Office 365 Is Now Microsoft 365 | Here’s What Changed

April 27, 2020

Office 365 Is Now Microsoft 365 | Here’s What Changed

April 27, 2020 | News, Productivity, Security, Technology

As of April 21, 2020, Microsoft has officially launched the rebranding of Office 365; with the subscription-based platform now falling under the company’s Microsoft 365 line of services.

While, for businesses, this alteration does not impact the capabilities and features of each product bundle, it’s clear that Microsoft is continuing to lay the groundwork to expand its cloud-based ecosystem.

Why Did Microsoft Rebrand Office 365?

Back in June of 2011, Microsoft made huge strides in the business world as the company announced Office 365; a customizable, cloud-based subscription service providing millions of organizations with affordable access to Microsoft Office products. But since the launch of Office 365 nearly nine years ago, a lot has changed with the general business model Microsoft has actively pursued.

Like many software developers today, Microsoft has set forth with a mission to create a cohesive ecosystem of technology; where first-party applications can seamlessly interact without much discrepancy. But in order to effectively achieve this vision and bring cohesion to the company’s expansive list of applications, Microsoft needed a plan to keep Windows 10, Office 365, Microsoft management applications, and Windows security features on a unified development path.

As a result, Microsoft launched the initial phases of Microsoft 365 in late 2017; offering businesses a new product bundle that combined the traditional features of Office 365 with Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS) and Windows 10. In turn, not only did this shift allow Microsoft to release updates for individual applications, it also made it possible to deploy changes that impact the service as a whole.

What Changed with Microsoft 365?

Keeping all this in mind, Microsoft’s choice to ditch the Office 365 branding does not come lightly, and it has become ever so clear that the company is looking for new ways to integrate apps with automated services and artificial intelligence. That said, this rebranding serves as an opportunity for businesses to reevaluate their current Microsoft product bundles, prepare for future updates to the service, and ensure teams understand the interconnectedness of each application. To assist with this, Rocket IT has taken the liberty of breaking down each Microsoft 365 Business and Enterprise bundle, providing insight into the key features of each.

Toggle between Business and Enterpise plans using the buttons below

	Description	Web/Mobile	Desktop	Collaboration	Security	Additional Apps	Price
Microsoft 365 Business Basic Previously Office 365 Business Essentials	Best for businesses that need collaboration and cloud storage. Desktop version of Office apps not included.	Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel Microsoft PowerPoint	N/A	Microsoft Sharepoint Microsoft Teams 1TB of Microsoft OneDrive Storage	Basic Exchange Protection Privacy Controls Custom Permissions Password Policies	Microsoft Exchange	$5/month Per User
Microsoft 365 Apps for Business Previously Office 365 Business	Best for businesses that need desktop apps and cloud storage. Collaboration tools limited and business email not included.	Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel Microsoft PowerPoint	Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel Microsoft PowerPoint	1TB of Microsoft OneDrive Storage	Limited Privacy Controls Custom Permissions Password Policies *Does Not Include Exchange Protection	Microsoft Publisher Microsoft Access	$8.25/month Per User
Microsoft 365 Business Standard Previously Office 365 Business Premium	Best for businesses that need business emails, desktop apps, collaborative tools, and accessibility on smartphone devices.	Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Outlook	Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Outlook	Microsoft Sharepoint Microsoft Teams 1TB of Microsoft OneDrive Storage	Basic Exchange Protection Privacy Controls Custom Permissions Password Policies	Microsoft Exchange Microsoft Publisher Microsoft Access	$12.50/month Per User
Microsoft 365 Business Premium Previously Microsoft 365 Business	Best for businesses with a focus on cybersecurity. Includes business emails, desktop apps, collaborative tools, and accessibility on smartphone devices.	Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Outlook	Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Outlook	Microsoft Sharepoint Microsoft Teams 1TB of Microsoft OneDrive Storage	Premium Exchange Protection Privacy Controls Custom Permissions Password Policies M365 Advanced Threat Protection Windows 10 Policy-Based Management Selective Wipe with Intune Unauthorized App Protection Windows Defender Exploit Guard Information Rights Management (IRM) Unlimited Cloud Archive Windows 10 Setting Sync	Microsoft Exchange Microsoft Publisher Microsoft Access	$20/month Per User

	Description	Web/Mobile	Desktop	Collaboration	Productivity	Security	Additional Apps	Price
Microsoft 365 F3 Previously Microsoft 365 F1	Best for businesses that only need remote access to Office apps, an expanded suite of collaboration tools, and productivity management apps. Desktop Office apps not included.	Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Outlook	N/A	Microsoft Sharepoint Microsoft Teams 1TB of Microsoft OneDrive Storage Microsoft Yammer Microsoft Stream Microsoft Sway	Microsoft Planner Microsoft Power Apps Microsoft Power Automoate Microsoft To Do	Limited Azure Active Directory Premium P1 Microsoft Advanced Threat Analytics Windows Defender Antivirus & Device Guard Windows Information Protection & BitLocker Azure Information Protection P1	Microsoft Exchange Microsoft Access	$10/month Per User
Microsoft Apps for Enterprise Previously Office 365 Pro Plus	Best for businesses that need both desktop and mobile Office apps, basic collaboration tools, cloud storage, and Microsoft's "FastTrack" deployment.	Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Outlook	Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Outlook	Microsoft Sharepoint Microsoft Teams 1TB of Microsoft OneDrive Storage	N/A	Limited Outlook Messages Encryption EOP anti-malware & anti-spam ATP safe links in documents	Microsoft Exchange FastTrack Deployment *For businesses that purchase at least 150 seats.	$12/month Per User
Microsoft 365 E3 No Name Change	Best for businesses that need both web and desktop Office apps, expanded collaborative tools, and productivity management apps.	Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Outlook	Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Outlook	Microsoft Sharepoint Microsoft Teams 1TB of Microsoft OneDrive Storage Microsoft Yammer Microsoft Stream Microsoft Sway	Microsoft Planner Microsoft Power Apps Microsoft Power Automoate Microsoft To Do	Basic Azure Active Directory Premium P1 Microsoft Advanced Threat Analytics Windows Defender Antivirus & Device Guard Windows Information Protection & BitLocker Azure Information Protection P1 Office 365 Data Loss Prevention	Microsoft Exchange Microsoft Access Microsoft Power BI	$32/month Per User
Microsoft 365 E5 No Name Change	Best for businesses with a focus on cybersecurity. Includes web and desktop Office apps; along with Microsoft's full suite of collaboration and productivy management apps.	Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Outlook	Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Outlook	Microsoft Sharepoint Microsoft Teams 1TB of Microsoft OneDrive Storage Microsoft Yammer Microsoft Stream Microsoft Sway	Microsoft Planner Microsoft Power Apps Microsoft Power Automoate Microsoft To Do Microsoft MyAnalytics	Premium Azure Active Directory Premium P1 Azure Active Directory Premium P2 Microsoft Advanced Threat Analytics Windows Defender Antivirus & Device Guard Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection Advanced Threat Protection Azure Advanced Threat Protection Office 365 Data Loss Prevention Windows Information Protection & BitLocker Azure Information Protection P1 Azure Information Protection P2 Cloud App Security	Microsoft Exchange Microsoft Access Microsoft Power BI	$57/month Per User

Toggle between Business & Enterprise plans.

Tap a row and swipe left to learn more.

	Description	Web/Mobile	Desktop	Collaboration	Security	Additional Apps	Price
Microsoft 365 Business Basic Previously Office 365 Business Essentials	Best for businesses that need collaboration and cloud storage. Desktop version of Office apps not included.	Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel Microsoft PowerPoint	N/A	Microsoft Sharepoint Microsoft Teams 1TB of Microsoft OneDrive Storage	Basic Exchange Protection Privacy Controls Custom Permissions Password Policies	Microsoft Exchange	$5/month Per User
Microsoft 365 Apps for Business Previously Office 365 Business	Best for businesses that need desktop apps and cloud storage. Collaboration tools limited and business email not included.	Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel Microsoft PowerPoint	Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel Microsoft PowerPoint	1TB of Microsoft OneDrive Storage	Limited Privacy Controls Custom Permissions Password Policies *Does Not Include Exchange Protection	Microsoft Publisher Microsoft Access	$8.25/month Per User
Microsoft 365 Business Standard Previously Office 365 Business Premium	Best for businesses that need business emails, desktop apps, collaborative tools, and accessibility on smartphone devices.	Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Outlook	Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Outlook	Microsoft Sharepoint Microsoft Teams 1TB of Microsoft OneDrive Storage	Basic Exchange Protection Privacy Controls Custom Permissions Password Policies	Microsoft Exchange Microsoft Publisher Microsoft Access	$12.50/month Per User
Microsoft 365 Business Premium Previously Microsoft 365 Business	Best for businesses with a focus on cybersecurity. Includes business emails, desktop apps, collaborative tools, and accessibility on smartphone devices.	Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Outlook	Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Outlook	Microsoft Sharepoint Microsoft Teams 1TB of Microsoft OneDrive Storage	Premium Exchange Protection Privacy Controls Custom Permissions Password Policies M365 Advanced Threat Protection Windows 10 Policy-Based Management Selective Wipe with Intune Unauthorized App Protection Windows Defender Exploit Guard Information Rights Management (IRM) Unlimited Cloud Archive Windows 10 Setting Sync	Microsoft Exchange Microsoft Publisher Microsoft Access	$20/month Per User

	Description	Web/Mobile	Desktop	Collaboration	Productivity	Security	Additional Apps	Price
Microsoft 365 F3 Previously Microsoft 365 F1	Best for businesses that only need remote access to Office apps, an expanded suite of collaboration tools, and productivity management apps. Desktop Office apps not included.	Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Outlook	N/A	Microsoft Sharepoint Microsoft Teams 1TB of Microsoft OneDrive Storage Microsoft Yammer Microsoft Stream Microsoft Sway	Microsoft Planner Microsoft Power Apps Microsoft Power Automoate Microsoft To Do	Limited Azure Active Directory Premium P1 Microsoft Advanced Threat Analytics Windows Defender Antivirus & Device Guard Windows Information Protection & BitLocker Azure Information Protection P1	Microsoft Exchange Microsoft Access	$10/month Per User
Microsoft Apps for Enterprise Previously Office 365 Pro Plus	Best for businesses that need both desktop and mobile Office apps, basic collaboration tools, cloud storage, and Microsoft's "FastTrack" deployment.	Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Outlook	Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Outlook	Microsoft Sharepoint Microsoft Teams 1TB of Microsoft OneDrive Storage	N/A	Limited Outlook Messages Encryption EOP anti-malware & anti-spam ATP safe links in documents	Microsoft Exchange FastTrack Deployment *For businesses that purchase at least 150 seats.	$12/month Per User
Microsoft 365 E3 No Name Change	Best for businesses that need both web and desktop Office apps, expanded collaborative tools, and productivity management apps.	Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Outlook	Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Outlook	Microsoft Sharepoint Microsoft Teams 1TB of Microsoft OneDrive Storage Microsoft Yammer Microsoft Stream Microsoft Sway	Microsoft Planner Microsoft Power Apps Microsoft Power Automoate Microsoft To Do	Basic Azure Active Directory Premium P1 Microsoft Advanced Threat Analytics Windows Defender Antivirus & Device Guard Windows Information Protection & BitLocker Azure Information Protection P1 Office 365 Data Loss Prevention	Microsoft Exchange Microsoft Access Microsoft Power BI	$32/month Per User
Microsoft 365 E5 No Name Change	Best for businesses with a focus on cybersecurity. Includes web and desktop Office apps; along with Microsoft's full suite of collaboration and productivy management apps.	Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Outlook	Microsoft Word Microsoft Excel Microsoft PowerPoint Microsoft Outlook	Microsoft Sharepoint Microsoft Teams 1TB of Microsoft OneDrive Storage Microsoft Yammer Microsoft Stream Microsoft Sway	Microsoft Planner Microsoft Power Apps Microsoft Power Automoate Microsoft To Do Microsoft MyAnalytics	Premium Azure Active Directory Premium P1 Azure Active Directory Premium P2 Microsoft Advanced Threat Analytics Windows Defender Antivirus & Device Guard Microsoft Defender Advanced Threat Protection Advanced Threat Protection Azure Advanced Threat Protection Office 365 Data Loss Prevention Windows Information Protection & BitLocker Azure Information Protection P1 Azure Information Protection P2 Cloud App Security	Microsoft Exchange Microsoft Access Microsoft Power BI	$57/month Per User

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