Microsoft 365 is a pillar of digital productivity and collaboration – whether it’s the office applications you use, or the online storage systems to rely upon to be able to work from anywhere – Microsoft has an app for it. But what apps do you get in each Microsoft 365 License? And how can you make the most of them?

What’s Included With Each Microsoft 365 License?

Firstly, it’s a good idea to check which Microsoft 365 license you have – Business Basic, Business Standard, or Business Premium. There are a couple more variations, but these three are the main license packages, and you’ll likely have one of these more than any other.

To check, you can ask your IT admin who should know, or you can open any of the main office apps (Word, PowerPoint, etc.), hit “File” then “Account” at the bottom left and it should tell you the package you have. As for what’s included, take a look at the table below:

Basic

£460per month / annual subscription
  • 50GB Email Account
  • Teams
  • SharePoint
  • Web Versions of Word, Excel & PowerPoint

Apps that are included in the Microsoft 365 Business Basic License - OneDrive, Teams, SharePoint and Exchange

Standard

£960per month / annual subscription
  • Everything In Basic, Plus
  • Desktop Versions Of Word, Excel & PowerPoint
  • Microsoft Loop
  • Multi-Factor Authentication

Apps that are included in the Microsoft 365 Business Standard License - OneDrive, Teams, SharePoint, Exchange, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and Excel

Premium

£1690per month / annual subscription
  • Everything In Standard, Plus
  • Endpoint Protection (Anti-Virus)
  • Mobile Device Management
  • Access And Data Controls
  • Improved Multi-Factor Authentication

Apps that are included in the Microsoft 365 Business Premium License - OneDrive, Teams, SharePoint, Exchange, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel, Intune, Azure Information Protection, and Defender

As I’m sure you all know, with every package you get your basic office applications (web versions for Basic, desktop versions for Standard and Premium), those being Word, PowerPoint, Outlook and Excel. You also get access to Teams and OneDrive in every package.

But – there’s a lot of applications that you might not realise you get as part of your license package, so here’s a quick list below of the lesser known, and lesser used, apps that your license entitles you to!

In Basic, Standard & Premium, you also get:

  • SharePoint: The backbone of Microsoft’s storage capabilities, which can handle all of your cloud storage needs, while allowing collaboration and integration with the rest of the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. We can’t overstate how much we love SharePoint – so much so that we wrote a dedicated article about it here

In Standard & Premium, you also get:

  • Microsoft Loop: Loop is a powerhouse of collaboration and project planning. Imagine having one document that everyone can see, gets updated in real time for everyone, and anyone can add different elements to, like meeting notes, task lists and checklists. Now imagine it also integrates with Microsoft Planner, Trello, Jira and even GitHub. NOW imagine it being bolstered by Microsoft Copilot’s AI capabilities – That’s Microsoft Loop, and you can read more about it here.

In Premium, you also get:

  • Microsoft Intune: Microsoft’s cornerstone of mobile device security. A tool that helps businesses secure and manage all kinds of company devices and applications, including employees’ mobile phones. Intune allows you to secure and manage every device that connects to company data, all from one place. – Read more about what Intune can do for your business here
  • Defender For Business: Put your pitchforks down… Defender For Business is a game-changer for endpoint protection, as well as detection and response. This isn’t the free version that’s included with every copy of Windows, Defender for business is an all-singing, all-dancing over-achiever that has earned Microsoft accolades from industry bodies like Gartner and IDC, both of whom named Microsoft as a “leader” in endpoint protection and security – Still not convinced? Read more about Defender For Business here.

How Do I Get The Most From My Microsoft 365 License?

Now that you’ve identified what license package you have, and reviewed what is and isn’t available to you, it’s a brilliant time to take a look at any 3rd party apps you might be paying to use, and whether you still need them.

For example, do you use…

  • Google Drive? You’ve already got SharePoint.
  • Slack? You’ve got Teams.
  • Mobile Device Management Software? You might have access to Intune.
  • Norton or McAfee? Defender For Business is leagues ahead.

The above is all software that you’ll be paying an extra fee for, which may well be money you can save by switching to the Microsoft apps you’re already paying for. But if you’re still not convinced, then get in touch with us at the button below.

How Can I Move To Microsoft 365?

Moving to Microsoft 365 and migrating your data can seem like a daunting task – but it doesn’t have to be. We can help you move your data over and get you the best available price on licenses, all you need to do is give us a call, or send us an email.

In terms of contracts, there are some different options. Microsoft introduced the New Commerce Experience (NCE) a couple of years ago, which is designed to save you money on your licenses when you commit to an annual contract.

An annual contract cannot be cancelled until the end of its term, nor can you reduce the number of licenses you have until then. You can increase the number (for example, if you expand your team) whenever needed, and you can also transfer a license from one employee to another whenever necessary. In some cases, you can also upgrade your license to the next level should you need extra features.

Licenses are available on a monthly commitment as well, although this comes with a slightly increased price compared with the annual contract, due to the added flexibility.

What’s The Best Microsoft 365 License For Me?

The best license for you will depend on a few things, from the kind of data you handle, the size of your business, and the nature of your business, these can all change what apps and services you need and don’t need.

Generally speaking, we believe that the Microsoft 365 Business Premium package is best suited for most organisations, as it has absolutely everything a small-to-medium sized business needs, from collaboration and storage tools, to in-depth security and protection applications, all in one tidy package for one price – but the truth is that it’s not just one size fits all.

Talk to us about your business’ needs today, and we can help you figure out what package is best for you. Or take a look at Microsoft’s own thoughts on the 365 licensing.