The past few years have been rough on businesses of all sizes. Massive layoffs, cybersecurity incidents, skyrocketing costs, and a challenging operating environment have cast a long shadow of uncertainty. Amidst these conditions, business managers are looking for ways to maintain smooth operations, boost productivity, and maintain higher returns through productivity tools like Microsoft 365.
Microsoft 365 is more than the traditional Microsoft apps (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint). For its many years of service, Microsoft 365 is viewed as a powerhouse of business tools that can streamline operations, protect sensitive data, drive strategic decisions, and bolster employee productivity.
How these tools can be harnessed effectively remains a subject for discussion. In this blog post, we’ll shift focus on how small and medium-sized businesses can make the most out of Microsoft 365.
Unpacking Microsoft 365’s Core Features
Frequent updates and new product releases are the hallmark of the Microsoft 365 suite. Every few months, Microsoft announces new features and updates to its existing suite of productivity apps. With a subscription, users enjoy an array of productivity tools to optimize your business operations, including but not limited to:
- Free cloud storage for each supported user on your subscription
- Automated bi-monthly security updates
- Desktop and mobile access
- A collaborative environment for enhanced productivity
These features aren’t just about getting work done; they’re about getting it done smarter, faster, and more securely. But there’s more.
Seamless Collaboration Powered By Microsoft Teams
Teams is a much recent but significant addition to the Microsoft suite. It brings together instant messaging, file collaboration, and videoconferencing capabilities. Like OneDrive, Teams taps into the cloud to remain accessible across multiple platforms in real-time.
With Teams, you can:
- Hold high-quality video meetings with up to 10,000 participants – Background blur technology, screen sharing, and crisp audio and high-quality video interactions with Teams offer a professional experience when collaborating with potential customers no matter where they’re located.
- Stay organized with standard and private channels – Team members assigned to the same project can be invited to focused Slack-like channels where conversations, project details, and files can be shared in an organized manner.
- Securely communicate, protected by end-to-end encryption – Microsoft Teams offers stringent data protection end-to-end. Senders and recipients must turn on end-to-end encryption to protect audio, visual, and screen-sharing data.
All information shared across Teams will be encrypted with Transport Layer Security (TLS) and Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol (SRTP) by default for additional security.
Enhancing Productivity with Traditional Microsoft Applications
The shift toward a subscription model has not left behind the relevance of traditional applications, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. With Microsoft 365, these applications are now cloud-based, allowing the flexibility to work from anywhere, on any device, and at any time.
Word, one of Microsoft’s most feature-packed applications for document creation can now support co-authoring, taking collaboration to another level. Same team members can make and track changes, view historical instances of files, and provide feedback in real time.
Microsoft Excel remains one of the most powerful data management and visualization tools with over 17 billion cells per spreadsheet, 475 functions, and great processing speed for both large and small organizations.
PowerPoint isn’t just for easy presentations alone. Corporate users can use it to create engaging presentations, with a live camera feed on all slides to break down complex ideas visually.
Clearly, Microsoft 365’s Office applications are more than just software—they’re productivity boosters that can transform how you work.
Store Data Securely on OneDrive
When all is said and done, you need a secure platform for your company’s data, meetings, conversations, documents, and so on. What’s more, this business intelligence needs to be available across devices and locations and accessible at any time. Microsoft’s OneDrive offers robust and secure cloud storage solutions for these exact needs.
For corporate users, OneDrive’s backup solutions provide easy storage for files and data generated from other Microsoft 365 applications. This feature is particularly important for small business users who need to store data directly from their PCs or access important files on the go.
OneDrive offers secure storage for your data with real-time security monitoring systems actively scanning for malicious attempts to steal user data. In the event of a possible incident, the Microsoft team follows predefined steps to mitigate the risks and upholds its zero-standing access policy where technicians do not retain access to your data unless it’s granted in response to an event that warrants so.
Overall, with Microsoft 365 at the helm of your business operations, you can streamline workflows, bolster security, and boost productivity, all under one integrated platform. Optimizing your business operations with Microsoft 365 is a strategic move towards modernizing your business infrastructure and creating a future-proof workplace.
Conclusion
In many ways, Microsoft 365 is your ultimate business partner. It’s designed to streamline your operations, boost productivity, and foster collaboration with greater returns. If you’re facing challenges setting up Microsoft 365 or unsure if it’s the right pick for your business, don’t hesitate to get in touch with a managed IT provider like Spectrumwise for strategic advice and management.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cost of Microsoft 365 for small, medium, and large businesses?
Microsoft 365 is available in different pricing plans for both small, medium, and large businesses. Generally, small businesses with fewer users and smaller budgets can enjoy lower-priced subscription tiers for their needs.
Does Microsoft 365 offer any discounts for non-profit organizations or non-government organizations?
Microsoft 365 provides discounts for non-profit and non-government organizations. Only eligible institutions with recognized legal status in their respective country. Additional requirements must also be met to gain access to these special pricing options.
What kind of customer support does Microsoft provide for troubleshooting issues in Microsoft 365?
Troubleshooting issues with Microsoft 365 takes place on a break-fix basis. However, Microsoft does not provide on-site support, root cause analysis, or data recovery, and neither do they ensure that third-party tools work with Microsoft 365 applications. These issues are best left to your local managed IT provider with extensive understanding and experience in Microsoft 365.
Does Microsoft 365 have any mobile apps for remote access and productivity?
Microsoft 365 offers mobile apps for remote access and productivity. You’ll find essential apps like Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Teams, all optimized for mobile users. As such, normal operations can be run uninterrupted from any location, across multiple devices, and at any time.
Can I integrate Microsoft 365 with other software tools my business is currently using?
You can integrate Microsoft 365 with other third-party software tools your business is currently using. It’s designed to work seamlessly with a wide range of applications, boosting efficiency and workflow within your team. Note that you may need third-party help with the integration process from your managed IT provider.
