January 21, 2025
What Makes Microsoft 365 E5 a Game-Changer?
In today’s fast-paced business environment, securing your organisation’s digital infrastructure is more crucial than ever.
Cyber threats are increasingly sophisticated and the potential consequences of a security breach can be devastating for businesses of all sizes. For SMBs, balancing business growth with security can seem daunting, especially when resources are limited.
According to the 2023 Cyber Security Breaches Survey from the UK government, nearly 40% of businesses experienced a cyberattack in the past year, with data breaches and ransomware attacks being the most common. These threats are not just targeting large enterprises; SMEs and growing organisations are also prime targets due to often having fewer security controls in place.
In response to these increasing challenges, businesses must consider their security posture and ensure they are equipped with the right tools. Microsoft 365 E5 offers a powerful solution with comprehensive security, collaboration and productivity features. But is it the right fit for your organisation? Let’s explore how Microsoft 365 E5 can protect, streamline and drive your business forward.
Cybercriminals Often See SMBs as Soft Targets
As businesses scale, their operations and digital footprint become more complex, making them increasingly vulnerable to cybercriminals. Smaller organisations often lack the resources and expertise to protect themselves against sophisticated cyberattacks.
According to 2024 research from Sophos, nearly 50% of small to mid-market businesses (50–1,000 employees) report being targeted by cybercriminals and the average cost of a breach for these businesses can reach upwards of £100,000. This vulnerability stems from various factors, including outdated systems, poor security practices and a lack of dedicated staff.
With limited budgets and resources, many organisations struggle to secure their digital environments effectively. Microsoft 365 E5 helps to level the playing field by providing enterprise-grade security and compliance tools at a price point that can scale with your business needs.
Microsoft 365 E5 is more than just a productivity suite—it’s a comprehensive security powerhouse that provides SMBs with enterprise-level protection. Here’s how it simplifies security for SMBs:
1. Advanced Threat Protection (ATP)
E5 provides robust threat protection through Microsoft Defender, which offers real-time threat intelligence and protection against phishing, ransomware and other cyber threats.
Microsoft Defender for Office 365 scans incoming emails for malicious attachments and links, preventing employees from inadvertently clicking on harmful content. This automated threat detection reduces the likelihood of a successful attack and significantly enhances security without requiring constant oversight from your IT team.
2. Identity and Access Management
With Microsoft Entra ID P2 (previously named Azure Active Directory Premium) included in E5, businesses can manage and secure user access to critical systems. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) ensures that attackers cannot access your systems even if a password is compromised. By controlling who can access what, businesses can prevent unauthorised access and mitigate insider threats.
For example, if an employee leaves the company, IT administrators can instantly revoke their access to sensitive company data, reducing the risk of data theft or breaches.
3. Comprehensive Data Protection and Compliance Tools
Microsoft 365 E5 includes Purview Advanced Data Loss Prevention (DLP) capabilities that prevent sensitive data from being shared or leaked outside your organisation. E5 also offers eDiscovery tools, enabling businesses to quickly locate and manage data during compliance audits or legal investigations.
Suppose your organisation operates in a regulated industry such as healthcare or finance. These tools can help you comply with the latest regulations, such as GDPR or DORA, without needing third-party solutions.
How Does It Work?
The advanced features of Microsoft 365 E5 are seamlessly integrated across your organisation’s digital workspace.
Whether the secure collaboration tools like Teams and OneDrive or the threat protection layer provided by Microsoft Defender, everything works together in one unified platform. This integration ensures that employees can collaborate effectively while IT teams can manage security from a single dashboard, reducing complexity and improving efficiency.
Why Microsoft 365 E5 is the Right Choice for Your Organisation
Microsoft 365 E5 is often considered the gold standard in productivity and security, but it’s not necessarily the right choice for every organisation. Understanding when E5 is a wise investment – and when it might not be the best fit – is crucial for making an informed decision.
It’s important to note that Microsoft licensing is divided by the number of employees in your organisation:
- Business Licensing is designed for organisations with fewer than 300 employees and includes plans like Microsoft 365 Business Premium.
- Enterprise Licensing is intended for organisations with more than 300 employees and includes plans like Microsoft 365 E3 and E5.
If your organisation exceeds the 300-employee threshold, Enterprise licensing is required, making E5 an option worth exploring for its advanced productivity, compliance, and security tools. However, if you’re a smaller organisation with under 300 employees, Business Premium may provide a cost-effective and robust alternative.
Why Choose Microsoft 365 E5?
- Comprehensive Security Features
E5 includes advanced security tools such as Microsoft Defender for Office 365, Azure Active Directory Premium and Information Protection. If your organisation handles sensitive data or needs to follow strict industry regulations, these features are invaluable for safeguarding your assets and mitigating risks.
- Enterprise-Grade Compliance
For businesses in regulated industries like healthcare, finance and legal, Microsoft 365 E5’s compliance tools, such as Microsoft Compliance Manager and eDiscovery, make it easier to manage and enforce compliance with GDPR, DORA and other standards. This helps you avoid hefty fines and reputation damage associated with non-compliance.
- Advanced Analytics and Insights
With tools like Microsoft MyAnalytics and Power BI Pro, E5 enables organisations to gain actionable insights into business performance and user productivity. For larger businesses or those looking to optimise operations, these analytics can help streamline processes and improve decision-making.
- Scalability and Flexibility
E5 is designed for organisations that need scalability – whether through better collaboration tools (like Teams and SharePoint) or the ability to integrate with third-party apps. It’s ideal for businesses looking to grow without worrying about gaps in functionality as they scale.
When E5 Might Not Be the Right Fit
While Microsoft 365 E5 provides immense value for many businesses, it may not be necessary for every organisation. Here are scenarios where other plans may be more appropriate:
- Already Using Other Vendor Security Tools
If your organisation is already heavily invested in third-party security tools, adopting E5 may not provide a substantial benefit unless you want to consolidate and streamline your security infrastructure.
By switching to E5, you can centralise your security tools under one platform, reducing complexity and improving visibility through consolidated reporting. This can lead to significant cost savings, but the initial transition might require investment in terms of time and resources.
- Limited IT Resources
E5’s advanced security tools require ongoing configuration and management. For organisations without the necessary IT and security resources, maintaining these tools can be a significant challenge. In such cases, other plans like Microsoft 365 Business Premium or Enterprise E3 may be more suitable, as they offer strong security features at a lower complexity and cost.
Additionally, an increasing number of organisations are turning to Managed Service Providers (MSPs) like CyberOne to take away the complexity of managing IT and security needs. MSPs provide expertise and support for organisations that lack internal resources, ensuring that security configurations are optimised and maintained without adding to the workload of existing teams.
- Budget Considerations
While Microsoft 365 E5 provides excellent value, assessing whether the advanced features align with your current business needs is essential. If your organisation doesn’t require all the premium security and compliance tools offered by E5, opting for a lower-tier plan may be more cost-effective while still meeting your core productivity and collaboration needs.
Making the Right Choice for Your Organisation
Choosing the right Microsoft 365 plan can be overwhelming. To ensure you get the maximum value for your investment, start by evaluating your organisation’s current security posture. The Secure Score feature within Microsoft 365 gives you a clear picture of how secure your organisation is and provides actionable recommendations for improvement.
CyberOne can help you review your licensing to ensure you’re not overpaying for unnecessary features while ensuring you’re fully covered where it matters most. By understanding your current risk profile and goals, we can help you select the best Microsoft 365 plan to match your organisation’s needs.
The Business Benefits of Microsoft 365 E5 for SMBs
What sets Microsoft 365 E5 apart is its unique combination of features, which are designed to address the complex needs of growing organisations:
- Advanced Threat Protection: Automated protection against sophisticated cyberattacks.
- Unified Security Management: Centralised monitoring and reporting that simplifies IT management.
- Compliance Automation: Tools for meeting stringent regulatory requirements with ease.
- Business Intelligence and Analytics: Power BI Pro and MyAnalytics provide insights into business performance and employee productivity.
These advanced capabilities enable businesses to stay one step ahead of cyber threats while ensuring a secure, compliant and productive environment for employees.
CyberOne: Your Partner in Microsoft 365 E5 Implementation
Implementing Microsoft 365 E5 is a step in the right direction, but to fully leverage its security capabilities, you need an experienced partner. That’s where CyberOne comes in.
At CyberOne, we specialise in helping SMBs optimise their Microsoft 365 E5 subscriptions to achieve maximum security and productivity. Our team of experts will guide you through your Microsoft environment’s setup, configuration and ongoing management, ensuring that your business stays protected against evolving threats.
Why Choose CyberOne?
- Expertise: Our certified professionals have extensive experience with Microsoft security solutions.
- Customisation: We tailor our services to meet the unique needs of your business.
- Proactive Support: Our team monitors your environment and provides proactive threat detection and remediation.
Secure the Future of Your Business with CyberOne
Cyber threats aren’t slowing down and neither should your business. With Microsoft 365 E5, you can simplify your security strategy and focus on what matters most – growing your business.
Get in touch with CyberOne today to learn how we can help you unlock the full potential of Microsoft 365 E5. Let’s make 2025 the year your business takes security to the next level.
Register for Our Webinar on Microsoft 365 Licenses: Business vs. Enterprise

Discover how Microsoft 365 E5 can transform your SMB’s security strategy! Join Luke Elston on January 30th for his insightful webinar, Demystifying Microsoft 365 Licenses: Business vs Enterprise and learn how to leverage the right tools for your business needs. Register now!