It’s official - Microsoft is unlocking even more powerful tools for small and midsized businesses. Starting late August 2025, Microsoft 365 Business Premium customers will be able to add the Microsoft 365 E5 Compliance suite as a low-cost add-on to their existing plans.

Why does this matter? While Business Premium already includes solid data security and compliance tools, many SMBs face increasing pressure to meet regulatory standards, retain records, manage data risk, and pass cyber insurance assessments - and have been priced out of the full E5 suite... until now. Soon, you will be able to get enterprise-grade compliance and data protection without the enterprise-grade price tag. Let’s break down what you get.

What Does E5 Compliance Bring to Business Premium? 🛡️

By adding E5 Compliance to your Business Premium subscription, you unlock Microsoft’s most advanced compliance and data governance tools, including Microsoft Purview technologies - all designed to help you manage risk, protect sensitive information, and stay on the right side of data regulations.

1️⃣ Insider Risk Management 🕵️

Insider threats are on the rise - and they’re not always malicious. From accidental data sharing to risky file transfers, Microsoft Purview Insider Risk Management helps you:

• Detect risky activity like mass downloads, USB usage, or access to sensitive files.

• Create policies that trigger alerts or investigations without violating user privacy.

• Automate insider risk workflows and reduce manual analysis.

  
  

Why this matters: Insider Risk helps catch and contain internal risks before they result in data loss or compliance violations.

2️⃣ Endpoint & Cloud Data Loss Prevention (DLP) 💻

Business Premium includes DLP for email and files - but E5 Compliance significantly upgrades this with Endpoint DLP and unified protection across your environment:

• Block or warn users when they attempt to share sensitive data externally.

• Prevent copying data to USBs or non-permitted web apps.

• Extend DLP to Teams and to locally stored files on devices.

• Monitor and respond to risky activity, even when users are working remotely

  
  

Why this matters: DLP closes the gaps in your data protection - especially with remote or hybrid workforces.

3️⃣ Advanced Information Protection 🛡️

Manual labelling and policies only go so far. E5 Compliance brings automation and intelligence to your data protection strategy through Microsoft Purview Information Protection:

• Automatic labelling automatically applies sensitivity labels based on the contents of your documents (e.g. passport numbers, credit card info).

• Trainable classifiers use AI to detect patterns like contracts, invoices, or confidential HR docs - even in unstructured content.

Why this matters: Intelligent Sensitive Data controls take the pressure off users to classify and protect data properly - automation handles it for you.

4️⃣ Records Management & Retention 🗂️

Compliance isn't just about protecting data - it’s about keeping the right data for the right amount of time. With Microsoft Purview Records Management, you get:

• Advanced Retention policies & labels to keep or delete data automatically, based on rules or triggers.

• Full auditability to demonstrate compliance with industry standards.

• Event-based retention, e.g., retaining HR records for 6 years after an employee leaves.

  
  

Why this matters: Retention ensures your business meets legal and regulatory retention requirements - and helps avoid data sprawl.

5️⃣ Advanced Audit & eDiscovery 🔎

When security incidents or legal matters arise, you need full visibility and the ability to act quickly. E5 Compliance gives you:

• Advanced Audit with extended log retention and crucial for forensic investigations.

• eDiscovery (Premium) for in-place content search, tagging, legal hold, and case management.

• Search across Exchange, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, and more - all in one place.

  
  

Why this matters: Advanced eDiscovery gives your business the same investigative power large enterprises rely on - without the full E5 cost.

 6️⃣ Communication Compliance 📬

Monitoring how your people communicate - especially in regulated industries - is essential. With Microsoft Purview Communication Compliance, you can:

• Detect risky or non-compliant messages in Teams, Outlook, and even connected third-party platforms.

• Monitor for sensitive info, harassment, inappropriate language, and policy violations.

• Configure alerts and review workflows for compliance teams.

• Empower HR, legal, or compliance teams to act quickly and discreetly.

  
  

Why this matters: Communication Compliance helps protect your business and your people - and proves due diligence.

Is E5 Compliance Worth the Investment? 💰

If your business handles sensitive data, works in regulated sectors (legal, finance, healthcare), or needs to meet cyber insurance or GDPR obligations - yes. E5 Compliance offers:

✅ Enterprise-grade compliance at SMB pricing.

✅ Automation that reduces human error.

✅ Stronger data protection and governance.

✅ Smarter investigations and legal readiness.

How to Get Started 🚀

If you’re already on Microsoft 365 Business Premium, introducing E5 Compliance features takes your data security & governance to the next level. If you're unsure how it could benefit your business, we’re here to help.

📨 Get in touch today to chat about how E5 Compliance can work for you and keep your data safe and compliant.

• info@mondocloud.co.uk

• 0800 640 4258