Is Microsoft 365 Business Premium worth it?

Microsoft 365 Business Premium costs more than Standard, and for most small businesses the upgrade pays for itself, but only if you actually turn on what you're paying for.

What you get over Standard

• Defender for Business, enterprise-grade endpoint security.
• Intune, manage and secure company devices, wipe lost ones.
• Conditional access and advanced identity protection.
• Data loss prevention and email encryption.

The catch

These features deliver value only when configured. A lot of businesses pay for Premium and never deploy Defender or Intune, so they get Standard's protection at Premium's price. The license is the easy part; the setup is what matters.

The bottom line

If you handle sensitive data or want real control over company devices, Premium is worth it, provided someone configures it properly and you right-size licenses so you're not paying for seats nobody uses.

Frequently asked questions

What does Microsoft 365 Business Premium include that Standard does not?

Premium adds Defender for Business for endpoint security, Intune for device management, conditional access with advanced identity protection, and data loss prevention with email encryption. Standard covers the core apps and email. The upgrade is about security and device control, and those features have to be configured before they protect anything.

Is Business Premium worth the extra cost for a small business?

For most small businesses, yes, if you handle sensitive data or want real control over company devices. The upgrade pays for itself when the security features are turned on and configured. Paying for Premium without deploying Defender or Intune gets you Standard's protection at Premium's price.

Does Business Premium work out of the box, or does someone need to set it up?

The license alone changes little. Defender, Intune, conditional access, and data loss prevention all need configuration before they do anything. Many businesses buy Premium and never deploy those tools, which is the most common way the upgrade fails to deliver.

Does my business need Intune?

If employees use company laptops or phones outside the office, Intune earns its keep. It lets you manage and secure company devices and wipe a lost one before the data on it becomes a problem. A business where every device stays at one desk has less need for it.

Can a managed IT provider include Microsoft 365 licensing in the monthly plan?

Yes. 37 Forge bundles Microsoft 365 Business Standard into its Secure plan at $135 per device per month, and Business Premium into Guardian, its quote-based compliance plan. Bundling puts license management and security configuration in one place, so nobody pays for seats that sit unused.

Which businesses get the most value from Business Premium?

Businesses that handle regulated or sensitive data. Conditional access, data loss prevention, and email encryption map to requirements under HIPAA, PCI, and SEC Reg S-P. That is why 37 Forge includes Business Premium in its Guardian plan for clients with compliance obligations.