Microsoft 365 Business Premium is one of the best-value security packages for small and medium-sized businesses. Yet in practice I see that most organisations barely use half of what it can do. So you pay for it, but leave security on the table. Here is an overview of what is already included.
More than Office and email
Many business owners think of Business Premium as Word, Excel, Outlook and Teams. The difference from the cheaper packages lies precisely in the security and management layer. That layer often goes unused, while it offers exactly the protection you need.
What is included?
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA): the single most important measure against hacked accounts. It is included, you just have to enforce it.
- Conditional Access: rules that decide who may sign in, from where and with which device. For example, no access from high-risk countries, or only from managed devices.
- Microsoft Intune: management and security of all laptops and smartphones, including remotely wiping a lost device.
- Defender for Business: protection against viruses, ransomware and suspicious activity on your devices.
- Defender for Office 365: protection against phishing and against malicious attachments and links in email.
- Sensitivity labels and basic DLP: classifying and protecting sensitive documents, so they don't simply leave your organisation.
- Self-service password reset: staff reset their own passwords securely, without the helpdesk.
Why does it so often go unused?
The features are in the package, but they are not set up correctly by default. Microsoft supplies the building blocks. You still have to build the wall yourself. Someone has to decide which access policy suits your organisation, which devices are managed and which documents count as sensitive. Without that configuration the security is there, but most of it is switched off.
The practical gain
For most SMEs I help, it does not start with a purchase. The first step is switching on what is already there: enforcing MFA, setting up a well-considered access policy, bringing devices under Intune and tightening email security. All of that is possible within the licence you already pay for. That way you can often raise your security level to many times where it stood within a few weeks, without extra licence costs.
Conclusion
If you have Business Premium, you already have a solid security foundation. You just need to switch it on and set it up correctly. Do you want to know which part of your package goes unused today? A short security review makes that clear straight away.