Microsoft Office 365 is a comprehensive, complete solution that includes everything your business needs for e-mail, instant messaging, online meetings, file sharing, and the latest Office products. It’s a cloud-based online suite that provides access to a wealth of services and software and includes all the full suite of Microsoft Office products including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and much more.
Many of our clients use Office 365 for a variety of reasons; these are the five reasons we hear most often.
Because Office 365 is offered via subscription, you pay an affordable monthly subscription based on how many of your employees use it. By purchasing licenses – or “seats” – you only pay for the users who need the software, instead of paying a lump sum as you do with most software. And, as your organization expands and contracts, you can increase or decrease the number of seats as you need them.
Many of our clients report that shifting to a subscription-based model for Office 365 makes budgeting easier and benefits them from a cash flow perspective.
Do some of your employees work from home or in locations away from your office? Cloud-based Microsoft 365 is built with mobility in mind. All your Office 365 documents and applications will be accessible from anywhere and kept up to date. All you need is internet access and your computer device.
The ability to work from anywhere and access your files is a huge productivity booster. With your files saved to the Office 365 cloud, your desk is no longer a barrier. Use mobile apps like OneDrive, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Skype, SharePoint, and OneDrive so everyone can stay connected via e-mail, instant messaging, and online meetings. Need to work offline? Office 365 provides access to desktop versions of Office 365 programs as well as the ability to sync content from the cloud to your desktop or laptop.
Software version tracking and paying for upgrades become a thing of the past when you shift to Office 365; all of the users on your subscription automatically receive upgrades that are rolled out seamlessly to your users. No more installing software on each of their computers!
It can be a common misconception that working with files in the cloud isn’t secure. With Office 365, not only is your data protected, it can help boost your overall security posture. With its online document storage option, you can be assured that your confidential data will be stored securely. And, just as we noted with automatic upgrades, cloud-based Office 365 provides automatic security updates that keep your applications and devices current with the latest security features.
Your email will also be secure. When you move your Exchange server to the cloud-based Office 365 environment, you’ll be securely migrating your mailboxes and archives to a protected environment. It also comes with native encryption, end-to-end security, and multi-factor authentication options for enhanced data security. Plus, the cloud provides unlimited e-mail storage.
No matter where you are or what device you’re using, you and your team members can easily share, and co-author Office 365 files in real-time. Everyone can contribute or edit a particular document, spreadsheet, or presentation, and you’ll see the edits as they occur. With direct access to files and real-time collaboration, you and your team will always have online and offline access with automatic syncing, so everyone stays on the same page.
Office 365 features an array of plans, so you don’t need to compromise and settle on just one. And it provides customized packages where you can mix and match the features you need. You won’t be paying for software you don’t need and wasting money. And you can add or delete programs at any time.
Using Office 365 is easy, but migrating your current files can be tricky. Good news – C3’s migration professionals have years of experience doing exactly these types of migrations for our clients, saving them time, headaches and lost data. C3 Integrated Solutions provides services for all of your Office 365 needs, allowing you to focus on your business goals. You can learn more about all that Office 365 has to offer here. Get in touch with our team at (571) 384-7950 or info@c3isit.com today.
Bill Wootton is the Founder and President of C3 Integrated Solutions, a full-service IT provider based in Arlington, VA that specializes in securing our nation’s Defense Industrial Base through cloud-based solutions and industry leading partners. Bill is passionate about bringing cyber-awareness, and cyber-maturity to the nation’s Defense Industrial Base, working with clients to help them achieve CMMC and NIST 800-171 compliance by providing MSP, security and Office 365 integration services.