Octobits Blog – One of the big questions for businesses looking for a comprehensive productivity and security solution is the Microsoft 365 E3 price.
As we know, Microsoft 365 E3 is a popular subscription plan for businesses that want to stay ahead of the game.
It offers a powerful combination of tools and services designed to enhance collaboration, communication, and data security in the modern workplace.
As anyone in the know will tell you, big features come at a big price. So, let’s take a closer look at the price and see what it’s really worth.
Key Features and Benefits of Microsoft 365 E3
Microsoft 365 E3 brings together various apps and services to make collaboration, data management, and secure operations easier.
It’s got Office 365 apps, Enterprise Mobility + Security, and Windows 10 Enterprise, all working together to give users a smooth and secure experience. This lets businesses work more efficiently and safely.
The Microsoft 365 E3 productivity suite includes all the Office 365 apps you need, like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
These apps are packed with cool features and have loads of cloud storage, which makes them essential for running a business.
Microsoft 365 E3 has got your back with all the latest security features, like email encryption, data loss prevention, and advanced threat protection.
Microsoft Defender for Identity and Windows Defender Application Control are great tools for keeping malware and other cyber threats at bay, so your enterprise data stays safe and sound.
Another great thing about Microsoft 365 E3 is that it makes it easy for employees to access emails, documents, and other resources from any device.
This flexibility lets employees stay productive, whether they’re in the office or on the go.
Enterprise Mobility + Security components, like Microsoft Intune, help you manage and secure devices, so your company data stays safe even when accessed from personal devices.
The suite includes some powerful collaboration tools, like Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive for Business. These tools help teams work together more efficiently and communicate effectively.
Compliance is a big deal for a lot of businesses, and Microsoft 365 E3 helps organizations meet industry regulations and data protection standards.
It’s got features like data loss prevention, eDiscovery, and sensitivity labels that make it easy to stay on the right side of the law.
Plus, Microsoft 365 E3 has some cool business intelligence tools, like Power BI. Power BI gives businesses the tools to do sophisticated data analysis and visualization, so users can create interactive dashboards and reports.
For reference on the business pricing plan, you can read “Microsoft 365 Business Standard Price: That Tag Isn’t Your Whole Story.”
Components of Microsoft 365 E3
Office 365 Applications
Microsoft 365 E3 includes the core Office 365 applications you need, like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
And yes, these apps are essential for daily business operations. They provide robust tools for document creation, data analysis, presentations, and communication.
Enterprise Mobility + Security
This component helps keep your organization safe by offering advanced threat protection, information protection, and identity management solutions.
Microsoft Intune helps you manage and secure mobile devices, Azure Active Directory Premium handles identity management, and Microsoft Defender for Identity protects against advanced threats.
These tools work together to keep your organizational data safe, whether accessed from personal devices or within the corporate network.
Windows 10 Enterprise
Windows 10 Enterprise offers advanced security and management features designed for large-scale deployments.
It also includes Windows Autopilot, which makes it easy to set up and manage devices, and Windows Defender, which offers comprehensive protection against malware and cyber threats.
Plus, Windows Hello lets you sign in fast and securely without a password, which is great for security and user convenience.
Microsoft 365 E3 Pricing Structure
Subscription Plans
Microsoft 365 E3 is available through several different subscription plans, which are usually billed per user, per month.
The standard cost is $33.75 per user per month, but larger organizations can get discounts if they sign up for an annual commitment.
Pricing Tiers and Options
The price for Microsoft 365 E3 can vary depending on what extra features or bundled services you want.
For instance, you can choose to exclude Microsoft Teams from their subscription. They can opt for the “no Teams” license, which can reduce costs if Teams isn’t essential for their operations.
Detailed Breakdown of Pricing
Base Price
The starting price for Microsoft 365 E3 is $33.75 per user per month.
This price includes all the essential apps and services in the suite, giving businesses a complete package to boost productivity and security.
Additional Costs
Additional costs can come from optional add-ons that give Microsoft 365 E3 more capabilities.
These add-ons include advanced security features, extra storage, and specific apps like Power BI or Dynamics 365 integrations.
For instance, if you want to use Power BI for advanced data visualization, it’ll help you do better business analytics, but it’ll cost you extra.
Factors Influencing the Cost
Number of Users
The total cost of Microsoft 365 E3 scales with the number of users. Organizations with larger numbers of users can take advantage of volume licensing discounts, making it more cost-effective per user as the user base grows.
This scalability ensures that as your organization grows, the cost per user becomes more manageable, providing better value for larger organizations.
Customization and Integration
There may be additional costs associated with customizing your Microsoft 365 E3 environment to integrate with other business systems or third-party applications.
These integrations, such as connecting to CRM systems or other business software, enhance functionality and streamline workflows.
However, the customizations should be carefully planned and budgeted to ensure they provide value without excessive cost.
Deployment Options
The deployment method-whether on-premises, cloud, or hybrid-can also impact costs.
Cloud deployments typically offer greater flexibility and lower up-front costs compared to on-premises solutions, which may require a significant initial investment in infrastructure.
Hybrid deployments that combine on-premises and cloud solutions can provide a balanced approach that leverages the benefits of both.
Each deployment option has its own cost implications, and organizations should choose the one that best fits their operational needs and budget.
Tips for Optimizing Costs
Assessing your users’ actual needs is critical to determining whether all the features of Microsoft 365 E3 are necessary for everyone.
For example, some users may only need basic functionality such as email or document editing, while others may need access to more advanced applications.
By tailoring licenses to employees’ specific roles and responsibilities, you can significantly reduce unnecessary spending.
Another effective strategy for reducing per-user costs, especially for organizations with large numbers of users, is to take advantage of volume licensing agreements.
Volume discounts can make Microsoft 365 E3 more affordable as your user base grows.
Combining cloud and on-premises solutions can balance flexibility and cost-effectiveness.
Cloud deployments offer lower upfront costs and greater scalability, while on-premises solutions may require a significant initial investment but can be optimized for specific security or compliance needs.
A hybrid approach can provide the best of both worlds, allowing organizations to optimize their IT infrastructure to meet their unique needs.
Regularly reviewing your subscription and usage patterns is critical to identifying and eliminating unused licenses or features.
Automated tools can help track and manage these aspects, ensuring that you only pay for what you use.
Octobits can be your supporting system platform to automatically detect licenses for employees who leave the company, preventing unnecessary costs from accumulating.
With the aforementioned explanations, should you wish to purchase the Microsoft 365 E3 at this time or require further detailed information, we kindly direct you to the sales webpage, accessible here.
Is Dynamics 365 Part of an E3 License?
Dynamics 365 isn’t included with the standard Microsoft 365 E3 license. For reference on the Dynamic 365 plan, you can read “Microsoft Dynamics 365 Pricing: What You Need to Know for Not Overpay.”
However, businesses can combine Dynamics 365 with Microsoft 365 to make their operations run more smoothly and get better insights from their data.
This integration usually requires extra licensing, so it’s best to plan it based on what your business needs.
It’s important to look at the pros and cons of these kinds of integrations to make sure they’re going to help you reach your goals and fit your budget.
So, you might want to think about Octobits as your go-to system for managing SaaS like Microsoft 365.
Octobits is a SaaS management platform that makes it easier to manage your software, track how it’s being used, make sure you’re staying on top of compliance, and get insights into how you’re using your software.
These tools can really cut costs and make your IT management more efficient.
For instance, by keeping an eye on how licenses are being used and automatically removing any that aren’t being used, Octobits helps businesses avoid spending more than they need to and ensures that each license is being used effectively.
If you’d like to know more about how Octobits can help your business, just check out our website.
And yes, our services are free to use until the end of June 2024, which is a great way to optimize your SaaS solutions without any extra costs.
Conclusion
As we know, choosing the right software for your business means understanding the costs and benefits.
Keep in mind that optimizing your investment might mean exploring different plans, negotiating with vendors, or using tools like Octobits for license management.
The goal is to make sure your investment in Microsoft 365 E3 price aligns with your budget and business objectives.
