Important! Microsoft’s SMB Offerings Renaming & Changes Guide

As of April 21, 2020, Microsoft has renamed its Small and Medium Business (SMB) commercial offerings, commercial desktop client, and their consumer Office 365 offerings to align with the Microsoft 365 name.
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It is important to note, that subscription prices, product features, Offer IDs and SKUs, and Office 365 Enterprise SKU names are not changing. Again, this is only a change to the product name - no product features or pricing is different as a result of these updates. No action is required by end-users, and the names will automatically be updated for them.

Microsoft 365 for Business

Previously known as Office 365 Business, Microsoft has renamed these offerings to reflect a clearer picture of how each offering is related and what they are used for. Additionally, the previous naming conventions left room for confusion regarding which offering is best. Now, the naming is tiered and makes sense based on what each offering brings.

• Office 365 Business Essentials is now Microsoft 365 Business Basic
  • Offers: Cloud Services
    • This is Microsoft’s entry offering
  • Office 365 Business Premium is now Microsoft 365 Business Standard
    • Offers: Cloud Services and Desktop Apps
      • This is Microsoft’s core offering for any SMB
    • Microsoft 365 Business is now Microsoft 365 Business Premium
      • Offers: Cloud Services, Desktop Apps, and Advanced Security
        • This is Microsoft’s high-end offering for SMB – with a focus on security

How each SMB offerings plan stacks up against one other, with each plan building on one another:

Microsoft 365 – The World’s Productivity Cloud

Microsoft has also renamed Office 365 Business and Office 365 ProPlus. This is to provide an overarching connection relating to Microsoft 365. Regarding client subscription plans that have been renamed to align with the Microsoft 365 name:

• Office 365 Business is now Microsoft 365 Apps for Business
  • Offers: Cloud-connected Desktop Apps
• Office 365 ProPlus is now Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise
  • Offers: Cloud-connected Desktop Apps

Microsoft has also just renamed their Firstline Worker licensing, which has rebranded Microsoft 365 F1 as Microsoft 365 F3 and created a new entry-level bundle that is taking on the name F1. View our blog - Microsoft Releases New Microsoft 365 Plan for Firstline Workers.

Microsoft 365 has products across different segments as summarized below:

The Enterprise Plans of Office 365 E1, E3, and E5 will not be affected. These products will continue to exist as is, with no name changes. Microsoft 365 E3 and E5 have previously existed and similarly will remain the same and will continue to be the best options for large organizations to utilize security and productivity features.

Microsoft 365 For Enterprise:

Microsoft integrates the best-in-class productivity apps with intelligent mobility management and security platform, increasing efficiency while protecting company assets. This solution works well for businesses that need the most advanced security and productivity capabilities.

The Microsoft 365 Enterprise plans deliver the productivity services through Office 365 and the proper identity, device, and data protection through the Enterprise Mobility and Security Suite and Windows 10 Enterprise.  

To view what Microsoft includes in the 365 Enterprise suites, including pricing, visit our website here!

How Interlink Can Help:

Microsoft’s goal is to distinguish Cloud-connect Apps by referring to them as Microsoft 365 Apps (instead of the old names – using Office). Office is not going away – and the integration of Microsoft Apps and the Cloud is vital to an organization’s success and productivity. If you would like to have a discussion about any of the changes that Microsoft has made, which plan is right for your organization, or how-to integration and take advantage of Microsoft’s offers – contact Interlink today!