Guide · Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 for Perth Businesses
Microsoft 365 gives Perth businesses business-grade email, Office apps, Teams, SharePoint and OneDrive on a per-user monthly subscription. Getting the most from it means picking the right plan, hardening security with MFA and conditional access, backing up your data with a third-party tool, and reviewing licensing regularly to avoid overspend. This guide covers each, and our Perth team can set it all up for you.
Which Microsoft 365 plan does a Perth business need?
Most Perth small and medium businesses use Microsoft 365 Business Standard (around $22.50 per user/month — email, Office apps, Teams, SharePoint) or Business Premium (around $35.40 per user/month, which adds advanced security, device management and Entra ID Protection). Business Premium is usually the right choice once you care about cybersecurity or have staff working remotely, because the security tooling it bundles would otherwise cost more bought separately.
How do I secure Microsoft 365?
Out of the box, Microsoft 365 is not configured securely enough for a business. The essential hardening steps are:
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA) on every account — the single biggest protection against account takeover.
- Conditional access — only allow sign-ins from expected devices and locations.
- Mailbox auditing — so you can investigate if an account is compromised.
- Anti-phishing and safe-links / safe-attachments policies.
- Data loss prevention (DLP) — stop sensitive data (TFNs, card numbers) leaving by email.
- Disable legacy authentication — old protocols that bypass MFA.
Does Microsoft back up my Microsoft 365 data?
No — and this surprises most businesses. Microsoft's terms state that protecting your data is your responsibility. Their infrastructure is resilient, but they will not restore mailboxes, SharePoint files or OneDrive data lost to accidental deletion, malicious staff, or ransomware beyond short retention windows. Every Perth business on Microsoft 365 should run a third-party backup with long-term, immutable retention.
How do I reduce Microsoft 365 costs?
The most common saving is removing unused or duplicate licences — many businesses pay for licences assigned to ex-staff or for higher-tier plans than staff actually use. Annual commitments are cheaper than monthly. And consolidating standalone tools (separate video conferencing, file sharing, password managers) into what Microsoft 365 already includes often removes whole subscriptions. We routinely find Perth clients 15–25% of licence spend on review.
Will my data stay in Australia?
Yes — Microsoft 365 tenants can be provisioned in the Australian region (Sydney/Melbourne data centres), keeping data residency in-country for Australian Privacy Principles compliance, government work and data-sovereignty requirements.
Free download: Perth Business Cybersecurity Checklist
18 practical controls every Perth business should have in place — including the Microsoft 365 hardening steps above. Tick what you have, spot the gaps.
Perth Business Cybersecurity Checklist
18 controls every Perth SMB should have in 2026 (PDF)
Microsoft 365 for Perth businesses — FAQ
Common questions Perth businesses ask about Microsoft 365 setup, security and cost.
Want Microsoft 365 set up properly?
Book a free Microsoft 365 review — we'll check your security and licensing and tell you exactly where you stand.