but not necessarily the additional Microsoft 365 services. Importantly, these plans also do not include Windows.
Here’s a breakdown of the differences between the Office 365 plans: Office 365 Enterprise Plans
How to Choose the Right Plan
Selecting the right plan for your business depends on several factors. These include:
Business Size: Business plans like Basic, Standard and Premium are limited to organisations with up to 300 users, while enterprise plans like E3 or E5 cater to larger organisations.
Required Features: Consider whether your needs lean more towards applications, security, or management.
Industry Requirements: Heavily regulated industries might find the advanced compliance features of E5 crucial.
If you would like a complete breakdown of every single plan and all of the features within each one, you can get this here: Full List of all Microsoft 365 Plans and Features
Given the complex possibilities and combinations of features, it’s often challenging to choose the right plan from a single article.
We highly recommend speaking with Microsoft Support or talking with an experienced Microsoft Partner or reseller to tailor a plan that fits your specific needs without overpaying for unnecessary features.
Summary
Choosing the right Microsoft 365 plan is crucial but can be confusing. At Coretek, we specialise in demystifying Microsoft licensing to ensure you get exactly what you need.
Struggling to choose the right Microsoft 365 plan? Get in touch to discover how we can help you choose the right plan for your business needs without paying excess costs.