Microsoft 365 Business Premium vs Business Standard: Which Is Right for You?
A practical comparison for UK businesses — covering features, costs, and which option suits different requirements.
Key Facts
Microsoft 365 Business Premium vs Business Standard
| Feature | Microsoft 365 Business Premium | Business Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Best For | Depends on requirements | Depends on requirements |
| UK Availability | Widely available | Widely available |
| Typical Cost | Varies | Varies |
| Complexity | Varies | Varies |
When to Choose Each Option
Guidance based on your business requirements.
Choose Microsoft 365 Business Premium When
Your business has specific requirements that favour this approach. Budget and resources align with this solution. Your existing infrastructure supports it
Choose Business Standard When
Your business needs a different approach. You have different budget considerations. Your team has relevant experience
Cost Considerations
Both Microsoft 365 Business Premium and Business Standard have different cost profiles. The right choice depends on your business size, existing infrastructure, and specific requirements. AMVIA can help you evaluate which option delivers the best value for your situation.
The AMVIA Recommendation
The AMVIA Recommendation
We recommend M365 Business Premium for any UK business handling client data, financial records, or operating in a regulated sector. The additional £8–£10 per user per month includes Defender for Business, Intune, and Conditional Access — giving you a complete, integrated security baseline. AMVIA can migrate you from Standard to Premium with minimal disruption.
Get a Free M365 Security AuditFrequently Asked Questions
Yes. 50% of small businesses (10-49 employees) reported a cybersecurity breach in 2025. UK small businesses face around 65,000 hack attempts daily, with approximately 4,500 successful breaches. More than a quarter of SMBs say a single cyber attack could put them out of business entirely.
Yes. Microsoft explicitly states they are not responsible for data backup. Microsoft provides only limited short-term retention (14-93 days). 87% of IT professionals reported experiencing SaaS data loss in 2024. Only 15% of organisations were able to fully recover all their data after a loss incident.
The average cost of the most disruptive breach is £3,550 for UK businesses. For businesses that experienced negative outcomes such as data loss or financial theft, the average cost rises to £8,260. Medium and large businesses face average costs of £10,830 per disruptive incident.
No. Microsoft 365 security settings are not all enabled by default. Recommended security settings must be actively configured. Legacy authentication protocols, which do not support MFA, remain enabled in many tenants. Organisations that disable legacy authentication experience 67% fewer account compromises.
Not Sure Which to Choose?
AMVIA can assess your requirements and recommend the right solution.
Related Resources
How Much Does Managed Cybersecurity Cost?
UK pricing guide for managed cybersecurity services
M365 Business Premium vs Standard
Security differences between M365 tiers
MDR vs EDR: Which Does Your Business Need?
Compare managed detection vs endpoint detection
Microsoft 365 Security Services
AMVIA's M365 security management service