Tutorial / Cram Notes
When businesses require additional capabilities beyond the core offerings included in the standard Microsoft 365 subscription plans, they can leverage add-on licenses to provide users with the specific tools or features they need. These add-on licenses allow organizations to customize their Microsoft 365 experience to better meet their business requirements without paying for unnecessary services.
Understanding Add-On Licensing
Add-on licensing in Microsoft 365 is designed to provide flexibility and cost efficiency. It allows customers to purchase extra features or services that can be attached to their existing Microsoft 365 subscription. Add-ons are particularly useful for giving certain users within an organization access to advanced functionalities that are not required by all users.
Some common add-on licenses in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem include:
- Advanced Threat Protection (ATP): Provides enhanced security features to help protect against sophisticated threats.
- Audio Conferencing: Allows users to join Teams meetings via a phone call. This is beneficial for participants without internet access.
- Power BI Pro: Offers advanced data analysis and visualization tools for users who need to create reports or interpret business data.
Examples of Add-On Licensing Scenarios
- A company with Microsoft 365 Business Standard: Suppose a business with this plan requires enhanced cybersecurity for certain departments handling sensitive information. They can purchase ATP as an add-on license for those particular users without upgrading the entire organization’s plan.
- An organization using Microsoft 365 E3: For an enterprise that has users needing powerful analytics tools like Power BI Pro, rather than upgrading to a more extensive plan, they could purchase Power BI Pro as an add-on for those select users.
Comparing Common Licensing Options
Here’s a comparison table outlining some features and add-ons for different Microsoft 365 plans:
| Feature/Add-on | Microsoft 365 Business Basic | Microsoft 365 Business Standard | Microsoft 365 E3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Core Office Apps (Online) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Desktop Office Apps | No | Yes | Yes |
| Email & Calendar | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Teams & Collaboration | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| File Storage & Sharing | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Security & Compliance | Standard | Standard | Advanced |
| Support & Deployment | Standard | Standard | Enhanced |
| Add-ons Available | |||
| Advanced Threat Protection (ATP) | Yes (add-on) | Yes (add-on) | Yes (included) |
| Audio Conferencing | Yes (add-on) | Yes (add-on) | Yes (add-on) |
| Power BI Pro | Yes (add-on) | Yes (add-on) | Yes (add-on) |
How to Manage Add-On Licenses
Managing add-on licenses typically involves the following steps:
- Assessment: Determine which users or departments require additional features.
- Purchasing: Add-on licenses can be purchased through the Microsoft 365 admin center or a licensed Microsoft vendor.
- Assignment: Once purchased, the add-ons can be assigned to individual user accounts through the admin center.
- Monitoring: Regularly reviewing and adjusting the add-on licenses to ensure they are still meeting the needs of the organization.
In summary, add-on licensing in Microsoft 365 offers the versatility required to tailor services to the unique needs of different user groups within an organization. It helps to optimize the costs of cloud services by purchasing only what each user genuinely needs. As businesses evolve and change, so too can their Microsoft 365 licensing, ensuring that they remain agile and cost-effective in their operations.
Practice Test with Explanation
True or False: Add-on licenses can only be purchased separately after the initial purchase of a main subscription plan.
- False
Explanation: Add-on licenses can be purchased at any time, not just after the initial purchase, to enhance the functionality of the main subscription plan.
True or False: Add-on licenses cannot be mixed and matched with different subscription plans within Microsoft
- False
Explanation: Add-on licenses can be used with different subscription plans to extend the capabilities of a user’s existing service within Microsoft
Which of the following is an optional add-on license for Microsoft 365?
- A) Microsoft Defender for Office 365
- B) Microsoft 365 Basic
- C) Windows 10 Enterprise
- D) Exchange Online Plan 1
A) Microsoft Defender for Office 365
Explanation: Microsoft Defender for Office 365 is an add-on option that provides protection against advanced threats, which can be added to various Microsoft 365 subscription plans.
True or False: Microsoft 365 add-on licenses offer the same services to all users within an organization.
- False
Explanation: Add-on licenses can be assigned to specific users as needed, they do not have to be applied uniformly to all users within an organization.
What is the purpose of an add-on license in Microsoft 365?
- A) To downgrade services
- B) To replace existing licenses
- C) To extend or enhance services
- D) To serve as a standalone product
C) To extend or enhance services
Explanation: Add-on licenses are meant to extend or enhance the services provided by an existing subscription.
True or False: You can purchase Microsoft 365 add-on licenses on a pay-as-you-go model.
- True
Explanation: Some Microsoft 365 add-ons offer the flexibility of a pay-as-you-go pricing model, allowing organizations to scale their services based on current needs.
Which of the following is NOT a valid reason to purchase an add-on license?
- A) Needing additional cloud storage
- B) Requiring enhanced security features
- C) Seeking to reduce the total number of licenses
- D) Wanting to provide certain users with advanced compliance tools
C) Seeking to reduce the total number of licenses
Explanation: Add-on licenses are meant to add functionality, not to reduce the total number of licenses. They supplement existing licenses.
True or False: Once an add-on license is assigned to a user, it cannot be reassigned to another user within the organization.
- False
Explanation: Add-on licenses can typically be reassigned to other users within the organization if the need arises.
True or False: Microsoft 365 E5 is a type of add-on license.
- False
Explanation: Microsoft 365 E5 is a full suite and not an add-on. It is one of the comprehensive Microsoft 365 subscription plans that includes a wide range of features.
What type of add-on licensing option is “Power BI Pro” considered within Microsoft 365?
- A) Data analytics
- B) Security
- C) Communication
- D) Storage
A) Data analytics
Explanation: Power BI Pro is an add-on that offers data analytics and visualization tools and integrates with other Microsoft services.
True or False: Add-on licenses are available for Office 365, Microsoft 365, and standalone services.
- True
Explanation: Add-on licenses are available across Office 365 and Microsoft 365 suite of products, as well as for standalone services to enhance functionality.
True or False: You need to have a Microsoft 365 E3 license before you can add Microsoft 365 E5 Compliance as an add-on.
- True
Explanation: Microsoft 365 E5 Compliance is an add-on designed to enhance the compliance capabilities of an existing Microsoft 365 E3 subscription or equivalent.
Interview Questions
What is an add-on in Microsoft 365?
An add-on in Microsoft 365 is a supplementary service or feature that can be added to a subscription plan to enhance the user experience.
How can you buy or edit an add-on in Microsoft 365?
You can buy or edit an add-on in Microsoft 365 by signing in to the Microsoft 365 admin center, navigating to the Billing > Subscriptions page, and then selecting the subscription plan to which you want to add the add-on.
What are some of the add-ons available for Microsoft 365?
Some add-ons available for Microsoft 365 include Microsoft Power Automate, Microsoft Power Apps, Microsoft Stream, and Microsoft StaffHub.
What is Azure Active Directory (AD)?
Azure Active Directory (AD) is a cloud-based identity and access management service that provides a single sign-on experience for users across different applications and services.
What is multi-factor authentication (MFA)?
Multi-factor authentication (MFA) is a security mechanism that requires users to provide two or more forms of authentication before granting access to a resource.
What are some of the MFA features available in Azure AD?
Some MFA features available in Azure AD include custom voice and SMS messages, one-time bypass, and support for multiple authentication methods.
How is MFA licensing determined in Azure AD?
MFA licensing in Azure AD is determined based on the type of Azure AD license assigned to the user.
What is Azure AD Premium P1?
Azure AD Premium P1 is a license plan that provides additional features and capabilities beyond the standard Azure AD license, including conditional access policies, group-based access management, and self-service password reset.
What is Azure AD Premium P2?
Azure AD Premium P2 is a license plan that includes all the features of Azure AD Premium P1, as well as additional capabilities such as identity protection and privileged identity management.
What is the pricing model for Azure AD?
The pricing model for Azure AD is based on the number of users and the license plan selected. There are also volume discounts available for large organizations.
Can anyone explain the add-on licensing options for Microsoft 365?
Does the M365 Business Basic plan support add-on licenses?
Are add-on licenses only available for enterprise plans?
This blog post was very helpful, thanks!
Do all users in an organization need the same add-on license?
Can someone elaborate on the difference between M365 E5 and E5 Security add-on?
I had a bad experience with the add-on options, a bit confusing which ones to choose.
Is Microsoft Teams included in any of the add-on licenses?