Microsoft 365 A3 or A5

[PurpleTentacle]

Quick straw poll:

Do you subscribe to A3 or A5? Bonus appreciation points for reasons why.

 

Edit to add: we are currently on A3, I wasn't party to the decision to upgrade from A1.

Edited November 18, 2024 by PurpleTentacle

[LeMarchand]

A1 because it's the minimum.

[2ilent8cho]

A3 as were 1:1 in the whole trust with iPads so need it for the Office for iPad licensing.

[FragglePete]

A3 - Includes P1 which gives us Conditional MFA, and also Intune which we're still playing with - and not forgetting Microsoft365 App so we can install Office Suite on our Desktops. Bonus was getting Minecraft included also and don't forget you get additional OneDrive and mailbox storage.

 

A1 Plus I believe is being phased out so we were kind of forced into it but we were paying for P1 and Intune separately so this was a cost saving overall.

 

We still use A1 to 'maintain' users OneDrive, Mailbox, etc when they leave / off-roll and for people like governors.

 

Pete

[mrbios]

A3 with the A5 Security Addon.

[robyholmes]

A1 + P1 + Office 365 Desktop Apps (free included by reseller) all via OVS.

 

Looked at A3 but at the time it only added storage, bookings and teams live streaming.

 

Another question is do you have it via OVS, EES or CSP. For us, CSP was a lot more expensive as licences are per person, not FTE. Including all catering, governors, trainee staff. Even visitors wanting to use Word or PowerPoint today. All needed a staff licence via CSP.

[Sylv3r]

We are on A3 plus EMS A5.

[Squelch]

A3 via CSP. I moved us from hybrid joined to Entra only over the summer. Haven't looked back. Yet.

[MisterTechMan]

A3 for staff

A3 Student use benefit for students.

[PurpleTentacle]

A1 + P1 + Office 365 Desktop Apps (free included by reseller) all via OVS.

 

Looked at A3 but at the time it only added storage, bookings and teams live streaming.

 

Another question is do you have it via OVS, EES or CSP. For us, CSP was a lot more expensive as licences are per person, not FTE. Including all catering, governors, trainee staff. Even visitors wanting to use Word or PowerPoint today. All needed a staff licence via CSP.

Currently EES, however I know that is being phased out / will be phased out by the time we renew.

[PurpleTentacle]

A3 via CSP. I moved us from hybrid joined to Entra only over the summer. Haven't looked back. Yet.

 

Are you applying polices through Intune? If so, how are you finding that?

[Squelch]

Are you applying polices through Intune? If so, how are you finding that?

 

I don't want to hijack this thread but yes, Intune policies are working well. I try to keep user policies to a minimum and use device based policies where possible. I researched heavily for a good 6 to 9 months before deploying.

[Discovery1031]

I've just bought A3 plus A5 security addon for one of our schools.

[DavR]

A1 + P1 + Office 365 Desktop Apps (free included by reseller) all via OVS.

 

Looked at A3 but at the time it only added storage, bookings and teams live streaming.

 

Another question is do you have it via OVS, EES or CSP. For us, CSP was a lot more expensive as licences are per person, not FTE. Including all catering, governors, trainee staff. Even visitors wanting to use Word or PowerPoint today. All needed a staff licence via CSP.

 

Ditto this, because we're still finding OVS the most effective way of doing our licensing. It's pretty much the equivalent of A3.

[supportman]

A1 + P1 here as well. All we need it for really is conditional access so we can lock down accounts to the UK