What is the difference between Business Standard and Business Premium?

Business Premium includes all features of Business Standard plus Microsoft Defender for Business, Intune device management, Azure Information Protection and Conditional Access for extra security.

Is Business Premium worth the extra cost?

Yes, if security is important for your organization. Business Premium offers protection against ransomware, phishing and data leaks that are not included in Standard.

Can I upgrade from Standard to Premium?

Yes, you can upgrade from Business Standard to Business Premium at any time. Contact us for the best transition option.

Microsoft 365 Business Premium vs Standard — 2026 comparison

What is the difference between Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Business Premium? In this comparison we break down features, pricing, and when the upgrade pays for itself.

Business Standard vs Premium — quick overview

Feature	Business Standard	Business Premium
Price (indicative)	$12.96/user/month	$22.92/user/month
Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook)	✅	✅
Teams, Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive (1 TB)	✅	✅
Web and mobile versions of Office apps	✅	✅
Microsoft Defender for Business	❌	✅
Intune (MDM/MAM)	❌	✅
Azure Information Protection	❌	✅
Conditional Access	❌	✅
Max users	300	300

What's included in both?

Office apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher, Access
Cloud services: Exchange Online, OneDrive for Business, SharePoint Online, Microsoft Teams
Web and mobile versions: of all Office apps
1 TB OneDrive storage: per user
Microsoft Loop, Clipchamp, Planner: and other productivity tools

What does Business Premium add?

Microsoft Defender for Business

Advanced protection against malware, ransomware and phishing with real-time endpoint detection & response (EDR). Includes automated threat investigation and safe links/attachments for email.

Intune device management

Manage and secure all devices (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android) from a single dashboard. Push security policies, deploy apps, and remotely wipe data on lost or stolen devices. Essential for BYOD and hybrid work.

Azure Information Protection

Classify and protect sensitive documents and emails with sensitivity labels and encryption. Prevent accidental sharing of confidential files.

Conditional Access

Set conditions for access to company data based on location, device, risk score or user group. For example, block access from unknown countries or unmanaged devices.

When to choose which?

Choose Business Standard if: - Your organization primarily needs productivity tools - Security is handled by a separate solution (e.g., external MDM or antivirus) - Budget is the main deciding factor

Choose Business Premium if: - You want to protect business data against ransomware and phishing - You need to manage employee devices (especially with remote work/BYOD) - You face compliance requirements (GDPR, ISO 27001) - You want to avoid buying separate security tools — Premium replaces 3-4 standalone products on average

Price comparison

The Premium upgrade costs $9.96/user/month more than Standard. For comparison: Microsoft Defender for Business as a standalone license costs ~$3/user/month, and Intune ~$8/user/month. Business Premium is more cost-effective than buying the components separately.

Check our Microsoft 365 CSP pricelist for current pricing, or contact us for CSP partner discounts.