Why Microsoft Business Premium Is a No-Brainer for Your Business

After extensive collaboration with Microsoft and our ITDR (Identity Threat Detection and Response) partners Ariel IT is strongly recommending that all our clients move to Microsoft 365 Business Premium.

In today’s rapidly evolving cyber threat landscape, protecting your organization’s data, users, and devices is no longer optional—it’s essential.

This isn’t just a product upgrade. It’s a strategic move that empowers your organization with enterprise-grade security, simplified IT management, and the tools to meet compliance requirements—all while enabling your team to work securely from anywhere.

What Is Microsoft 365 Business Premium?

Microsoft 365 Business Premium is a comprehensive solution that combines the productivity tools of Microsoft 365 (like Word, Excel, Teams, and Outlook) with advanced security and device management features. It’s designed specifically to provide robust protection that allows us, your IT provider higher visibility and quick response to issues that may arise on your systems and in your environment.

Why Business Premium? The Security Advantage

While there are many great features in Business Premium, the advanced security capabilities are what truly set it apart:

Entra ID Integration: Secure Identity and Access Management

• Stronger identity protection: Enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA), conditional access policies, and identity-based risk detection.
• Seamless single sign-on (SSO): Users can securely access all their apps with one login, reducing password fatigue and risk.
• Centralized control: Ariel IT can manage user access, permissions, and device compliance from a single pane of glass.

Policy-Driven Protection

Business Premium allows us to implement organization-wide security policies that:

• Automatically encrypt sensitive data.
• Prevent unauthorized access to company resources.
• Enforce secure configurations on all devices—whether they’re in the office or remote.

These policies are not just about locking things down—they’re about empowering your team to work securely and efficiently.

Device Management with Microsoft Intune

With Intune, included in Business Premium, Ariel IT can:

• Remotely manage and secure all company devices (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android).
• Push updates, apps, and security settings automatically.
• Wipe lost or stolen devices to protect sensitive data.

This means less downtime, fewer vulnerabilities, and more control over your IT environment.

Advanced Threat Protection

Business Premium includes Microsoft Defender for Business, which provides:

• Next-gen antivirus and endpoint detection and response (EDR).
• Automated investigation and remediation of threats.
• Integration with Huntress, our 24×7 Security Operations Center, for layered threat detection and response.

Together, these tools give you enterprise-level protection against ransomware, phishing, and zero-day attacks—without the enterprise price tag.

Compliance and Peace of Mind

Whether you’re in healthcare, finance, legal, or any other regulated industry, Business Premium helps you meet compliance requirements like HIPAA, GDPR, and more. With built-in tools for data loss prevention (DLP), information protection, and audit logging, you can demonstrate compliance and reduce your risk exposure.

Why Now?

Cyber threats are increasing in frequency and sophistication. Waiting to upgrade your security is no longer an option. Business Premium gives you the tools to:

• Protect your business from modern threats.
• Enable secure remote and hybrid work.
• Simplify IT management and reduce overhead.
• Meet compliance requirements with confidence.

And with Ariel IT managing your environment, you’re not just buying software—you’re gaining a strategic partner who understands your business and is committed to your success.

Next Steps: What Happens After You Upgrade to Business Premium?

Upgrading your Microsoft 365 licenses to Business Premium is a smart move—but it’s just the first step. To actually benefit from the powerful security features you’re paying for, there’s some behind-the-scenes work that needs to happen. And it’s not something you can—or should—do alone.

1. Your Computers Need to Be Connected to Microsoft’s Security System
   To protect your business, your computers need to be “joined” to Microsoft’s cloud system (called Entra ID). This lets us:
   • Apply security rules to every device
   • Control who can access what
   • Lock things down if something suspicious happens
   • If you’re still using an old-school server setup (called a domain), we’ll need to connect that to the cloud too. That’s called a “hybrid join.” It’s doable—but it takes planning.
2. Your Team Needs to Log In the Right Way
   To make all this work, your employees need to sign into their computers using their Microsoft 365 accounts—not a local or old domain login. This unlocks:
   • Multi-factor authentication (MFA)
   • Smart access controls
   • Seamless access to apps and files
   • We’ll help make this transition smooth, but it’s a key part of the process.
3. Security Settings Need to Be Customized for Your Business
   Microsoft gives you a great toolbox—but someone has to decide how to use it. That’s where we come in. We’ll work with you to:
   • Decide if Microsoft’s default security settings are enough—or if you need something stronger
   • Set up rules for things like password strength, device encryption, and app access
   • Make sure your business stays compliant with industry standards
4. Email-Only Users Still Need Protection
   Even if some of your staff only use email, they’re still a target for phishing and malware. We recommend adding Microsoft Defender for Office 365 to those accounts. It’s a small cost that adds a big layer of protection.
5. This Is a Project—And We Can Help
   This isn’t a “click a button and you’re done” kind of change. It’s a project that involves:
   • Reviewing your current setup
   • Planning the right path forward
   • Making changes to how your team logs in and how devices are managed
   • Testing and rolling out the new system

We can guide you through every step, handle the technical work, and make sure your business is safer and more secure when we’re done.

If you’re an existing Ariel IT Customer, we will be reaching out to you soon to discuss this recommendation further. Or feel free to reach out to us if you’re ready now.

If you’re not an Ariel IT Customer but would like to talk with us about how we can help your business (or your IT Department) implement Microsoft Business Premium get in touch with us!

 

Ariel IT helps businesses simplify technology, strengthen cybersecurity, and stay compliant with evolving standards. As Business Professionals - Technical Experts, we partner with organizations to deliver reliable IT solutions that support growth and peace of mind.  Contact us to learn more