How to Choose the Right Microsoft 365 Plan for Your Business Security Needs

Microsoft 365 is a cloud-based service that offers various plans for small, medium, and large enterprises. Each plan has different security features and capabilities to suit different needs and budgets.

But how do you know which plan is the best fit for your business security needs? How do you compare the different options and make an informed decision?

In this blog post, I will give you a brief overview of some of the security features included with each Microsoft 365 plan, and help you choose the right one for your business.

Microsoft 365 Business Basic

This plan is the most affordable option for small businesses that need basic security features. It includes:

• Azure Active Directory Free, which provides identity and access management, and security defaults, which enable multi-factor authentication and block legacy authentication protocols.
• Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 1, which protects against phishing, malware, and spam in email and collaboration tools.

This plan is suitable for businesses that have simple security requirements and do not need to manage or secure mobile devices or apps.

Microsoft 365 Business Standard

This plan has the same security features as Business Basic, plus:

• Microsoft Intune, which allows you to manage and secure mobile devices and apps.

This plan is suitable for businesses that have moderate security requirements and need to control the access and usage of mobile devices and apps.

Microsoft 365 Business Premium

This plan has the most comprehensive security features for small and medium-sized businesses. It includes:

• Microsoft Defender for Business, which provides advanced protection for devices, such as next-generation antivirus, endpoint detection and response, and web content filtering.
• Azure Active Directory Premium Plan 1, which adds features such as Conditional Access, Identity Protection, and Privileged Identity Management.
• Information protection and governance capabilities, such as sensitivity labels, data loss prevention, and retention policies.

This plan is suitable for businesses that have complex security requirements and need to protect their data from internal and external threats.

Microsoft 365 E3

This plan is designed for large enterprises that need more scalability and compliance capabilities. It includes all the security features of Business Premium, plus:

• Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Plan 1, which adds features such as attack surface reduction, automated investigation and response, and threat and vulnerability management.
• Azure Information Protection Plan 1, which allows you to classify and encrypt data based on labels.
• eDiscovery and audit capabilities, such as advanced eDiscovery, communication compliance, and customer lockbox.

This plan is suitable for enterprises that have high security requirements and need to comply with various regulations and standards.

Microsoft 365 E5

This plan is the most advanced and comprehensive plan for enterprises that need the highest level of security and analytics. It includes all the security features of E3, plus:

• Microsoft Defender for Endpoint Plan 2, which adds features such as device control, live response, and Microsoft threat experts.
• Azure Active Directory Premium Plan 2, which adds features such as Identity Governance, Entitlement Management, and Access Reviews.
• Microsoft 365 Defender, which provides unified threat protection across identities, endpoints, email, apps, and cloud.
• Information protection and governance capabilities such as Azure Information Protection Plan 2, which adds features such as automatic classification and labeling.
• Advanced compliance capabilities such as Insider Risk Management, Data Subject Requests, and Records Management.

This plan is suitable for enterprises that have the most demanding security requirements and need to leverage advanced analytics and insights.

Conclusion

Choosing the right Microsoft 365 plan for your business security needs can be challenging. There are many factors to consider, such as your budget, your security goals, your compliance obligations, your device management needs, your data protection needs, and your threat landscape.