If you’ve recently purchased new computing equipment in order to make the most of Microsoft’s new Windows 10 OS, you may have come across Microsoft Office 365. It’s been around for a few years, and available on several other Windows operating systems, but if you already own the classic Microsoft Office, you may not have stumbled across ‘365’ and what it offers. As a company offering cloud service and IT support in London, we thought we’d give the lowdown on Microsoft Office 365, and what you need to know.

What is It?

Microsoft Office 365 comes in two forms – Home and Business. Each is a subscription-based plan (You can pay monthly and annually) that’s delivered to your company through the power of the cloud. That’s a smart way of saying you’ll need an internet connection to manage your 365 account, or save to Microsoft’s OneDrive. But you’ll still be able to use it while offline.

 

Do I Need It?

Office 365 isn’t designed for every business – you can still make a classic one-off payment for the standard Microsoft Office, if that’s your bag. Unlike 365, though, standard Microsoft Office applications won’t be updated – you’ll have to buy the newer version when it’s released – and it’s only installed on one machine. With certain 365 subscriptions, you can install the application on multiple devices: Office 365 Business allows up to 300 devices; Office 365 Enterprise allows 50,000+ users. So, it depends on your business type, really.

What Do I Get?

If you’re opting for Microsoft Office 365, you want to know you’re getting your money’s worth, right? All the usual suspects are accounted for in the Office 365 package. So that’s Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, OneNote and Access. In addition to those, you’ll also gain access to Outlook Exchange for all your email needs.

 

What Other Benefits Are There?

Not yet convinced. There are a few other benefits for choosing Microsoft Office 365 over the traditional application, not just the ability to use it over several devices, including smartphones and tablets. Because it’s integrated with the cloud, your documents will sync across those devices; you’ll also get 1TB of cloud storage, and if your business starts to grow, you can easily switch from one 365 plan to another. So you’re looking at a far more efficient Microsoft Office than ever before.

Being a cloud-based service might fill you with fear – it really shouldn’t though – but if you’re even slightly concerned, rest assured that Tristar IT are on hand to provide cloud service support that will keep your business on track. Want to know more? Then contact us today on 01707 378 453 and we’ll be happy to guide you through the process.