In just a few weeks, Microsoft will roll out a change that could significantly raise the compliance game for small and medium-sized businesses. From late August, the Microsoft 365 E5 Compliance suite - previously the preserve of full E5 license holders - will be available as a low- cost add-on for Microsoft 365 Business Premium customers.
On paper, it’s a licensing update. In practice, it’s an opportunity for SMBs to access the same enterprise-grade compliance capabilities that larger organisations rely on - without overcommitting on cost or complexity.
And with AI becoming embedded in the way we work - think Microsoft Copilot, custom GPTs, and process automation - this couldn’t come at a better time.
The AI adoption curve isn’t slowing down. Every week, more employees are experimenting with AI tools - sometimes without IT’s blessing - and those tools are increasingly interacting with sensitive data. That raises a fundamental question: are your compliance and governance controls strong enough for the AI era?
The E5 Compliance add-on makes it far easier for SMBs to answer “yes.” It gives you the tools to:
Set clear boundaries with Information Protection, Data Loss Prevention (DLP), and Insider Risk Management. This isn’t just about stopping accidental oversharing - it’s about building safeguards so AI tools can work productively without putting the business at risk.
With Advanced Audit and eDiscovery, every AI-generated file, email, or chat can be tracked back to its source. That’s essential for regulatory compliance, internal investigations, and maintaining trust.
As AI tools become more autonomous, compliance frameworks help you align with ethical standards, industry regulations, and the expectations of your customers.
The add-on bundles Microsoft’s top-tier compliance tools:
Together, these create a secure environment where AI and sensitive data can co-exist - helping your teams innovate without compromising compliance.
Until now, these features were locked behind a full E5 licence. From late August, Business Premium customers can add them for around £12.50 per user/month (annual commitment). That makes it realistic for SMBs to scale their compliance capabilities without taking on the cost
- or the bloat - of an E5 plan they don’t fully use.
Compliance is only one part of the AI-ready equation. Pairing this add-on with the E5 Security add-on gives you advanced threat protection, identity management, and endpoint security - closing the loop between governance, security, and productivity.
The add-on won’t be available for another couple of weeks, so now’s the time to plan for it - especially if you're planning to roll out AI tools like Microsoft Copilot or other automation solutions. Review your current compliance capabilities. Identify where AI could introduce new
risks. And map out how these tools could fit into your governance framework.
If you're a Microsoft 365 Business Premium customer and want to explore how this add-on can support your AI strategy and compliance goals, talk to your TIEVA account manager today.
We’ll help you assess your needs and be ready to hit the ground running as soon as the add-on
goes live.
Sophie Cooper
Sophie Cooper is a Training and Adoption Specialist at TIEVA, helping organisations get real value from Microsoft 365. She leads on Microsoft Copilot enablement, guiding users to adopt AI tools responsibly. Sophie champions intuitive, people-first workflows that simplify change and make new technologies easier to use - helping teams work smarter and achieve more.
