For many small and medium sized businesses, Microsoft 365 started as a simple way to run email, share files and use tools such as Word or Excel. Security was often assumed to be included. In 2026, that assumption creates risk due to the evolution of cyberattacks. Staff work remotely, laptops move between locations, and business data lives far beyond the office and its server. At the same time, cyber attacks are faster and increasingly focused on smaller organisations. This is where Microsoft 365 Business Premium becomes essential.

What is Microsoft Business Premium?

Business Premium includes all the familiar tools most businesses already use, such as Outlook, Teams, OneDrive and SharePoint. The difference is what sits behind them. It adds enforced security and device control, letting you decide which devices can access company data, what happens if a laptop is lost, and how access is handled when something suspicious occurs. On Basic and Standard licences, Microsoft largely assumes trust. On Business Premium, security rules are applied automatically, which matters when something goes wrong. Think of a door, Business standard acts as a door, business premium adds a lock.

Basic and Standard licences were designed for simpler working environments with fewer devices and less remote access. Most businesses have moved well beyond that. Today, staff access systems from home networks, personal devices and shared spaces. Passwords get phished. Devices go missing. Mistakes happen. On Basic and Standard licences, these scenarios rely heavily on user behaviour. If someone logs in successfully, access is often allowed. Devices are not checked and data can be downloaded or synced with limited control.

Check out the Microsoft 365 Business Premium Feature map!

Why is Business Premium Needed in 2026

Modern security is about limiting impact. No business can guarantee that a phishing email will never be clicked or a device will never be lost. Business Premium allows access to be restricted automatically when risk is detected, compromised devices to be isolated and data to be protected even after a mistake. Without this level of control, responses tend to be reactive and manual, often after damage has already occurred.

Most security incidents start with a device or a user account, not a server. Business Premium gives visibility over every device accessing Microsoft 365 and enforces consistent security rules. It also strengthens identity security by controlling how and where users can sign in. For small businesses without large IT teams, this level of automation is critical. Security cannot depend on memory or good intentions alone.

Three Cherries: Understanding Microsoft Business Licencing in 2026

Security is no longer just an internal IT concern. Clients, insurers and partners increasingly expect evidence of security controls. Cyber insurance policies often require enforced multi factor authentication and managed devices. Business Premium makes meeting these expectations far more achievable without adding complexity. At Three Cherries, we see Business Premium not as an upgrade, but as the foundation for secure, scalable working. Want help understanding Microsoft 365 Business licencing? Get in touch! At Three Cherries, we take the gamble out of business technology.