M365 Group vs Mail-Enabled Security Group

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🔷 Microsoft 365 Group (M365 Group):

Purpose:
Used for collaboration across Microsoft 365 services like Outlook, SharePoint, Teams, Planner, and more.

Features:

  • Comes with shared mailbox, calendar, SharePoint site, OneNote, and Planner.

  • Used for collaborative features like group email communication, scheduling meetings, sharing files.

  • Supports Teams and Yammer integration.

  • Membership managed via Azure AD.

  • Dynamic or static membership.

Email-enabled?
Yes, it has an email address and can be used like a distribution list (you can send emails to the group).

Security Role?
❌ Not designed to assign permissions (like to resources or apps).

🔷 Mail-Enabled Security Group (MESG):

Purpose:
Used primarily for security and access control, and secondarily for email distribution.

Features:

  • Can be used to assign permissions in Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Exchange, etc.

  • Also email-enabled, so you can use it like a distribution list.

  • Useful when you need both email distribution and access control.

Email-enabled?
✅ Yes, can receive emails.

Security Role?
✅ Yes, designed to control access to resources like SharePoint, OneDrive, or mailboxes.

✅ Quick Summary Table:

FeatureMicrosoft 365 GroupMail-Enabled Security Group
Primary UseCollaboration toolsSecurity + email distribution
Email-enabledYesYes
Assign permissionsNoYes
Integrated with Teams/PlannerYesNo
Shared mailbox/calendarYesNo
Azure AD managedYesYes

If you’re planning group collaboration (like for a team in Microsoft Teams or a department), go with M365 Groups.
If you need to secure resources and send group emails, then Mail-Enabled Security Groups are your best bet.

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