Microsoft Recently Revealed Some Changes – From Offering Microsoft 365 Subscription Plans for Families to Renaming Its Office 365-Branded Products. Here’s What to Expect…
Understanding Microsoft’s Latest Changes to Microsoft 365 and Office 365
Microsoft recently introduced important updates to the Microsoft 365 product lineup. While the changes include new subscription options for families, the company also announced the rebranding of several Office 365 products. Microsoft described this shift as a natural evolution of its services. As a result, many users are now asking what is changing, what remains the same, and how these updates may affect their daily work. To help clarify, the breakdown below explains each change in a clear and approachable way.
What Is Not Changing
Plans Remaining Unchanged
- Office 365 for Enterprise
- Office 365 for Education
- Office 365 for Government
- Office 365 for Firstline Workers
These offerings remain stable, and users can continue relying on the same tools they use today.
Plans That Are Changing
Although some plans remain the same, others will shift to new names that better represent the value of Microsoft 365. As Microsoft continues expanding cloud services and security features, these names aim to present a clearer picture of what each subscription includes.
Updated Plan Names
- Office 365 Business Essentials becomes Microsoft 365 Business Basic
- Office 365 Business Premium becomes Microsoft 365 Business Standard
- Microsoft 365 Business becomes Microsoft 365 Business Premium
- Office 365 Business and Office 365 ProPlus become Microsoft 365 Apps
These updates help streamline the product family and make the differences between each plan easier to understand.
Will Features or Pricing Change?
Although some users expected new features or pricing changes, Microsoft confirmed that everything will stay consistent for now. The current features of each plan remain intact, and pricing will not increase. In other words, the updates focus on branding rather than functionality. Even so, it helps to understand what is included in each subscription level.
What Each Microsoft 365 Plan Includes
Microsoft 365 Business Basic
This plan includes essential cloud services designed for communication and collaboration.
- Exchange
- SharePoint
- Teams
- OneDrive
Microsoft 365 Business Standard
This plan expands on Business Basic by adding familiar desktop applications.
- Exchange
- SharePoint
- Teams
- OneDrive
- Outlook
- Word
- Excel
- PowerPoint
- Publisher
- Access
Microsoft 365 Business Premium
This option includes everything in Business Standard, along with advanced security and device management features.
- Exchange
- SharePoint
- Teams
- OneDrive
- Outlook
- Word
- Excel
- PowerPoint
- Publisher
- Access
- Intune
- Azure Information Protection
- Defender
- Conditional Access
- Windows Virtual Desktop
These tiers support a wide range of business needs, from basic teamwork to advanced security and identity protection.
Innovations Still to Come
While no new features are launching at this moment, Microsoft 365 Corporate Vice President Jared Sparato shared that more improvements are planned. According to Sparato, future enhancements will focus on strengthening Microsoft Teams, expanding online meeting capabilities, offering more flexible cloud file sharing, and increasing identity and security protections. As organizations continue shifting toward hybrid and remote work, these upgrades will help them collaborate more effectively.
Important Information for End Users
As these rebranded names roll out, you may notice updated labels on your client invoices. This change is expected and does not indicate a new or unexpected charge. Instead, it simply reflects the product name transitions described above. If a name looks unfamiliar, the rebrand is likely the reason.
If you see a name you do not recognize, it is likely part of the transition from Office 365 to Microsoft 365.
Questions? Get in touch with us at anytime. We’re here to help.
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