What Office 365 E3 Includes
Office 365 E3 delivers a full suite of Microsoft applications accessible via desktop and web browsers. This includes core Office applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, alongside Exchange Online for email, Microsoft Teams for collaboration, and SharePoint for document management and intranet capabilities. It also incorporates Exchange Online Protection (EOP) providing baseline email security. However, it’s important to recognise what isn’t included within this licence.
Australian Mid-Market Reality
For many AU mid-market organisations, the absence of Intune and Entra ID P1 in Office 365 E3 presents a significant security gap. The ACSC Essential Eight highlights the importance of endpoint management and identity protection, areas where Intune and Entra ID P1 provide crucial capabilities. APRA CPS 234 mandates robust cybersecurity controls, and organisations often find that Microsoft 365 E3, with its inclusion of Intune and Entra ID P1, offers a more complete and compliant solution. Office 365 E3 remains a viable option for organisations with Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) policies or those primarily using non-Windows devices.