Office 365 has recently gained media attention for it’s integration with other applications like Skype, Ring Central, and a new Outlook Customer Manager tool expected to be released in 2017. Office 365 Online also integrates with DropBox, a leading file storage provider. You should expect to hear more about Office 365 in the coming months. 60 million of Microsoft Office’s 1.2 Billion users are using Office 365. Microsoft says they are adding approximately 50,000 small business users a month to Office 365. It’s clear that Office 365 is a driving force in the market. We’ve gathered the top 5 things you need to know about Office 365:
- What is it?
Office 365 is the same Microsoft Office you already know and use every day. The difference between Microsoft Office and Office 365 is O365 gives you more accessibility and capability. Because Office 365 is powered by the cloud, you can get to your applications and files from just about anywhere—PC, Mac, and tablets—and they’re always up to date. Same goes for updates to features—you get them automatically. - How can it benefit you?
Right now, you probably have files everywhere. Some are on your work computer, some are on your home computer, some are on your old computer, some on external hard drives, flash drives etc. Because Office 365 operates in the cloud, all your files are in one place. You can access the same files from anywhere, anytime, by logging in to your Office 365 account. - What does it cost?
Office 365 is subscription based. You can pay monthly or annually. There are different subscription tiers that come with different levels of service. Tiers are based on amount of users, services, and applications. - What do I do with my existing files?
There is a transition period you should prepare for when migrating to Office 365. That is where someone like Datasmith comes in. We help organize and move your files into the Office 365 platform. This is a good time to clean out older files and organize any files. - Will I need a back-up service?
Datasmith recommends always having a back-up service. Whether you use Microsoft Office or Office 365 or have on-premise servers or cloud storage – you should ALWAYS back-up your data. Office 365 does not come with a back-up option but easily integrates with many back-up providers.
Office 365 can boost productivity and increase flexibility for your workforce. If you have questions about Office 365, or wonder what O365 can do for you, contact us. We are here to help your business be more productive and efficient in 2017.
