For years, businesses evaluated Microsoft 365 primarily on productivity.
Today, the conversation has changed.
As cybersecurity threats continue to increase, insurance providers are demanding stronger controls. With employees working from homes, offices, and job sites, regulatory requirements are becoming more complex.
As a result, many small and mid-sized businesses are moving toward Microsoft 365 Business Premium with Copilot.
The reason is simple: it delivers everything included in Business Standard, plus the security and management tools modern businesses increasingly require.
Everything You Get in Business Standard
Business Premium (which we discuss in great detail in this blog) includes all of the productivity applications already available in Business Standard:
- Outlook
- Word
- Excel
- PowerPoint
- Teams
- OneNote
- SharePoint
- OneDrive
- Planner
- Forms
- Power Automate
- Loop
- Copilot
Your employees continue to benefit from the same collaboration and productivity experience; the difference is what gets added behind the scenes.
Enterprise-Level Security Built for SMBs
Business Premium adds powerful security capabilities that many organizations would otherwise have to purchase separately.
These include:
- Microsoft Intune device management, which protects your business and application data and access on devices;
- Microsoft Entra ID, which protects employee identities and credentials;
- Windows 11, which empowers your team to connect faster, get creative, and be more productive;
- Microsoft Defender, which defends against malicious cyberthreats; and
- Microsoft Purview, which makes governing, protecting, and managing your data easier and more efficient
These tools help protect users, devices, and company data while reducing risk across the organization.
Protect Remote and Hybrid Workers
Today’s employees need secure access from virtually anywhere.
Whether employees are working from a branch office, customer location, home office, or on the road, Business Premium helps IT teams maintain visibility and control.
Administrators can:
- Manage laptops remotely
- Enforce security policies
- Verify device compliance
- Control access to company resources
- Protect sensitive information
For businesses supporting hybrid work, these capabilities have become increasingly important.
Support Cyber Insurance and Compliance Requirements
One of the most common conversations BDK has with clients today revolves around cyber insurance. Many insurers expect businesses to implement stronger security controls before issuing or renewing policies.
Likewise, organizations operating in regulated industries often need additional protections around user access, device management, and data security. Business Premium helps address many of these requirements using tools already included within the Microsoft ecosystem.
A Small Price Increase, Significant Business Value
For many SMBs, the biggest surprise is how little separates Business Premium from Business Standard in monthly licensing costs.
Yet that modest increase adds enterprise-grade security, identity management, and device management capabilities that can significantly reduce risk and simplify IT management.
That’s one reason many managed service providers increasingly recommend Business Premium for organizations with:
- Remote or hybrid employees
- Compliance obligations
- Cybersecurity concerns
- Managed IT services
- Cyber insurance requirements
The productivity benefits of Microsoft 365 are important. But in today’s threat landscape, security may be even more valuable.
Not sure whether Business Standard or Business Premium is right for your organization? Schedule a Microsoft 365 assessment with BDK. We’ll evaluate your productivity, security, compliance, and device management needs and help you determine which licensing strategy delivers the greatest return on investment.