Meet the official program
Exchange Online Plan 1/Plan 2 (the most basic email plan), as well as Business Basic, Standard, Premium - know what you're covered and get your pick first.
Microsoft 365
SME Solutions
Free consultation
Microsoft O365SME plan options
See some official plans, then combine them by number of people and work style - free consultation to help you choose, not hard sell.
Many vendors only push basic Microsoft 365 (email, file sharing, SharePoint), rarely mention protection, backup and multi-factor authentication (MFA), so that most companies have been stopped at the most basic settings. We list key plan differences (without pricing) and offer a free consultation to help you choose the right plan, along with protection, backups, and MFA.
Why it matters
instead of just staying at "I need to have an email."
There are different plans; protection, backup, and MFA are often the most overlooked layers.
Feature Differences at a Glance
Email, Desktop Apps, Teams, Device Management and Advanced Security - use a meter to compare prices without bidding.
Protection/Backup/MFA
Don't just open an account and share files; also consider identity protection, multi-factor authentication, and data backup.
Free Pick & Choose Plan
It is recommended to combine the number of people in the company, the role and the daily work style; IT outsourcing can be included.
Common Situations
Buy only basic, not enough
When suppliers only push email and file sharing, companies often do not know that there are more complete plans and protection options.
Only talk about email and files
Many quotes only focus on Exchange, OneDrive, SharePoint - colleagues have to receive and archive, and fewer proactively compare higher-level plans.
Be less protective than MFA
Account theft, phishing, and device loss of control are often related to whether there are many important factors to verify, whether there is device management, and advanced security; these should not be left unattended.
Backups are easy to ignore
The retention period of native email/SharePoint is actually very short and many companies are not aware of it. There is ransomware in the computer, and encrypted files can be synchronized to OneDrive/SharePoint - "All in the cloud, not your own server" is not the same as security. Have a longer, separate backup (see Backup page).
Let's get you some help.
Use the official program name to clarify the difference (without marking the price), suggest Exchange Online or Basic/Standard/Premium, etc. according to actual needs after free consultation, and plan protection and backup with MFA.
Free consultation - WhatsApp or email, alignment needed before plan
Beyond the licence
Besides choosing a plan, these four things still matter.
Authorization is only the starting point; most companies get stuck because no one is helping them protect and restore.
Protection
Identity and device protection based on planned capabilities to reduce account theft and suspicious logins - with cyber and security solutions if needed.
Backup
The native retention period is short; encrypted files can be sync up to the cloud after computer poisoning, and the cloud is damaged as well. For longer, stand-alone backups - see the MS 365 Data Backups page.
MFA
Multi-factor authentication should be the default habit, so don't wait to make up for it. During the consultation, we will recommend the method as it is.
Day-to-day management
Onboarding/offboarding, and authority renewal can be included with the company's IT outsourcing.
Official plans
Common Microsoft 365 Plans for SMEs
Below is the official plan name and high-level feature focus - the most basic Exchange Online Plan 1/Plan 2 (email only) on the far left, and the Business Basic/Standard/Premium plan. For easy comparison, the price is not marked on the page. The actual license and terms are subject to Microsoft and the official quote.
Exchange Online Plan 1
As long as the business email is on the same calendar - Office Apps, Teams and OneDrive are not included.
- Cloud business email, calendar and address book
- About 50GB mailbox (plus archive quota)
- Outlook on the web/Mobile
- Suitable for existing paperwork, primary email
Exchange Online Plan 2
On top of Plan 1, increase mailboxes and enhance compliance/sealing capabilities.
- Includes Plan 1 core email features
- Approximately 100GB mailbox; auto-extend archive
- Compliance related capabilities (e.g. DLP, Litigation Hold, etc.)
- Ideal for teams with high email volumes or compliance retention needs
Microsoft 365 Business Basic
Ideal for web/mobile app-focused teams who need cloud-based email collaboration.
- Office Apps for web and mobile
- Exchange business email
- OneDrive、SharePoint、Teams
- Ideal if you want to go to the cloud first and don't need the full desktop package
Microsoft 365 Business Standard
On top of Basic, plus the desktop version of Office Apps, it's perfect for everyday heavy-document meetings.
- Includes Business Basic core cloud services
- Desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.
- Teams meetings are more collaborative
- Ideal for most SMEs who need desktop apps
Microsoft 365 Business Premium
On top of Standard, strengthen identity, device, and threat protection-for companies that are more focused on security.
- Includes Business Standard productivity features
- Advanced Threat Protection Identity Protection with MFA capabilities
- Device management (Intune, etc.)
- Ideal for teams looking to combine productivity and protection
There are also Microsoft 365 Apps for business (primarily desktop apps, email/collaboration, or if otherwise scheduled) and enterprise plans. Exchange Online is an email-based program and does not include Teams/OneDrive/Desktop Office. Prices are not marked on the page; free consultation can help you compare the number of people, roles, and risks. Functionality is subject to Microsoft's announcement at the time.
Compare
Program Feature Comparison (Advanced)
Quickly see the difference between Exchange Online Plan 1/Plan 2 (the most basic email) and Business Basic/Standard/Premium; details and licenses are subject to Microsoft's official instructions and official quotes. No price tag.
| Functional Highlights | Exchange Plan 1 | Exchange Plan 2 | Business Basic | Business Standard | Business Premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Web/Mobile Office Apps | No | No | Sometimes, | Sometimes, | Sometimes, |
| Office Apps for Desktop | No | No | No | Sometimes, | Sometimes, |
| Exchange business email | Yes (~ 50GB) | Yes (~ 100GB) | Sometimes, | Sometimes, | Sometimes, |
| OneDrive／SharePoint／Teams | No | No | Sometimes, | Sometimes, | Sometimes, |
| Advanced Security Identity Protection with MFA | General | Basic + Compliance | General | General | Strengthening |
| Device management (Intune, etc.) | No | No | No | No | Sometimes, |
Basic/Enhanced/Compliant is a high-level summary that is easy to understand and is not a substitute for Microsoft's official feature list. Exchange Online itself does not include desktop Outlook authorization. Protective, standalone backups are the same as the MFA landing method, and are planned together when consulting for free.
FAQ
FAQ
Is a small company a good fit for a side project?
Depending on the microphone, as long as the email (consider Exchange Online), desktop Apps, Teams, device management and advanced security are required. When consulting for free, it does not hard sell against the actual way of working; the page does not indicate the price.
Can't you just buy the most flat/basic?
Many suppliers only push email to share with files, with less care and backup with MFA. Stopping at the most basic settings may not be suitable for your risks and ways of working - consulting will help you compare.
Business Premium is a must-have?
No. If device management, Advanced Threat Protection Identity Protection is a priority, it deserves serious consideration; otherwise, Standard or Basic may be enough.
MFA, is backup included in the plan?
The plan provides relevant capabilities or foundations, but it still needs to be designed according to the company's situation, whether it is open, on the spot, or not it needs to be backed up independently. We will talk about it together when we consult.
Is it possible to ascend from Basic in stages?
Yes, most start with the email and add desktop apps or protection as needed; the scope is written.
How to start?
Free consultation - call +852 3467 4088 or email enquiry@opsc.com.hk.
Get in Touch
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Contact Us
- Phone+852 3467 4088
- WhatsApp+852 9699 3213
- Emailenquiry@opsc.com.hk
- AddressUnit 2008, Beverly House, 93-107 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, Hong KongUnit 2008, Beverly House, 93-107 Lockhart Road, Wan Chai, HK
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