Licensing Guide
What Does Microsoft 365 Business Premium Include?
Business Premium is the top tier of the Business plan lineup, and the jump from Standard is easy to misjudge — it's not more storage or bigger meetings, it's device management and endpoint security layered on top of the same core apps.
What's actually in the box
Business Premium includes everything in Business Standard, plus two capabilities that change what your IT team can actually control.
- Core apps and email. Desktop, web, and mobile Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, plus Exchange Online mailboxes.
- Teams and SharePoint. The same collaboration and file-sharing tools included in Standard.
- Device management via Intune. Enroll and manage company and personal devices, enforce compliance policies, and remotely wipe lost devices.
- Defender for Business. Advanced endpoint threat protection beyond the baseline security in Standard.
Why Intune is the real upgrade
Standard has no way to enforce policy on the devices connecting to company data. Premium's Intune layer means a lost laptop or phone can be remotely wiped, and BYOD devices can be required to meet a compliance baseline before they access mail or files.
Who actually needs it
Teams with remote or BYOD staff, or anyone handling data that would be a real problem if a lost device went unmanaged, get the most value from the jump to Premium.
Business Premium at a Glance
| Included in Business Premium | |
|---|---|
| Desktop, web & mobile Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook | ✓ |
| Exchange Online business email | ✓ |
| Teams and SharePoint | ✓ |
| Device management via Microsoft Intune | ✓ |
| Defender for Business endpoint protection | ✓ |
| Up to 300 users | ✓ |
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between Business Standard and Business Premium?
Premium adds device management via Intune and advanced threat protection via Defender for Business, on top of everything in Standard.
Does Business Premium include the desktop Office apps?
Yes, the full desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook are included, alongside the web and mobile versions.
Is Business Premium enough security, or do we need E5?
For most SMBs, Premium's device management and endpoint protection cover the real-world risk; E5 is typically for larger or more regulated organizations.
How many users can be licensed on Business Premium?
Business plans, including Premium, are capped at 300 users — larger organizations move to an Enterprise plan instead.
Related Guides
Conclusion
Business Premium's real value isn't a longer feature list — it's the shift from "we can't control what happens on a lost device" to "we can wipe it remotely and enforce a baseline before it touches company data." For SMBs handling any amount of BYOD or remote work, that's usually worth the jump from Standard.
Rua Technologies licenses and configures Microsoft 365 Business Premium, including Intune policy setup and Defender for Business rollout.
