Office 365 Business Standard vs. Office 365 Business Premium: Which Plan Is Right for Your Business?
As businesses continue to adapt to the fast-paced digital environment, selecting the right productivity tools is crucial for growth and efficiency. Microsoft’s Office 365 suite offers two popular plans that are tailored for small and medium-sized businesses-office 365 business standard and Office 365 Business Premium. Both plans come packed with features to drive productivity, collaboration, and secure business operations, but each has unique strengths designed to meet different business needs. Let’s take an in-depth look at these plans to help you decide which one is right for your business.
What Is Office 365 Business Standard?
Office 365 Business Standard is ideal for businesses seeking to leverage Microsoft’s suite of applications and cloud services to boost productivity and collaboration. This plan offers access to essential Office applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, all of which can be used across multiple devices—desktops, laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
Some of the key features included in Office 365 Business Standard are:
Office Applications: The full suite of Microsoft Office apps, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Publisher (for PC only), ensuring your team has the tools they need for document creation and collaboration.
Cloud Storage: With 1 TB of OneDrive storage per user, your business will have ample space for file storage and sharing. This ensures seamless collaboration across departments and locations.
Email and Calendars: Each user gets a professional email address with 50 GB of storage, powered by Outlook. You can also schedule meetings, share calendars, and access your email from anywhere.
Microsoft Teams: The integrated Teams platform allows for smooth communication within your organization through chat, video conferencing, and file sharing. This ensures your team remains connected no matter where they are working from.
Collaboration Tools: Tools like SharePoint and Teams enable easy sharing and co-authoring of documents, promoting a collaborative environment where productivity thrives.
Access to Office on Multiple Devices: You can install Office apps on up to 5 PCs or Macs, 5 tablets, and 5 smartphones per user, ensuring that your team is always equipped with the tools they need to work efficiently.
What Is Office 365 Business Premium?
If your business requires additional layers of security and device management, office 365 business premium may be the better choice. In addition to all the features included in the Business Standard plan, Business Premium introduces more advanced security features, making it an excellent option for businesses that deal with sensitive information and require greater control over their devices and data.
Key features of Office 365 Business Premium include:
Advanced Security: Business Premium offers advanced security tools such as threat protection, information protection, and identity management. This includes features like Microsoft Defender to protect against malware and phishing attempts, as well as Azure Information Protection to secure sensitive data.
Device Management: The plan includes Intune, a cloud-based service that helps manage devices and apps across your organization. Intune ensures that your business data is protected, even if employees are using personal devices.
Mobile Device Management: With Business Premium, you can manage both company-owned and employee-owned devices, ensuring that sensitive data is safeguarded, no matter which device is being used to access it.
Access to Premium Tools: In addition to the standard Office apps, Business Premium users also get access to Microsoft’s business management tools such as Bookings, which helps manage appointments, and Customer Manager, a tool that helps manage customer relationships.
Comparing Office 365 Business Standard and Business Premium
When comparing Office 365 Business Standard and Office 365 Business Premium, the differences lie in security, device management, and business tools. Here’s a breakdown of the two plans to highlight key differences:
Which Plan Should You Choose?
The decision between Office 365 Business Standard and Office 365 Business Premium depends on the unique needs of your business. Here’s how to make the choice easier:
Choose Office 365 Business Standard if:
Your business primarily needs productivity tools like Word, Excel, and Teams.
You don’t require advanced security features or device management.
You have a smaller team and don’t handle large amounts of sensitive data.
You are looking for a cost-effective solution to boost collaboration and productivity.
Choose Office 365 Business Premium if:
Security and compliance are top priorities for your business.
You manage a larger team that may be using various devices to access company data.
Your business handles sensitive information, such as customer data or intellectual property.
You want more robust tools for managing devices and securing data across your organization.
Conclusion
Both Office 365 Business Standard and Office 365 Business Premium are powerful tools for boosting productivity, collaboration, and communication in any business setting. Business Standard offers the essential tools for businesses to stay productive, while Business Premium goes a step further by providing advanced security and device management features, making it a better fit for businesses that handle sensitive data and require greater control over their digital environment.
If you’re still unsure about which plan best fits your needs, contact Cloud Galaxy to learn more about Office 365 Business Standard and Office 365 Business Premium. Our team can help you evaluate your business requirements and recommend the best solution to meet your goals.
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