Graphic of a 3d Microsoft apps behind name Microsoft 365

In today’s fast-paced business landscape, the right productivity tools can make all the difference for a company’s success. Microsoft Office 365 offers a variety of plans designed to cater to different business needs. But how do you decide between Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Microsoft 365 E5? In this blog post, we’ll delve into a comprehensive comparison of these two plans, exploring their differences, advanced features, and benefits. By the end, you’ll have a clear understanding of why upgrade from Microsoft 365 Business Premium to Microsoft 365 E5 and how it can potentially elevate your business to new heights.

Key Takeaways

Understanding the Differences: Microsoft 365 Business Premium vs. Microsoft 365 E5

The growth and success of your organization hinge on the selection of the right Microsoft 365 plan. Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Microsoft 365 E5 serve different business sizes and needs, thus understanding their differences is crucial for making an informed decision.

This part of the article presents a clear comparison between the user capacity, target audience, and pricing structure of these two plans. Utilizing this information, you can determine which plan aligns with your organization’s needs, ensuring that your team has the necessary tools and resources to excel in their roles.

User Capacity and Target Audience

One of the primary differences between Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Microsoft 365 E5 is their user capacity. Microsoft 365 Business Premium supports up to 300 users, making it an ideal choice for small to medium-sized businesses. On the other hand, Microsoft 365 E5 supports an unlimited number of users, catering to larger enterprises with expansive teams. Both plans offer Enterprise Mobility and security features for enhanced device and data protection.

In addition to user capacity, the target audience of these plans differs. Microsoft 365 Business Premium is tailored for small to medium-sized businesses that require a comprehensive set of productivity tools without breaking the bank. In contrast, Microsoft 365 E5 is designed for larger enterprises or those with more complex needs, providing advanced features such as analytics, voice services, and enhanced security and compliance capabilities. Microsoft Business Premium users, therefore, can expect a solution that meets their specific requirements.

Pricing Comparison

When it comes to pricing, Microsoft 365 Business Premium is generally more cost-effective, priced at £18.10 per user/month. This makes it an attractive option for small to medium-sized businesses looking for a robust set of productivity tools at an affordable price point. In comparison, Microsoft 365 E5 is priced at £52.40 per user/month, reflecting the additional advanced features and capabilities it offers.

While Microsoft 365 E5 is more expensive, it provides greater value for larger enterprises with complex needs. The additional cost can be justified by the numerous advanced features, such as enhanced security, compliance, and analytical capabilities. Ultimately, organizations should carefully weigh the costs and benefits of each plan to determine which one best aligns with their requirements and budget.

For full pricing visit Microsoft plans and pricing list.

Enhanced Collaboration and Communication Features in Microsoft 365 E5

One of the primary advantages of Microsoft 365 E5 is the enhanced collaboration and communication features it offers, including a range of office apps. These advanced capabilities can significantly improve your team’s productivity, streamline workflows, and foster seamless collaboration across the organization.

This part of the article presents an exploration of the expanded Microsoft Teams capabilities and advanced voice services in Microsoft 365 E5, illustrating how these features can significantly enhance business communication and collaboration.

Expanded Microsoft Teams Capabilities

Microsoft Teams is a powerful platform for teamwork, enabling organizations to collaborate and communicate effectively. Microsoft 365 E5 expands the capacity for online meetings and video calls using Microsoft Teams to 1,000 people, compared to the 300 people available in Microsoft 365 Business Premium. With Exchange Online integration and SharePoint Online, this increased capacity allows larger enterprises to host more extensive meetings, ensuring that all team members can participate and collaborate effectively.

In addition to the increased capacity, Microsoft 365 E5 also includes Microsoft Teams Phone Standard, which enables call control and Private Branch Exchange (PBX) capabilities in the cloud. This feature provides organizations with a flexible and scalable phone system that can grow with their business needs.

Advanced Voice Services

Microsoft 365 E5 includes advanced voice services that help improve communication and collaboration within your organization. One such service is the business cloud PBX through Skype for Business, which facilitates making and receiving calls, setting up conference calls, and managing voicemail. This advanced voice service ensures that your organization’s communication channels remain efficient and seamless, even as your teams grow and evolve.

Another key voice service offered by Microsoft 365 E5 is Audio Conferencing, allowing up to 250 phone participants to dial into meetings from their phones. This feature ensures that everyone can join important meetings, even if they are away from their computer or have limited internet access. With advanced voice services, Office 365 E5 provides a comprehensive communication solution that caters to the diverse needs of modern enterprises.

Advanced Security and Compliance in Microsoft 365 E5

The security of your organisation’s data and systems is of paramount importance. Microsoft 365 E5 provides advanced security and compliance features to ensure that your business remains protected against threats and compliant with relevant regulations, making it a comprehensive upgrade from Office 365.

This part of the article examines the enhanced security features and improved compliance capabilities in Office 365 E5, emphasizing how these tools can protect your organization and ensure regulatory adherence.

Enhanced Security Features

Office 365 E5 offers a host of enhanced security features designed to protect your organization against advanced threats and data breaches. Some of these features include Azure Information Protection Plan 2 for discovering, classifying, labelling, and protecting sensitive documents and emails; and Microsoft Defender for Office 365 – Plan 2, a security feature designed to safeguard organizations against sophisticated threats, including phishing and zero-day malware. With the integration of Microsoft Cloud App Security and cloud apps Microsoft Defender, your organization can benefit from an even more comprehensive security solution.

In addition to these advanced security tools, Office 365 E5 also provides advanced threat protection with Microsoft Advanced Threat Analytics:

With these comprehensive security features, Office 365 E5 ensures that your organization remains protected against a wide array of threats and vulnerabilities.

Improved Compliance Tools

Compliance is a critical aspect of any organization’s operations, as it ensures adherence to applicable regulations and standards. Office 365 E5 provides improved compliance tools that help organizations meet their regulatory obligations and safeguard sensitive data. These tools include data lifecycle management features, such as data classification, retention, and archiving, as well as centralized information protection and compliance capabilities, including encryption, data loss prevention, and auditing.

One notable compliance tool in Microsoft 365 E5 is Microsoft Purview, a unified data governance solution that enables organizations to discover, understand, and manage sensitive data across various sources. With these improved compliance tools, Microsoft 365 E5 empowers organizations to navigate the complex regulatory landscape and maintain a strong security posture.

Powering Data-Driven Decisions with Microsoft 365 E5

In today’s data-driven world, the ability to harness the power of data analytics is essential for organizations to make informed decisions and remain competitive. Microsoft 365 E5 offers advanced analytical tools that enable businesses to derive valuable insights from their data, empowering them to make data-driven decisions that drive growth and innovation.

This part of the article explores the potent analytics capabilities in Microsoft 365 E5, including Power BI Pro and Delve Analytics, illustrating how they can assist your organization in unlocking valuable insights and making more informed decisions.

Power BI Pro

Power BI Pro is a powerful data visualization and analytics tool included in Office 365 E5. With Power BI Pro, organizations can create interactive data visualizations, publish reports and dashboards, and collaborate and share insights with others. This advanced analytics tool enables you to transform raw data into actionable insights, helping you identify trends, uncover hidden patterns, and make data-driven decisions that drive business growth.

By leveraging the capabilities of Power BI Pro, organizations can make more informed decisions based on data, ultimately leading to improved performance and a competitive edge in the marketplace. With its data visualization, data modelling, and advanced analytics capabilities, Power BI Pro is a valuable addition to the Office 365 E5 suite of productivity tools.

Delve Analytics

Delve Analytics is another powerful analytics tool available in Office 365 E5. This interactive dashboard offers insights into the way time is spent within an organization, the people with whom it is spent, and how performance compares to colleagues. By providing insights into employee productivity and collaboration patterns, Delve Analytics enables organizations to identify areas for improvement and optimize their processes for maximum efficiency.

Coupled with Power BI Pro, Delve Analytics empowers organizations to make data-driven decisions that drive growth and innovation. By harnessing the power of these advanced analytics tools, Microsoft 365 E5 users can unlock valuable insights and make more informed decisions, ultimately leading to improved business outcomes.

Making the Switch: Upgrading from Microsoft 365 Business Premium to Microsoft 365 E5

Deciding to upgrade from Microsoft 365 Business Premium to Microsoft 365 E5 is a significant decision that can profoundly impact your organization’s productivity, security, and overall success. This part of the article examines the process of upgrading from Microsoft 365 Business Premium to Microsoft 365 E5, which includes evaluating organizational needs and adhering to the upgrade process.

Understanding the steps involved in the transition ensures a smooth changeover and maximizes the benefits of the new Microsoft 365 E5 subscription.

Evaluating Organizational Needs

Prior to upgrading to Microsoft 365 E5, assessing your organization’s needs and determining the value of the additional Microsoft 365 E5 features is a necessary step. Organizations should evaluate their security requirements to guarantee that their data is safeguarded and that their systems are secure. They should also assess their compliance needs to guarantee they are adhering to all relevant regulations and standards.

In addition to security and compliance, organizations should assess their collaboration and communication needs to guarantee efficient collaboration and communication with their teams. They should also evaluate their analytics and business intelligence needs to ensure that they can make informed decisions based on data. By carefully assessing these factors, organizations can make an informed decision about whether upgrading to Microsoft 365 E5 is the right choice for their business.

Upgrade Process

The upgrade process from Microsoft 365 Business Premium to Microsoft 365 E5, which includes enterprise licenses and Exchange Online Plan, is straightforward, with Microsoft providing resources and support for a smooth transition. To upgrade, you can utilize the Switch plans wizard in your Admin center. Select the subscription that you wish to modify and follow the instructions to upgrade your plan.

During the upgrade process, Microsoft will guide you through each step, ensuring that the transition is seamless and that your organization can quickly begin to take advantage of the advanced features and capabilities offered by Microsoft 365 E5. Following the upgrade process ensures that your organization is well-prepared to leverage the capabilities of Microsoft 365 E5, fostering innovation and growth.

Summary

In conclusion, Microsoft 365 E5 offers a host of advanced features and capabilities that can significantly enhance your organization’s productivity, security, and overall success. From expanded Microsoft Teams capabilities and advanced voice services to enhanced security features and improved compliance tools, Microsoft 365 E5 is a comprehensive solution that caters to the diverse needs of modern enterprises. By evaluating your organization’s needs and making the switch to Microsoft 365 E5, you can unlock the full potential of your business, driving innovation and growth in today’s competitive landscape.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Microsoft Microsoft 365 Enterprise E5 offers advanced eDiscovery solutions, 24/7 threat protection, collaboration tools, analytics with MyAnalytics and Power BI, as well as unparalleled control over data with Access Control. Upgrade to Microsoft E5 to maximize your organization’s security, efficiency, and productivity.

Yes, Microsoft 365 E5 is worth it. It provides the most capabilities and features within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, though it comes with the highest cost. Despite this, organizations that need the features may find the cost to be worth it.

Office 365 Business Premium is designed for smaller businesses with up to 300 users, whereas Office 365 E5 offers additional features and unlimited user support for larger enterprises.

Office 365 E5 offers comprehensive security features such as Azure Information Protection Plan 2, Microsoft Defender for Office 365 – Plan 2, and integrated and automated identity and threat protection.

Upgrade from Microsoft 365 Business Premium to E5 by using the Switch plans wizard in your Admin centre, selecting the desired subscription and following Microsoft’s instructions.

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