Why We Recommend Microsoft 365 Business Premium to Our Clients
Microsoft 365 Business Premium is a subscription service that allows you to use Microsoft’s suite of applications (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, Teams, etc.) and includes extra security features to protect your organization from real-world threats.
At a base price of $22 per user, per month, Business Premium is a sizeable investment for any small or medium-sized business. But the No. 1 reason we recommend Business Premium to our clients over Business Standard ($12.50/user/month) is simple: the extra security features.
The four features of Business Premium that set it apart from Business Standard include:
- Entra ID P1 (Conditional Access)
- Phishing protection from email attachments and links
- Azure Information Protection
- Intune for device management
Security is our top priority, and we aim to make it our clients’ top priority, as well. We’ll break down what each of these extra security features does and why it is in your best interest to invest in them to protect you and your organization.
In addition to the four features above, Business Premium is required for those organizations looking to make the jump from an on-premises server to the cloud. Many of its extra security features are cloud based, making it a perfect starting point for those looking to take their entire operations off a physical server.
Configure Identity Management with Entra ID P1
Entra ID P1 — previously known as Azure Active Directory P1 — is a cloud-based identity and access management solution that safeguards your data. Basically, it allows you to set restrictions for who is allowed access and what their rights are.
A large part of the value you receive with Entra is Conditional Access, which allows your IT team or managed service provider (MSP) to create rules that automatically enforce your organization’s policies.
For example, you can force your employees to use multifactor authentication or single sign-on, and block them from logging in on unregistered devices, such as a personal computer. Additionally, you can geoblock your sensitive data based on where your employees are physically located. For example, you can set a restriction that prohibits your employees from accessing sensitive data when they are outside of the country.
Defend Against Malicious Email with Phishing Protection
Business Premium allows you to apply preset security policies to help protect against phishing attacks hidden in email attachments or links.
Safe Links will scan any link you click in an email and determine if the website is safe before opening the page. If the website is malicious, you will see the Safe Links block warning you of the risk.
Safe Attachments scans attachments in emails before they are delivered to your employees to determine if they are malicious. If an attachment is deemed malicious, it will be removed, and the recipient will be notified a malicious attachment was removed.
If your organization outsources its IT services to an MSP, it can use Intune to push applications to all your employees’ computers, rather than manually installing each app on each device or walking every employee through the steps to install the apps.
Business Premium also includes Microsoft’s spam filter, which will quarantine emails and keep them out of your inbox until you approve or delete them.
Safeguard Sensitive Information with Azure Information Protection
Azure Information Protection allows you to protect your data by encrypting it, preventing unauthorized access.
This is most notable when it comes to sending and receiving emails. Organizations that have remote workers or workers who have a hybrid schedule need to be able to send and receive important company data securely.
Azure Information Protection also provides access to data based on identity, allowing you to configure who should get that access. For example, you can keep sensitive HR department documents isolated to people within the HR department and keep finance data restricted to those in the finance department.
Apply Security Policies with Intune
Lastly, Intune is a cloud-based endpoint management solution that allows you to apply security policies to help protect your business data on all your organization’s devices. Those devices include company-issued computers and smartphones, as well as personal smartphones and tablets.
For example, if your organization outsources its IT services to an MSP, it can use Intune to push applications to all your employees’ computers, rather than manually installing each app on each device or walking every employee through the steps to install the apps.
Additionally, you could set up a security policy that forces your employees to enter a PIN or use facial recognition when viewing their work email on their personal phone, ensuring their personal device is secure when viewing company data.
You may be tempted to purchase Business Standard and the Entra ID P1 ($6/user/month) add-on to save money, but you’ll be unable to apply security policies with Intune, safeguard your sensitive information with Azure Information Protection and defend against malicious email with phishing protection.
Move to the Cloud with Business Premium
Want to learn more about Microsoft Business Premium’s security features? Contact us here to see how we can keep your business running smoothly while increasing productivity, security and profitability.
