M365 E5 looks expensive, but does it not replace many separate tools?
E5 bundles Defender for Endpoint, Defender for Office, Defender for Identity, Power BI Pro, Audio Conferencing, and compliance features. For some companies the math works, for others it does not, depending on what you pay separately today.
Try this first
- 1List what you currently pay separately per user: AV or EDR, Power BI, audit tools, possibly telephony and security.
- 2Compare the total against the E3 to E5 delta per user per month, ask for current pricing through your CSP partner.
- 3Account for overhead: one vendor to manage, one invoice, one incident path saves time too, not just money.
- 4Possibly start with E5 on a sub-team (security, finance) before full rollout, then you see in practice whether features add value.
When to bring us in
If you want a business case without Microsoft or CSP marketing, we can review independently.
See also
- New hire has an account but cannot reach Outlook or TeamsAn M365 account without a license is an empty shell. Assigning takes a few clicks, but picking the right plan pays off long-term.
- Employee left, but their email must be retainedPulling the license straight away starts a 30-day timer on the mailbox. The right route keeps access to the mail without paying for the license.
- We pay for licenses nobody usesBetween leavers, duplicate plans, and test accounts there is often 10-20% wasted license spend. A usage report exposes it fast.
None of the above fits?
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