Microsoft Purview Licensing: E3 vs E5 bundle comparison
Table of contents
Figuring out Microsoft licensing has always been a challenge, but it’s one I actually enjoy working on. When I work with clients, the question is often the same: “Which Microsoft package is best for the project we have at hand?” This has been applied to products like SharePoint and Dynamics in the past, and now, it is used with Microsoft 365 service. With so many options available, it’s easy to get confused about what’s included and which features are essential for your business.
In recent years, many customers have been exploring Microsoft Purview, the central tool for governance within Microsoft 365. Purview plays a crucial role in managing compliance, security, and data protection. It’s available through two major Microsoft 365 plans: E3 and E5. Since Purview is part of a bundle with many other tools, it can sometimes be hard to understand the key differences between these two packages.
In this blog post, we’ll break down the features of each Purview package and analyze the benefits of choosing either the E3 or E5 bundle. The key Purview features are listed in the table below.
Microsoft Purview: E3 vs E5 license comparison
|
Feature Category |
E3* |
E5* |
|---|---|---|
|
Information Protection
|
Basic governance with manual labeling. Learn more |
Advanced governance with machine learning-based classification, automatic retention policies, meetings labeling, advanced labeling scenarios, default labels for SharePoint sites, conditional access policies, and advanced records management. Learn more |
|
Lifecycle management
|
Basic Retention Labels and Policies |
Retention Labels and Policies with the ability to inherit labeling from container. |
|
Data Loss Prevention (DLP)
|
Core DLP: Detects sensitive information types like PII, applies DLP policies in Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive, with basic reporting. Offers Policy Tips in Outlook to alert users. Learn more |
Advanced DLP features: Adds Endpoint DLP (monitors and protects sensitive data on devices like Windows/macOS), and DLP for Teams. Integrates with Cloud App Security for third-party apps like Google Drive/Box. Learn more |
|
eDiscovery & Audit
|
eDiscovery Standard: Basic case creation, search, hold, and basic audit capabilities. Learn more |
Advanced eDiscovery (Premium): Complete case management, legal hold notifications, and advanced audit features with detailed tracking. Prolonged audit logs retention. Learn more |
|
Insider Risk Management
|
Not included |
Included: Provides insider risk detection using machine learning to analyze risky behaviors, allowing investigation and remediation. Learn more |
|
Communication Compliance
|
Not included |
Included: Enables monitoring and remediation for communication risks, including inappropriate content, for internal and external communications. Learn more |
|
Identity & Access Management
|
Azure Active Directory P1: Provides basic identity protection and conditional access to manage identities securely. Learn more |
Azure Active Directory P2: Offers advanced identity protection features like Privileged Identity Management and risk-based conditional access. Learn more |
|
Security
|
Basic threat protection via Defender for Office 365 Plan 1. Learn more |
Advanced security tools such as Microsoft Defender for Identity, Defender for Office 365 Plan 2, and Defender for Cloud Apps, offering comprehensive threat protection. Learn more |
|
Compliance Management
|
Basic compliance tools such as audit logs and basic retention policies. |
Advanced compliance management tools like Customer Lockbox, Privileged Access Management, and audit log retention, providing more granular control. Learn more |
*Please note that there is a difference between an Office 365 E license and a Microsoft 365 E license, as the latter includes more features.
Choosing the right Purview package depends on your organization’s specific governance, security, and compliance needs.
