At EZ Micro Solutions, we believe part of our role as your IT partner is keeping you informed about the changes that impact your business. Microsoft’s recent decision to unbundle Teams from Office 365 and Microsoft 365—originally a European regulatory move—has broader implications for businesses here in the United States as well. For small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), understanding these changes is critical to controlling IT costs, choosing the right collaboration tools, and ensuring your technology investments align with long-term growth.
As your trusted Lehigh Valley MSP, EZ Micro not only explains what’s changing but also helps you navigate the real-world impact. And one of the most important considerations is how this affects standardization across your organization. While flexibility is valuable, standardization can directly influence support quality, response time, and day-to-day efficiency.
Key Takeaways
- The move is a direct response to antitrust concerns and regulatory scrutiny. By unbundling Teams, Microsoft helps businesses avoid potential compliance risks associated with anti-competitive practices
- Office/Microsoft 365 bundles without Teams will now cost slightly less per user, per month compared to versions with Teams included
- Microsoft Teams will be available as a standalone subscription, separate from the 365 bundles
Why This Matters for SMBs
This shift is not just regulatory — it directly affects how your team communicates and how your IT environment is supported.
- Cost savings: If Teams isn’t essential for every employee, you could reduce your per-user spend by switching to a “no-Teams” license.
- Flexibility: You now have the option to mix licenses — some with Teams, some without — and purchase Teams only for the employees who need it.
- The case for standardization: At EZ Micro, about 85% of our clients use Microsoft 365 and Teams. While we fully support flexibility for your unique business needs, we’ve seen that standardizing on Teams simplifies collaboration, reduces training gaps, and minimizes confusion. Most importantly, it speeds up IT support. When everyone is on the same platform, our help desk can resolve tickets faster, communication is clearer, and downtime is avoided.
Balancing Flexibility with Simplicity
The new Microsoft model allows SMBs to cut costs, but cost shouldn’t be the only factor. Having multiple collaboration platforms within the same company — or across different clients — can complicate help desk tickets, increase resolution time, and even create gaps in compliance or security.
By keeping Teams as your standard collaboration platform, you benefit from:
- Faster, more consistent IT support
- Easier onboarding and training for staff
- Better integration with Microsoft 365 tools you already use
- Fewer compatibility issues when collaborating across departments or sites
At the same time, we recognize that not every user has the same needs. The key is striking the right balance between flexibility and simplicity — ensuring your business saves money where possible while still maintaining the consistency that drives efficiency.
What to Do Next
- Audit your current licenses – Identify which users actively need Teams and which could function without it.
- Evaluate standardization – Decide whether flexibility outweighs the benefits of a single collaboration platform.
- Calculate costs – Compare scenarios: a fully standardized Teams environment versus a mixed-license approach.
- Consult with EZ Micro – Work with a partner who understands both the technical and business impact of these decisions.
How EZ Micro Can Help
At EZ Micro Solutions, we specialize in helping SMBs get maximum value from their IT investments while avoiding unnecessary complexity. Our team can:
- Perform a Microsoft licensing review to identify cost-saving opportunities
- Recommend whether a standardized Teams approach or a flexible mixed model is right for your business
- Ensure your IT support team can respond faster by minimizing platform sprawl
- Deliver a proactive strategy that keeps your technology aligned with your growth goals
Contact EZ Micro today to schedule a discovery call, request a licensing review, or get a customized quote. Let us help you streamline your Microsoft investment so you can focus on growth while we manage the complexity of IT.