Which version of M365 do I choose?

Small to Medium businesses often struggle with this question. Let me answer it.

Whether you use your PC or laptop for work, home use, or entertainment, you’ll need productivity tools at some point. Microsoft 365 is a popular choice for this.

Microsoft offers several versions of its productivity suite, which can be confusing. This is especially true if you’re buying for corporate use.

To help you decide, we’ve looked at Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Standard, and Premium. Here’s a breakdown to help you choose the right one. We’ve also included tips on secure file hosting and antivirus software for businesses.

Microsoft 365 Business Basic Explained

Microsoft 365 Business Basic is the entry-level option. It has fewer features but is more affordable. It costs about R106 per user per month (based on an exchange rate of 17.66 ZAR/USD).

For this price, you get web, Android, and iOS versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook. You also get Exchange for using your domain name for emails. You can collaborate on documents and spreadsheets, and files are saved and synced across all your devices with OneDrive and SharePoint.

If you want desktop versions of these apps, you can pay around R146 per user per month for Microsoft 365 Apps for Business. This includes downloadable office apps but not Teams.

The Basic tier also includes 1TB of cloud storage per user, business-class email with 50GB of space per mailbox, custom domain names, and full calendar capabilities. You can use Teams to plan schedules, track information with Lists, interact with customers through Bookings, and get feedback with Forms.

Security is provided by Exchange Online Protection, and Microsoft’s software meets international and industry-standard security and privacy protocols. Admins can set custom permissions and groups to restrict access to sensitive data. The Basic product supports up to 300 users.

This is a solid start for many small and medium-sized businesses, but the Basic tier lacks advanced features.

Microsoft 365 Business Standard

Upgrading to Microsoft 365 Standard costs about R221 per user per month. It includes all the features of the Basic tier, plus more.

With Business Standard, you can download and install desktop versions of Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, and OneNote on your PC or Mac. PC users also get Access and Publisher, and each user can install these tools on five devices. Business Standard also allows users to host webinars.

This tier gives you more control over your data. If you have your own domain, you can choose a more in-depth option, but it requires more tech know-how. Alternatively, you can use email accounts from different providers, but with fewer customization options.

Microsoft 365 Business Premium

Microsoft 365 Business Premium costs about R388 per user per month. It includes all the features of the Standard tier, plus extra security and management tools from Azure and Intune.

Business Premium users get enterprise-grade security to protect all devices from malware and ransomware. You can deploy Microsoft’s best email protection tools to prevent phishing. You can restrict data sharing, prevent unauthorized access, and give trusted employees elevated access levels. This tier is ideal for hybrid staff.

Admins can use wizards to apply security and access changes to many devices, and apps can be automatically deployed across your organization. Updates can be applied automatically, and you can remotely wipe data from company devices in case of breaches or theft.

Business Premium supports up to 300 users and is ideal for businesses needing better security and more control over devices.

Which Microsoft 365 Business Package Should You Choose?

The differences between the three Microsoft 365 Business offerings make it easier to choose the right one for your organization.

• Business Basic is ideal for smaller companies needing reliable web-based productivity tools and corporate email.

• Business Standard adds downloadable apps, making it worthwhile if you prefer using Windows and Mac software rather than web-based tools.

• Business Premium is best if you need advanced security and management features.

Ultimately, the choice depends on your needs: Business Basic for web-based productivity, Business Standard for downloadable tools, and Business Premium for advanced security and management.

Feel free to adjust any part of this article to better fit your needs! If you need further customization or additional details, just let me know. Pricing quoted above were done using general guided pricing on exchange rate. For updated pricing please visit Microsoft official website.