Which M365 Business plan fits us now: Basic, Standard, or Premium?
The three tiers differ in desktop apps, security, and device management. As you grow or after a security incident this question surfaces.
Try this first
- 1Basic: web-only Office, Exchange, Teams, OneDrive 1 TB. Fits people who never open Word or Excel locally.
- 2Standard: same plus desktop Office. The 'standard office' plan for most SMBs.
- 3Premium: same plus Intune (device management), Defender (anti-phishing, anti-malware), Entra ID P1. Fits after one incident or once you face compliance requirements.
- 4Upgrade per user directly from the admin center; downgrade also, but features drop immediately.
- 5Do not rely on exact pricing in old quotes; pricing rarely stays current. Check live via your billing tab.
When to bring us in
The Premium-or-not call is an architect's question, not a button question. Ask for advice for a one-hour conversation about what your risk profile justifies.
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?
Describe your situation below. We pass your input plus the steps you already saw to our AI and return tailored next-step advice. If it's too risky to DIY, we'll say so.
Or skip the DIY entirely
Our Managed IT clients do not look these things up. One point of contact, a fixed monthly price, resolved within working hours.