Choosing Between Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Standard, and Premium for Your Business

Choosing between Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Microsoft 365 Business Standard, and Microsoft 365 Business Premium can be a hard decision. Each plan offers a range of tools and features, but not all of them will suit your business needs.

Many businesses make the mistake of selecting the wrong plan and overspending on features they don’t need. The 2023 HashiCorp State of Cloud Strategy Survey found that 94% of respondents acknowledge avoidable cloud costs, primarily caused by idle or underutilized resources.

Matt Elias, COO of Outsource Solutions Group, notes that “Selecting the right Microsoft 365 plan for your business is about balancing your needs for productivity, collaboration, and security.”

In this blog, we’ll walk you through the Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Standard, and Premium plans. You’ll learn about the key differences and how to choose the one that best aligns with your goals.

What You Get with Microsoft 365 Business Basic

Microsoft Office 365 has more than 345 million paid users worldwide as of 2023. Microsoft 365 Business Basic is a great starting point for businesses that mainly need cloud-based tools without the need for full desktop apps.

If you are a small team or a startup, this plan gives you access to the essential Microsoft tools without a hefty price tag.

Here is what you get with the Basic plan:

Web and mobile Office apps only

The Basic plan includes only the web-based and mobile versions of Office apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. These apps are ideal for businesses that don’t need the full, offline desktop versions. While the web apps are functional, they lack some advanced features, making them more suitable for light document editing.

Professional email with 50GB mailbox

You get a professional business email address through Outlook, with 50GB of storage space. This should be enough for most small businesses, but might fall short if you handle large volumes of email.

1TB OneDrive cloud storage per user

This allows you to store, share, and access documents from anywhere. OneDrive offers excellent security features to keep your data safe.

Microsoft Teams for communication

Teams is included for chat, video calls, and online meetings, making it easy for remote teams to collaborate.

What You Get with Microsoft 365 Business Standard

Microsoft 365 Business Standard includes everything from the Basic plan, but it adds the full desktop versions of Office apps and some additional features. This plan is perfect for growing teams that need more powerful tools for document creation and collaboration.

Here are the key features included:

Desktop versions of Office apps

Unlike Business Basic, Business Standard gives you full access to the desktop versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. This allows you to work offline and use advanced features like editing and formatting tools, macros, and more.

Microsoft Bookings

This feature helps you manage client appointments and integrates with your calendar. It makes scheduling meetings easier for both your team and your customers.

Increased collaboration tools

Business Standard improves team collaboration with advanced file sharing options, team organization features, and the ability to set permissions and manage access.

Outlook business email with calendar

Your team will get business-class email with calendar functionality, improving scheduling and communication.

What You Get with Microsoft 365 Business Premium

Microsoft 365 Business Premium is for businesses that need advanced security and device management tools. In addition to all the features in Business Standard, this plan offers enterprise-grade security features and the ability to manage business devices remotely.

Here are the key features in this plan:

Advanced security tools

Microsoft Defender for Business helps protect your devices from malware, phishing, and other cyber threats. It scans emails and files for malicious content, offering an extra layer of protection for your business.

Intune for device management

You can manage and secure your business devices, ensuring that employees use them safely. You can enforce password policies, lock devices remotely, and ensure data is wiped in case a device is lost or stolen.

Azure Information Protection

This feature helps you classify and protect sensitive data, ensuring that confidential information stays safe and compliant with regulations like HIPAA or GDPR.

Desktop Office apps

Like the Standard plan, Premium also includes full desktop versions of Microsoft Office apps, which allow for offline work and access to advanced features.

Microsoft 365 Business Premium is ideal for businesses that handle sensitive information or have multiple devices to manage. It offers enhanced security and compliance tools to protect your business against modern threats.

Comparing Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Standard, and Premium

The three plans, Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Microsoft 365 Business Standard, and Microsoft 365 Business Premium, differ mainly in the level of features, security, and management tools they offer.

Here’s a quick comparison:

As you can see, Microsoft 365 Business Premium offers the most comprehensive package with all the tools of Standard, plus enhanced security and device management.

Business Standard adds powerful desktop apps and better collaboration tools, while Business Basic provides the essential features at a lower cost for businesses with simpler needs.

Why Microsoft 365 for Business Is the Right Choice for Your Team

According to CloudSecureTech, small and mid-sized businesses using Microsoft 365 see a 22% boost in productivity compared to those relying on outdated systems.

Microsoft 365 offers a range of solutions to meet different business needs. Whether you’re just starting, looking to grow, or need enterprise-level security, there’s a plan for you.

Key benefits of choosing Microsoft 365 for business include:

• Access to powerful collaboration tools like Teams, Outlook, and SharePoint
• Flexibility to work from anywhere using cloud storage
• Scalability as your business grows
• Built-in security to protect your data and devices

Choosing the right Microsoft 365 plan ensures your team has the tools they need to be productive and secure.

Find Your Best Fit with Outsource Solutions Group

Choosing the right Microsoft 365 plan for your business is about finding the right balance of productivity, collaboration, and security. Whether you choose Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Business Standard, or Business Premium, you’ll have access to the tools that help your business thrive.

At Outsource Solutions Group, we understand the unique needs of businesses like yours. Our team of experts can guide you to the right plan and make sure you’re using Microsoft 365 to its fullest potential. With over 27 years in business, we have the experience and knowledge to help you make the right choice.

Let us help you get the most out of Microsoft 365. Contact us today to discuss how we can enhance your IT strategy and support your business growth.