Microsoft 365 Business Standard for SMB Productivity

As a cloud-based productivity suite, Microsoft 365 Business Standard offers small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) a comprehensive set of tools that allow them to work efficiently and securely from anywhere.

This blog post provides an overview of the features and benefits of Microsoft 365 Business Standard for SMBs, and how it can help you grow your business and protect your data.

The key features included in a Microsoft 365 Business Standard subscription plan are:

• Microsoft 365 apps: Get the latest versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, and Access for Windows or Mac, and use them across your devices with a single license. You can also access web and mobile versions of these apps for quick editing and collaboration.
• Microsoft Teams: Connect with your team and customers using chat, voice, video, and online meetings. You can also host webinars and large events with up to 1,000 attendees and use attendee registration and reporting tools to manage your events.
• OneDrive: Store and share your files online with 1 TB of cloud storage per user. You can access your files from any device, synchronize them offline, and collaborate with others in real time.
• SharePoint: Create an intranet and team sites to share information, files, and resources with your organization. You can also use SharePoint to build custom business apps and workflows with Power Apps, and Power Automate.
• Exchange: Manage your email, calendar, contacts, and tasks with Outlook. You get a 50 GB mailbox per user, a custom email domain, and advanced security features such as anti-spam and anti-malware protection.

What are the Benefits of Microsoft 365 Business Standard for SMBs?

Microsoft 365 Business Standard offers several benefits for SMBs that want to boost their productivity, collaboration, security, and cost-efficiency. Here are some of the key benefits:

1. Work from anywhere: With Microsoft 365 Business Standard, you can work from any device, any location, and time zone. You can access your files online or offline, join meetings on the go, and stay connected with your team and customers.
2. Save money: With Microsoft 365 Business Standard, you pay a predictable monthly fee based on your number of users. You don't have to buy separate licenses for each device or app, and also save on hardware costs by harnessing the power of Microsoft's cloud instead of using local servers.
3. Secure your data: With Microsoft 365 Business Standard, you get built-in security features that help protect your data from cyber threats and data loss. You can control who has access to your files and devices, encrypt your data in transit and at rest, and recover your files in case of accidental deletion or ransomware attacks.

Microsoft 365 Business Standard Helps Boost Collaboration, Security, and Productivity

Microsoft 365 Business Standard is a cloud-based productivity suite that offers SMBs a comprehensive set of tools to work efficiently and securely from anywhere, which is especially important in today’s remote working world. The top three ways Microsoft 365 Business Standard helps IT leaders are:

1. Provide better collaboration with Teams
2. Keep data safe with centralized security management
3. Enable employees to work smarter, not harder, using Microsoft productivity applications such as Outlook, Word, Excel, etc.

Provide Better Collaboration With Teams

One of the key benefits of Microsoft 365 Business Standard is that it includes Microsoft Teams. Used by almost 300 users daily, Microsoft Teams allows you to communicate and collaborate with your team and customers in one place. With Teams, you can:

• Chat, call, and video conference with anyone inside or outside your organization. You can also create group chats and channels to organize your conversations by topic or project.
• Share files, documents, and apps with your team members and co-edit them in real time. You can also access files from OneDrive, SharePoint, or other cloud storage services within Teams.
• Host webinars and large events with up to 1,000 attendees and use attendee registration and reporting tools to manage your events. You can also stream live events to up to 10,000 viewers with Teams Live Events.
• Integrate third-party apps and services into Teams to enhance workflows and productivity. You can also build custom apps and bots with Power Apps and Power Virtual Agents to automate tasks and provide personalized experiences.

Microsoft Teams helps you streamline your communication and collaboration processes, reduce email clutter, and improve your team's efficiency and engagement.

Keep Data Safe With Centralized Security Management

Another benefit of Microsoft 365 Business Standard is that it provides you with centralized security management tools that help you protect your data and devices from cyber threats and data loss. With Microsoft 365 Business Standard, you can:

• Control who has access to your files and devices with Microsoft Entra ID, a cloud-based identity and access management service. You can also use Entra ID to enable single sign-on (SSO) and multi-factor authentication (MFA).
• Encrypt your data in transit and at rest with BitLocker, a device encryption feature that prevents unauthorized access to your data if your device is lost or stolen. You can also use BitLocker to encrypt removable drives such as USB flash drives.
• Recover your files in case of accidental deletion or ransomware attacks with OneDrive Files Restore, a feature that allows you to restore your entire OneDrive folder to a previous point within the last 30 days.
• Monitor and manage your security posture with Microsoft Secure Score, a tool that assesses your security settings and provides recommendations on improving them. You can also use Secure Score to compare your score with other organizations in your industry.

Microsoft 365 Business Standard helps you secure your data and devices with easy-to-use tools that give you peace of mind.

Enable Employees to Work Smarter, Not Harder

A third benefit of Microsoft 365 Business Standard is that it includes familiar Microsoft productivity applications such as Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote for Windows or Mac. These apps help you create professional-looking documents, presentations, spreadsheets, reports, newsletters, databases, and more. With Microsoft 365 Business Standard, you can:

• Get the latest versions of the apps and always stay updated with new features and updates. Microsoft manages everything in the cloud, so IT teams are no longer burdened with maintaining on-prem software update servers.
• Use the apps across your devices with a single license. You can also access web and mobile versions of the apps for quick editing and collaboration.
• Leverage artificial intelligence (AI) features such as Ideas, Editor, Designer, Presenter Coach, Smart Lookup, Researcher, etc. These features help you generate insights, suggestions, corrections, enhancements, references, and more for your content.
• Collaborate on documents in real-time with others using co-authoring and commenting features. You can also share files easily via email or OneDrive links.
• Access additional apps and services such as Forms (for creating surveys and quizzes), Planner (for managing tasks and projects), Bookings (for scheduling appointments), etc.

Why You Should Add Microsoft Defender Cybersecurity to Microsoft 365 Business Standard

Microsoft Defender for Business is a comprehensive solution for device and server cyber security. It provides next-generation antivirus, endpoint detection and response, automated investigation and remediation, and the ability to track and fix vulnerabilities. Defender for Business brings powerful endpoint security capabilities designed and priced for SMBs.

What Are the Benefits of Adding Microsoft Defender for Business to Your Microsoft 365 Business Standard Subscription?

By adding Microsoft Defender for Business to your Microsoft 365 Business Standard subscription, you can enjoy the following benefits:

• Get more value for your money: Microsoft Defender for Business is available as a Microsoft 365 Business Standard add-on for $3.00 per license per month with an auto-renewed annual subscription. Microsoft Defender protection can be added to any Microsoft 365 user with just a few clicks in the Microsoft 365 admin center, making the setup extremely easy compared to other endpoint detection and response cyber security solutions with similar features. This ease of use makes Microsoft Defender's competitive price point even more appealing to overworked IT managers wanting a (relatively) hassle-free setup.
• Get more security features: Microsoft Defender for Business delivers must-have device protection capabilities, such as antivirus/malware protection, endpoint detection and response, and vulnerability management. These largely automated features help IT managers quickly identify, protect against, detect, and respond to sophisticated cyberattacks, such as ransomware, malware, phishing, etc.
• Get more flexibility: Microsoft Defender for Business works well with Windows-based devices while also protecting Apple Mac, iOS, and Google Android devices.

Need Help with Microsoft Licensing?

Leave your Microsoft licensing, security, and software solutions to us so you can concentrate on moving your business forward.

Drop Us a Line

Drop Us a Line

How Microsoft Audio Conferencing for Teams Can Boost Your Business Communication

If you are an IT leader at a small to mid-sized business, you might be wondering how to improve the communication and collaboration of your remote workers, customers, and partners. You might already be using Microsoft 365 Business Standard, which includes Microsoft Teams, the hub for teamwork in Microsoft 365. But did you know that you can also add Microsoft Audio Conferencing for Teams to your existing subscription and enable your users to join meetings from any phone?

Microsoft Audio Conferencing for Teams is a service that allows you to host or join online meetings with anyone who has a phone number. You don't need an internet connection or the Teams app to participate in an audio conference. You can simply dial a toll or toll-free phone number and enter a conference ID to join the meeting. You can dial out from a meeting to invite other callers or transfer the meeting to another device.

Audio Conferencing can benefit your business in many ways. The table below highlights some use cases and scenarios where Audio Conferencing can enhance your productivity and collaboration:

Audio Conferencing for Teams has many features and advantages that make it a great addition to your Microsoft 365 Business Standard subscription. Some of them are:

• Availability: Audio Conferencing is available in many countries and regions around the world. You can choose from a list of toll and toll-free phone numbers that are local or international for your users and guests. You can also request new phone numbers or port your existing ones.
• Setup and management: Audio Conferencing is easy to set up and manage from the Teams admin center. You can assign licenses to your users, configure meeting settings, view usage reports, and troubleshoot issues. You can also use PowerShell commands to automate tasks and customize options.
• Integration: Audio Conferencing is integrated with other Microsoft 365 apps and services, such as Outlook, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Power Automate. During the meeting, you can schedule meetings with Audio Conferencing from Outlook or Teams and access your files and documents from OneDrive or SharePoint. You can also use Power Automate to create workflows and triggers based on Audio Conferencing events.

Replace Your Outdated Phone System With Microsoft Business Voice

Going beyond just adding an Audio Conferencing phone number, Microsoft Business Voice is a cloud-based phone system that allows you to make, receive, and transfer calls to and from landlines and mobile phones on the public switched telephone network (PSTN) in Microsoft Teams. You can use Business Voice on any device, whether it's a desktop, laptop, tablet, or smartphone. This means your business can replace your existing business phone infrastructure with a secure, cloud-based alternative that works on many Bluetooth headsets and is often compatible with existing speakerphones and office phones.

Business Voice can benefit your business in many ways. Here are some use cases and scenarios where Business Voice can enhance your communication and collaboration:

• Employees: Your employees can use Business Voice to make and receive calls from any device using their Teams app. They can also access their voicemail, contacts, and call history from Teams. Additionally, they can manage their calls more efficiently using features such as call forwarding, call parking, call groups, and shared line appearance.
• Customers: To provide professional experiences for customers, you can assign local and toll-free phone numbers to your users, teams, or departments using Business Voice. You can also create auto attendants and call queues to greet and route your callers to the right person or group. Additionally, you can enhance your customer interactions by using features such as call recording, transcription, and live captions.
• Partners: Business Voice to communicate with external partners using Teams. You can also join or host online meetings with audio, video, and screen sharing with anyone with a phone number or an email address. You can also use features such as live events, breakout rooms, and virtual whiteboards to engage your partners in interactive sessions.

Business Voice for Teams has many features and advantages that make it a powerful addition to your Microsoft 365 Business Standard subscription:

Empowering Hybrid Workforces With Microsoft 365 and Windows 365

If you are an IT leader at a small to mid-sized business, you might be facing the challenge of enabling your workforce to work from anywhere, anytime, and on any device. You might already be using Microsoft 365 Business Standard, which includes Microsoft Teams, the hub for teamwork in Microsoft 365. However, most CIOs are unaware they can also add Windows 365 desktop as a service to your existing subscription. Adding Windows 365 to Microsoft 365 enables users to access a personalized Windows 10 or Windows 11 experience from any device.

Windows 365 Desktop as a Service is a cloud-based solution for streaming a full-fledged Windows desktop to any internet-connected device, including Windows, iOS, or Android. This allows users the unique ability to access Microsoft Windows with Teams across multiple form factors such as a desktop PC, a laptop, a tablet, or a smartphone.

The key advantage to deploying Windows 365 Desktop as a Service and Microsoft 365 Business Standard is that your employees can do their best work from anywhere. As long as employees can connect to the internet with a web browser, they can securely access their corporate Windows OS, Microsoft 365 productivity apps, and Microsoft Teams environment.

Microsoft 365 Business Standard pricing

The per-user cost of a Microsoft 365 Business Standard subscription is quite affordable, and the annual commitment has no cancellation fees. However, it should be noted that the per-user costs are significantly higher if you plan to pay month-to-month. Potential customers can take advantage of the free Microsoft 365 Business Standard trial, which allows full access to all Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, Outlook, and OneDrive desktop versions, the ability to conduct online webinars, and other business-oriented features. Each user license allows a Microsoft 365 Business Standard shared computer activation across five different devices per user. So, this means your employee could have fully licensed Microsoft 365 Business Standard apps installed on a MacBook laptop, a PC desktop, an Android tablet, or an iPhone and still have the option to legally install the apps to one additional device.

You can pay with all major credit cards, and your subscription amount will appear on your credit card statement. Canceling a subscription to any Microsoft 365 Business solution always results in deleting any user data stored in the cloud, so making local backups is recommended before cancellation.

Microsoft 365 Business Standard vs Microsoft 365 Business Premium: Which One is Right for Your Business?

If you are looking for a cloud-based solution that offers Office apps, cloud services, and Microsoft Teams for your small or medium-sized business, you might be wondering which plan to choose: Microsoft 365 Business Standard or Microsoft 365 Business Premium.

Both plans have many features in common, but you should consider some key differences before making a decision. Let’s compare these two plans regarding price, security, device management, access and data control, and productivity.

Price

The first thing you might want to compare is the price of the two plans. Of course, Microsoft 365 Business Premium costs more than Microsoft 365 Business Standard. The price difference reflects the additional security features that Business Premium offers. A Microsoft 365 Business Standard trial is 100% free for one full month—enabling potential users to try all the features before buying.

Security

Security is one of the most important aspects of any cloud-based solution, especially for businesses that deal with sensitive or confidential data. Both plans have standard security features such as data encryption, spam filtering, and malware protection. However, Business Premium adds advanced security features like cyber threat protection, device management, and data control. These features help you protect your business from phishing, ransomware, data breaches, and unauthorized access.

• Cyber threat protection includes Microsoft Defender, an antivirus and antimalware solution that scans Outlook email attachments and links for malicious content. Defender includes powerful endpoint detection and response features to protect both corporate-provided and employee-owned devices and monitor and control employee cloud app usage.
• Device management includes Microsoft Intune and Azure Information Protection, which allow you to remotely wipe data from lost or stolen devices, enforce policies and settings, and control access to sensitive data.
• Data control includes sensitivity labels, data loss prevention, and information rights management, which enable you to classify and protect your data from accidental or intentional leaks.

Device Management

Another difference between the two plans is the ability to manage your devices using Intune and Azure Information Protection. These tools are only available in Business Premium and not in Business Standard. They allow you to remotely wipe data from lost or stolen devices, enforce policies and settings, and control access to sensitive data.

For example, you can use Intune to create device groups, assign apps and settings, monitor device compliance, and take actions such as locking or wiping devices. You can also use Azure Information Protection to apply labels to your documents and emails that specify who can access them and what they can do with them.

Access and Data Control

Business Premium also gives you more control over who can access your data and how they can use it. You can set up multi-factor authentication, conditional access, and identity protection to verify users' identities and prevent unauthorized access. You can also use sensitivity labels, data loss prevention, and information rights management to classify and protect your data from accidental or intentional leaks.

Multi-factor authentication requires users to provide more than one piece of evidence to prove their identity, such as a password and a code sent to their phone. Conditional access allows you to set rules based on factors such as location, device type, or app to grant or deny access to your resources. Identity protection detects suspicious activities related to your users' identities and responds accordingly.

Sensitivity labels allow you to mark your documents and emails with different levels of confidentiality, such as public, internal, confidential, or secret. Data loss prevention helps prevent sensitive data from leaving your organization through email or other channels. Information rights management restricts what users can do with their documents and emails, such as copying, printing, forwarding, or editing.

Productivity

Both plans offer the same productivity features, such as desktop, web, and mobile versions of Microsoft productivity apps. Unfortunately, Apple Mac users cannot install and run Microsoft Publisher and Access apps as they are only available on Windows PCs. Both plans allow you to chat, call, meet up to 300 attendees, host webinars, and manage customer appointments with Microsoft Teams.

*Pricing as of July 2023

FAQ: Microsoft 365 Business Standard vs Microsoft 365 Business Premium

Does Microsoft 365 Business Standard Include Email Encryption?

Microsoft 365 Business Standard includes email encryption as part of its standard security features. Email encryption helps you protect the privacy and security of your email messages by converting them from readable plain text into scrambled cipher text.

How Many Computers Can I Use Microsoft 365 Business Standard On?

With a single license, users may install Microsoft 365 Business Standard on up to five different devices. The ability for Microsoft 365 Business Standard shared computer activation enables usage on PCs, Macs, tablets, and mobile devices. Along with local apps, users can access web-only versions of Microsoft productivity apps from any internet-connected device. This means you can work anywhere, anytime, on any device with Microsoft 365 Business Standard.

When Should a SMB Choose to Buy Microsoft 365 Business Premium Over Microsoft 365 Business Standard?

Microsoft 365 Business Premium is a comprehensive solution that combines the productivity and collaboration features of Microsoft 365 Business Standard with advanced security and device management capabilities. It is designed for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) that need more protection and control over their data and devices. Some benefits of Microsoft 365 Business Premium are:

• Provide per-user remote access for employees to must-have business apps from wherever they are working.
• Protect corporate data and employees against cyber threats with granular control over who has access to your business information and how they can use it.
• Secure and manage devices by enabling you to remotely wipe company data from lost or stolen devices—whether company-provided or employee-owned.

Conclusion

There are many factors to consider when choosing between Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Microsoft 365 Business Premium. Both plans offer great value for your business, but Business Premium has some extra features that might be worth the higher price, especially if you need more security, device management, and data control. Ultimately, choosing the best plan depends on your business needs and budget.

That's where Amaxra comes in. As a certified Microsoft Cloud Provider, we have the expertise and experience to help you deploy Microsoft 365 Business licenses optimized for your specific needs. Whether you need basic email and online storage, advanced security, device management, or a complete bundle of apps and services, we can help you find the best fit for your budget and goals.

We also provide ongoing support and training to help you get the most out of your Microsoft 365 Business subscription. We can help you troubleshoot issues, customize your settings, and leverage the latest features and updates. With Amaxra, you can rest assured that your cloud journey will be smooth and successful.

Ready to get started? Contact us today for a free consultation and quote. We'll help you transform your business with Microsoft 365 Business.

Get Started Today

We'll build a secure and complete Microsoft software solution for your business while you concentrate on what's important. 

Contact Us

Contact Us