5 Top Considerations when Choosing Microsoft Business Premium License

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Choosing the right security solutions for your business is essential in today's cloud-based corporate world. Microsoft 365 Business Premium stands out as a comprehensive solution, offering an efficient and optimal blend of productivity and security features. This article will explore why Microsoft 365 Business Premium is an excellent choice for your business.

What Is Microsoft Business Premium?

What Is Microsoft Business Premium

Microsoft 365 Business Premium is a comprehensive productivity and security solution designed for small and medium-sized businesses. Microsoft 365 Business Premium is more than just a set of cloud-powered software tools; it's a combination of productivity, collaboration, and security features specifically designed to blend together and meet the needs of small to medium-sized businesses.

The Significance of Business Premium in the Office 365 Suite

Microsoft Business Premium is a part of the broader Microsoft Office 365 suite. This solution integrates the familiar Office 365 software applications such as Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint, and Microsoft Teams with advanced security measures and device management capabilities, creating an environment where businesses can thrive in today's digital landscape.

While Office 365 plans are most often seen in large enterprises, the Business Premium solution is tailored to businesses with up to 300 employees. This solution combines the familiar Office 365 tools with advanced security measures to protect against cyber threats.

Understanding Office 365 Business Premium

Office 365 Business Premium is a comprehensive solution offering various tools to help businesses streamline their operations and enhance productivity. It includes Microsoft Teams, which is a powerful collaboration platform that enables team members to communicate and work together seamlessly. With Teams, businesses can create channels for different projects, share files, and hold virtual meetings, among other things.

In addition to Teams, Office 365 Business Premium provides secure access to business data and robust defenses against sophisticated cyber threats like phishing and ransomware. This is especially important in today's digital age, where cyber attacks are becoming increasingly common. Using Office 365 Business Premium, businesses can protect their data and ensure their operations run smoothly.

For example, imagine a small business owner who runs a SaaS company. The owner uses Office 365 Business Premium to manage their inventory, track sales, and communicate with their suppliers and vendors. They use Teams to collaborate with their employees on different projects, share files, and hold virtual meetings. They also use the platform's security features to protect their business data from cyber threats. Most importantly, every employee in this business can be productive anywhere and on any device with internet access, as opposed to being stuck behind a desktop computer in an office. Business Premium works on all major device platforms in use today.

The following table details the key features and capabilities for device management across Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices:

Feature/Capability

Windows

Mac

iOS

Android

Device Enrollment & Setup

Simplified setup with Windows Autopilot

Enrollment with Apple Business Manager

Enrollment with Apple Business Manager

Enrollment with the Company Portal App

Application Management

Deploy and manage Office apps and third-party applications

Manage Office apps and some third-party applications

Manage Office apps and App Store applications

Manage Office apps and Google Play Store applications

Security Policy Enforcement

Comprehensive security policies including BitLocker encryption

Implementation of security settings like FileVault for encryption

Enforce security settings like passcode requirements

Apply security settings like screen lock requirements

Device Compliance Monitoring

Monitor and ensure devices meet security standards

Compliance checks and reporting

Compliance checks for secure access to company resources

Compliance checks and reporting

Remote Actions (like wipe, lock)

Full and selective wipe, remote lock

Full and selective wipe, remote lock

Full and selective wipe, remote lock

Full and selective wipe, remote lock

Update Management

Manage Windows updates

Manage macOS updates

Control iOS updates

Control Android updates

Microsoft 365 Business Premium Device Management Features

Microsoft Business Premium offers a range of built-in device management features and third-party management software integration options that can help you streamline your IT operations:

  • Device enrollment & setup: With Windows Autopilot, you can easily set up Windows devices, streamlining the process for IT and end-users. For example, if you recently purchased new Windows devices for your employees, you can use Autopilot to configure them with the necessary settings and applications before they arrive. Similarly, for Mac, iOS, and Android devices, the enrollment process is facilitated through respective management solutions like Apple Business Manager and the Company Portal App, ensuring a smooth start for users.
  • Application management: Microsoft Business Premium allows for the deployment and management of essential business applications across all platforms. For example, you can deploy and manage the Microsoft 365 Business suite, as well as other critical business applications, tailored to each operating system's ecosystem. This can help you ensure that your employees have access to the tools they need to be productive, no matter what device they are using.
  • Security policy enforcement: Implementing security policies is crucial, and Business Premium offers robust options for each platform. For example, you can enforce BitLocker encryption on Windows PC devices to protect sensitive business data. Similarly, you can ensure that FileVault encryption is used on Apple Macs to protect data at rest. Implementing these policies can help protect your business from security threats.
  • Device compliance monitoring: Regular monitoring of device compliance with company policies is streamlined with Microsoft Business Premium, ensuring that all devices, regardless of their operating system, adhere to your business's security standards. For example, you can monitor devices to ensure that they are running the latest software updates and security patches. You can also monitor devices to ensure that they are not running unauthorized software or accessing unauthorized websites.
  • Remote actions: In case of a security threat or lost device, remote actions like wiping or locking the device are available. This feature is crucial for protecting data in today's mobile-first world. For example, if an employee loses their device, you can remotely wipe the device to ensure that sensitive business data does not fall into the wrong hands.
  • Update management: Keeping devices up-to-date with the latest software is vital for security and performance. Business Premium provides tools to manage these updates efficiently across different operating systems. For example, you can use the Microsoft Endpoint Manager to manage updates for Windows devices. Similarly, IT managers can integrate the popular third-party Jamf Pro software to manage updates for employees using Apple Mac hardware. By keeping your devices up-to-date, you can ensure that they are running smoothly and securely.

By understanding these features and capabilities, you can see how Microsoft Business Premium not only enhances productivity with its suite of Office applications but also provides a comprehensive, cross-platform device management solution. This ensures that your business's devices are secure, up-to-date, and aligned with your IT policies, regardless of the operating system they run on.

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Office 365 Business Premium Features

Office 365 Business Premium Features

The following features of Office 365 Business Premium are designed not just to enhance productivity and security but also to provide peace of mind and flexibility, allowing business owners to focus on what they do best-running their business:

  1. Advanced security: In today's digital age, cyber threats like phishing and ransomware are a constant concern. Microsoft Business Premium offers robust protection against these threats. For example, imagine your employees receiving emails that look legitimate but are actually phishing attempts. Business Premium's advanced security features can identify and neutralize these threats before they compromise your business data, much like a vigilant security guard at the gates of your digital domain.
  2. Device management: With the rise of remote work, managing and securing a variety of devices (laptops, smartphones, tablets) used by your team can be challenging. Business Premium simplifies this by allowing you to manage all these devices from a single platform. Think of it as having a remote control for all the devices in your business, ensuring they are updated, secure, and functioning optimally, no matter where your team is working from.
  3. Collaboration tools: Microsoft Teams, a key component of Business Premium, revolutionizes how your team collaborates. Imagine your sales team in Seattle, your finance team in London, and your IT support in Bangalore, all working together seamlessly as if they were in the same room. The Microsoft Teams app enables real-time collaboration, video conferencing, and file sharing, making geographical boundaries irrelevant.
  4. Comprehensive administration: Office 365 Business Premium streamlines administrative tasks by providing a unified platform for administration, billing, and support. This is similar to having a central dashboard in a car, where you can easily monitor and control various aspects of your business's IT environment. It simplifies complex IT tasks, allowing you to focus more on growing your business rather than managing technology.
  5. Cloud productivity: With Office 365 Business Premium, you get access to cloud-based productivity tools like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. This means your team can work on documents simultaneously, share files instantly, and access their work from anywhere. For instance, your sales team can update a sales report on the go, and the changes will be instantly available to the finance team back in the office. It's like having a virtual office that's accessible from anywhere at any time.

Microsoft Office Business Premium vs Other Business Plans

Microsoft Office Business Premium vs Other Business Plans

Making informed business IT decisions is crucial. Part of this is understanding how 365 Business Premium stands apart from other business plans and how it can specifically benefit your business. This section provides the necessary information to make a decision that aligns with your business's needs, ensuring that your investment not only enhances productivity and security but also drives your business forward in an increasingly digital world.

This comparison is designed to provide you with a clear, concise overview, highlighting the unique advantages and features of Business Premium in contrast to other Microsoft 365 offerings:

Comparing Microsoft 365 Business Plans

Feature

Business Basic

Business Standard

Business Premium

Office Apps

Web and mobile versions

All devices

All devices

Email & Calendar

Yes

Yes

Yes

Teamwork & Communication

Yes

Yes

Yes

Per User File Storage & Sharing

1 TB

1 TB

1 TB

Security & Compliance

Basic

Standard

Advanced

Support & Deployment

Standard

Standard

Enhanced

5 Considerations When Choosing a Microsoft Business Premium License

Choosing a Microsoft Business Premium License

When selecting the right Microsoft Business Premium subscription for your business, it's crucial to consider various factors that align with your business goals and operational needs. The Microsoft 365 Business Premium License offers a range of features that cater to specific business requirements.

Let's delve into five key considerations to help you determine if Office 365 Business Premium is the ideal choice for your business. We explore each point with real-world examples, providing a practical perspective on how this subscription can benefit different aspects of your business operations:

  1. Size of your business: Microsoft 365 Business Premium is optimized for businesses with up to 300 employees. For instance, a growing marketing agency with 150 employees can leverage Business Premium to efficiently manage their team's collaboration and data security without needing a complex IT infrastructure.
  2. Security needs: With the increasing threat of cyber-attacks, businesses need robust cloud-based security measures. A retail business, for example, handling sensitive customer data can benefit from Business Premium's advanced security features to protect against data breaches and maintain customer trust.
  3. Remote work compatibility: For businesses with remote or hybrid work models, Business Premium offers tools like Microsoft Teams and cloud storage, facilitating seamless collaboration. Imagine a consulting firm whose employees work from various locations; Office 365 Business Premium allows them to collaborate on projects in real-time, regardless of their physical location.
  4. IT infrastructure: Business Premium simplifies IT management, which is ideal for businesses without extensive in-house IT resources. A small but rapidly expanding e-commerce company, for instance, can manage its IT needs efficiently without needing to hire a large IT team.
  5. Budget: Considering the comprehensive range of features offered, Microsoft Business Premium is a cost-effective solution. A startup operating on a tight budget can benefit from the all-in-one package of productivity tools, security, and device management, eliminating the need for multiple separate subscriptions.

Each of these considerations plays a vital role in ensuring that your choice of Microsoft 365 Business Premium aligns with:

  • Your business's specific needs
  • The size and scale of your business
  • Your projected growth trajectory

For the majority of small to midsize businesses, choosing Microsoft 365 Business Premium contributes to streamlined operations and enhanced productivity.

Conclusion

Microsoft 365 Business Premium is a robust, all-in-one solution that caters to the productivity and security needs of modern businesses. If you're looking to empower your team with the best tools while ensuring top-notch security, Microsoft Business Premium is the way to go.

Interested in learning how Microsoft 365 Business Premium can be tailored to your specific business needs? Contact Amaxra today. Our experts are ready to design, deliver, and support an Office 365 Business solution that aligns with your desired business outcomes.

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