Microsoft 365 E3 for Enterprise 100 User (With Teams) - 1 Year
Microsoft 365 E3 – Full Enterprise Details
Microsoft 365 E3 is a mid-tier enterprise license combining Office productivity apps, intelligent cloud services, advanced security, device management, and enterprise compliance. It is positioned between Microsoft 365 E1 (entry-level) and Microsoft 365 E5 (premium).
✅ 1. What Microsoft 365 E3 Includes
Microsoft 365 E3 bundles the following 4 categories:
A. Office 365 E3 (Productivity Apps)
Full desktop Office apps (installable on up to 5 PCs/Macs + 5 tablets + 5 phones):
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Microsoft Word
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Excel
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PowerPoint
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Outlook
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OneNote
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Publisher (Windows only)
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Access (Windows only)
Cloud apps:
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Exchange Online (Email)
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SharePoint Online (Team sites, intranet)
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OneDrive for Business (1 TB default)
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Microsoft Teams
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Planner
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To Do
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Yammer / Viva Engage
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Stream (on SharePoint)
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Forms
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Delve
B. Windows Enterprise (OS Upgrade Rights)
Microsoft 365 E3 includes:
Windows 11 Enterprise E3
Advanced OS features:
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Windows Autopilot
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BitLocker encryption
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Windows Defender Antivirus
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Microsoft Defender Firewall
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Windows Sandbox
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Windows Virtual Desktop (client access)
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Direct Access
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AppLocker
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Credential Guard (limited)
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Windows Information Protection (WIP)
⚠️ You must already have a Windows Pro license to upgrade.
C. Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS) E3
Microsoft 365 E3 includes the full EMS E3 suite:
Azure Active Directory (Now Entra ID) Premium P1
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Conditional Access (basic)
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Passwordless authentication (FIDO2, Windows Hello, Authenticator)
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Self-service password reset (SSPR)
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MFA (basic)
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Dynamic groups
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Hybrid identity sync
Intune (Device + app management)
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MDM (Mobile Device Management)
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MAM (App protection)
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Compliance policies / conditional access
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Configuration profiles for Windows, iOS, Android, macOS
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Windows Autopatch (basic update automation)
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Software deployment
Azure Information Protection (AIP) P1
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Sensitivity labels (manual)
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Email and document encryption
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Rights management (Restrict forwarding, copy/paste, watermarking)
Defender for Identity (AD monitoring)
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Detect lateral movement
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Suspicious authentication patterns
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Defender 365 ecosystem integration
D. Enterprise-grade Compliance
From Microsoft Purview:
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Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
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For Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive, Teams (basic)
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Content search & eDiscovery (Standard)
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Audit log (Standard)
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Retention policies + labels
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Basic legal hold (Core eDiscovery)
✅ 2. Microsoft 365 E3 – Security Features (Full Breakdown)
Endpoint Security
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Microsoft Defender Antivirus
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Attack Surface Reduction (limited)
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BitLocker device encryption
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Windows Information Protection
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Local admin lockdown options
Identity & Access
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Conditional Access (limited rules)
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MFA (standard, not risk-based)
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SSO across cloud + on-prem
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Identity governance (basic)
Data Security
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AIP P1 data labeling & encryption
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DLP across all major workloads
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Email encryption (OME)
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Safe Attachments & Safe Links (limited features; full in E5)
✅ 3. Email & Collaboration Features
Exchange Online (Plan 2)
Included in E3:
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100 GB mailbox
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Unlimited archive + auto-expanding archive
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eDiscovery
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Litigation Hold
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MAPI/Pop/IMAP/ActiveSync
SharePoint Online (Plan 2)
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Unlimited site storage
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Advanced search
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eDiscovery
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Enterprise content management
Teams Features
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Video conferencing
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Chat & collaboration
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App integrations
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Phone System only in E5 (not included in E3)
✅ 4. OneDrive for Business
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1 TB per user (expandable to 5 TB on request)
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Advanced file sharing controls
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Data encryption (at-rest & in-transit)
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Files On-Demand support in Windows & macOS
✅ 5. Licensing Rules
User Licensing Model
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Per-user subscription
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Each user gets:
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5 PCs/Macs
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5 tablets
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5 phones
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Typical Enterprise Use Cases
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Hybrid companies using Azure AD + on-prem AD
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Organizations needing strong security but not full E5 analytics
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Enterprises with desktop deployment needs
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Compliance-driven businesses (legal hold, retention)
✅ 6. What Microsoft 365 E3 Does Not Include (Compared to E5)
Microsoft 365 E3 does NOT include:
❌ Microsoft Defender for Endpoint (full EDR/XDR)
❌ Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 2
❌ Advanced eDiscovery
❌ Insider risk management
❌ Microsoft Purview Endpoint DLP
❌ Teams Phone System
❌ Communication Compliance
❌ Cloud App Security (MCAS) — now Defender for Cloud Apps
❌ Advanced Threat Analytics (ATA) alternatives in E5 stack
❌ Audio Conferencing
✅ 7. Price (Approximate)
Prices vary by region. Typical enterprise cost:
Microsoft 365 E3: ~USD $36 per user/month
In some regions (e.g., Australia), pricing may differ.
✅ 8. Technical Deployment Architecture
Identity Setup
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Azure AD / Entra ID
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Optional Hybrid AD (with sync/SSO)
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Conditional Access enforcement
Device Management
Using Intune:
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Autopilot enrollment
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Compliance policies
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App deployment (Win32, MSI, Store apps)
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Endpoint configuration
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Apple MDM via Intune
Security Baseline
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Microsoft 365 Security Baseline (Intune)
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Windows Security Baseline
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Office macro controls
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Defender security policies
✅ 9. Detailed Components List (Full)
Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise
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Full apps
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Shared Computer Activation (RDS environments)
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Enterprise templates
EMS E3
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Entra ID P1
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Intune
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AIP P1
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Defender for Identity
Windows Enterprise E3
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Enterprise-grade OS features
Office 365 E3
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Exchange Online Plan 2
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SharePoint Online Plan 2
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Teams
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OneDrive Plan 2
⭐ Microsoft 365 E1 vs E3 vs E5 — Full Side-by-Side Comparison
1. High-Level Summary
| Feature Category | M365 E1 | M365 E3 | M365 E5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office desktop apps | ❌ Web only | ✅ Full desktop + mobile | ✅ Full desktop + advanced add-ons |
| Email mailbox | 50 GB | 100 GB + Unlimited Archive | 100 GB + Unlimited Archive |
| Security level | Basic | Advanced | Maximum (best-in-class XDR) |
| Device management | Basic MDM | Full Intune MDM/MAM | Full Intune + advanced security automation |
| Compliance | Basic | Standard | Premium + advanced analytics |
| OS license | ❌ | Windows Enterprise E3 | Windows Enterprise E5 |
| Best for | Light users | Most enterprises | High-security industries |
2. Detailed Feature Comparison Table
A. Office & Productivity Apps
| Capability | M365 E1 | M365 E3 | M365 E5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Word, Excel, PowerPoint (Desktop) | ❌ Web-only | ✅ Full install | ✅ Full install |
| Access, Publisher | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Teams | Basic | Full | Full + Teams Phone |
| OneDrive Storage | 1 TB | 1 TB (expandable) | 1 TB (expandable) |
| Delve, Planner, To Do | Basic | Full | Full |
| Microsoft Stream | Limited | Full | Full |
| Shared Computer Activation | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
B. Email & Collaboration (Exchange, SharePoint, Teams)
| Feature | E1 | E3 | E5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exchange Online | Plan 1 | Plan 2 | Plan 2 |
| Mailbox Size | 50 GB | 100 GB | 100 GB |
| Archive Mailbox | ❌ | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Litigation Hold | ❌ | ✔ | ✔ (Advanced) |
| Teams Phone System | ❌ | ❌ | ✔ |
| Audio Conferencing | ❌ | ❌ | ✔ |
C. Windows & Device Features
| Feature | E1 | E3 | E5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows OS license | ❌ | Windows 11 Enterprise E3 | Windows 11 Enterprise E5 |
| Windows Autopilot | Basic | Full | Full |
| BitLocker Management | ❌ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Windows Virtual Desktop rights | ❌ | ✔ | ✔ |
| AppLocker | ❌ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Credential Guard | ❌ | ✔ (limited) | ✔ (full) |
| Application Control | ❌ | Basic | Advanced |
D. Security (Identity, Endpoint, Cloud)
| Security Component | E1 | E3 | E5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azure AD (Entra ID) | Free | Premium P1 | Premium P2 |
| MFA | ✔ Basic | ✔ Advanced | ✔ Identity Protection |
| Conditional Access | ❌ | ✔ | ✔ Risk-based |
| Intune MDM/MAM | ❌ | ✔ Full | ✔ Full |
| AIP (Sensitivity Labels) | Basic | P1 (Manual) | P2 (Auto-labeling) |
| Defender for Identity | ❌ | ✔ Basic | ✔ Full |
| Defender for Endpoint | ❌ | ❌ | ✔ Full EDR/XDR |
| Defender for Office 365 | ❌ | ❌ | ✔ Plan 2 |
| Cloud App Security | ❌ | ❌ | ✔ (Defender for Cloud Apps) |
| Attack Surface Reduction | ❌ | Basic | Advanced |
E. Compliance & Information Governance (Purview)
| Compliance Feature | E1 | E3 | E5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retention Policies | Basic | ✔ | ✔ |
| eDiscovery | Basic | Standard | Advanced eDiscovery |
| Audit Log | Basic (90 days) | Standard (1 year) | Advanced (10 years) |
| DLP (Data Loss Prevention) | Basic | ✔ Standard | ✔ Advanced + Endpoint DLP |
| Insider Risk Management | ❌ | ❌ | ✔ |
| Communication Compliance | ❌ | ❌ | ✔ |
| Customer Key Encryption | ❌ | Optional add-on | ✔ |
F. Licensing & Device Rights
| Capability | E1 | E3 | E5 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Install on 5 PC/Mac + 5 tablets + 5 phones | ❌ | ✔ | ✔ |
| VDI/RDS Rights | ❌ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Shared Computer Activation | ❌ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Windows Enterprise upgrade | ❌ | ✔ | ✔ |
3. Pricing (Approximate)
| SKU | Approx. Price (USD/user/month) |
|---|---|
| M365 E1 | ~$10 |
| M365 E3 | ~$36 |
| M365 E5 | ~$57 |
Pricing varies by country (Australia/Europe higher).
4. Which One Should You Choose?
M365 E1 – Best for
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Frontline workers
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Light email & Teams usage
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No desktop office apps
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Basic security
M365 E3 – Best for MOST enterprises
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Full Office desktop apps
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Strong security (Intune, AIP P1, Conditional Access)
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Windows Enterprise
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Compliance features
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Best value for medium-to-large companies
M365 E5 – Best for
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High-security industries
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Finance, government, defense, healthcare
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Organizations requiring:
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Zero-trust with risk-based policies
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Advanced threat protection
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EDR/XDR
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Insider risk
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Teams Phone System
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⭐ Microsoft 365 E3 vs Microsoft 365 Business Premium
Full Technical Comparison (Enterprise-Grade)
1. High-Level Summary
| Feature Category | M365 Business Premium | M365 E3 |
|---|---|---|
| User limit | Up to 300 users | Unlimited users |
| Office desktop apps | ✔ | ✔ |
| OS license | ❌ No Windows Enterprise | ✔ Windows 11 Enterprise |
| Device Management | Full Intune | Full Intune |
| Identity security | Azure AD P1 | Azure AD P1 |
| Data security | Defender for Office 365 P1 + AIP | AIP P1 only (no Defender for Office 365) |
| Endpoint security | Defender for Business (EDR/XDR) | Only Windows Defender AV (basic) |
| 50 GB | 100 GB + Unlimited Archive | |
| Compliance | Basic–Medium | Medium–Advanced |
| Best for | SMEs (security-rich) | Mid-large enterprises |
2. Productivity Apps (Office Apps)
| Capability | Business Premium | E3 |
|---|---|---|
| Word, Excel, PowerPoint | ✔ Full install | ✔ Full install |
| Access, Publisher | ✔ (Windows only) | ✔ |
| Teams | ✔ | ✔ |
| OneDrive | ✔ 1 TB | ✔ 1 TB (expandable to 5 TB) |
| Install on 5 devices per user | ✔ | ✔ |
? Both licenses provide identical Office application capabilities.
3. Email & Collaboration (Exchange + SharePoint + Teams)
| Feature | Business Premium | E3 |
|---|---|---|
| Primary mailbox | 50 GB | 100 GB |
| Online archive | ✔ 50 GB | ✔ Unlimited Auto-Expanding Archive |
| Litigation hold | ✔ Basic | ✔ Full Exchange Plan 2 |
| SharePoint features | Standard | Full Plan 2 |
| Teams capabilities | Standard | Standard (Phone System not included) |
? E3 leads for mailbox size + full Exchange Online Plan 2.
4. Security Features
This is the biggest difference.
A. Identity & Access Security
| Security Feature | Business Premium | E3 |
|---|---|---|
| Entra ID (Azure AD) | P1 | P1 |
| Conditional Access | ✔ | ✔ |
| MFA | ✔ | ✔ |
| Passwordless support | ✔ | ✔ |
? Identity security is the same (both have P1).
B. Endpoint Security
| Endpoint Protection | Business Premium | E3 |
|---|---|---|
| Defender for Business (EDR/XDR) | ✔ Included | ❌ Not included |
| Endpoint detection & response | ✔ EDR | ❌ |
| Automated threat remediation | ✔ | ❌ |
| Device risk scoring | ✔ | ❌ |
| Integration with Microsoft 365 Defender | ✔ | ❌ |
? Business Premium includes enterprise-grade endpoint security equivalent to Defender for Endpoint P2 Lite.
? E3 does NOT include EDR.
C. Data & Email Security
| Security Feature | Business Premium | E3 |
|---|---|---|
| Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 | ✔ Included | ❌ Not included |
| Safe Links | ✔ | ❌ |
| Safe Attachments | ✔ | ❌ |
| Anti-phishing AI | ✔ | ❌ |
? Business Premium includes advanced email protection. E3 does not.
D. Data Classification & Encryption
| Feature | Business Premium | E3 |
|---|---|---|
| Sensitivity Labels | ✔ AIP P1 | ✔ AIP P1 |
| DLP | ✔ Standard | ✔ Standard |
| Email encryption | ✔ | ✔ |
? Data protection features are mostly identical.
5. Device Management (Intune + Windows)
| Feature | Business Premium | E3 |
|---|---|---|
| Intune MDM/MAM | ✔ Full | ✔ Full |
| Autopilot | ✔ | ✔ |
| Windows LOB app deployment | ✔ | ✔ |
| macOS/iOS/Android MDM | ✔ | ✔ |
| Intune security baselines | ✔ | ✔ |
? Device management is almost identical.
6. Windows OS Licensing
| Feature | Business Premium | E3 |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 10/11 Pro required? | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| Upgrade to Windows Enterprise | ❌ No | ✔ Windows 11 Enterprise |
| AppLocker | ❌ | ✔ |
| Credential Guard | ❌ | ✔ |
| Windows Defender Firewall with advanced policies | ❌ | ✔ |
| DirectAccess | ❌ | ✔ |
? E3 includes Windows Enterprise, Business Premium does NOT.
If you need enterprise OS features, E3 is mandatory.
7. Compliance Features (Microsoft Purview)
| Compliance Feature | Business Premium | E3 |
|---|---|---|
| eDiscovery Standard | ✔ | ✔ |
| Retention policies | ✔ | ✔ |
| Audit log | Standard | Standard |
| Information Governance | ✔ | ✔ |
| Auto-labeling | ❌ | ❌ |
| Insider Risk | ❌ | ❌ |
? Compliance is nearly identical between Business Premium and E3.
8. Pricing (Approx.)
| Plan | Approx USD Price / user / month |
|---|---|
| Business Premium | ~$22 |
| Microsoft 365 E3 | ~$36 |
Pricing varies by region.
⭐ 9. Which One Should You Choose?
Choose M365 Business Premium If:
✔ You have under 300 users
✔ You want maximum security at the best price
✔ You need Defender for Business (EDR)
✔ You want Defender for Office 365 P1
✔ You want enterprise-level protection without paying E5 pricing
➡️ Best security-to-price ratio of any Microsoft SKU.
Choose M365 E3 If:
✔ You are an enterprise with more than 300 users
✔ You need Windows 11 Enterprise
✔ You need full Exchange Plan 2 (100GB mailbox + unlimited archive)
✔ You want deeper SharePoint Online Plan 2
✔ You plan to upgrade to E5 later
➡️ Best for large, regulated, or centralized IT organizations.