Microsoft 365 August 2026 Updates: Security Boosts and Pricing Changes for Australian SMBs
New security features added at no extra cost
Microsoft has bundled Microsoft Defender for Office 365 Plan 1 into Office 365 E3 and Microsoft 365 E3 plans. This adds protection against phishing, malware and malicious links in email and Teams. SMBs that previously relied on basic email security now gain stronger built-in defences without moving to a higher tier.
Intune Remote Help and Advanced Analytics are also appearing in eligible E3 suites. These tools let IT staff fix device issues remotely and gain clearer visibility into endpoint health. For businesses without a full-time IT person, the remote help feature reduces downtime when a laptop or phone needs attention.
Price increases and what they mean
Several Microsoft 365 plans rose in price from 1 July 2026. The increases range from roughly 10 to 20 percent depending on the sku. Australian businesses renewing or adding seats should check current quotes rather than assume last year’s rates still apply.
The good news is that many of the new security capabilities land in the plans you already pay for. Review your tenant in the Microsoft 365 admin centre to confirm which features are now active and whether any add-on licences can be retired.
Action items for the next 30 days
- Run the Microsoft 365 licensing report to list every active plan and compare it against the updated feature matrix.
- Enable the new Defender protections and test email flow rules so phishing attempts are caught earlier.
- Book time with your IT partner to map Intune Remote Help to your support processes and reduce reliance on third-party remote tools.
- Confirm Windows 10 version 21H2 devices are upgraded before the OneDrive sync app stops receiving updates in mid-August.
These steps keep your environment secure and avoid surprise bills when renewals hit.
Staying on top of vendor changes like this protects cash flow and reduces risk for teams of 10 to 100 people. If you would like a quick licence health check or help prioritising the August rollouts, reach out to OzeIT for a conversation.