We have come a long way since the release of Microsoft’s first Word processor “Multi-Tool Word” in 1983. Fast forward 36 years and Microsoft have conquered the business world, with the Office Suite taking the crown as the most popular enterprise service toting over 1.2 billion users. Microsoft has managed to hold onto their title by continuously evolving and expanding their products. Microsoft have no plans of slowing down and are back at it again with their latest offering, Microsoft 365, which promises to revolutionize the cloud platform.
What's new in Microsoft 365?
Now, you may be thinking “don’t I already have a 365 license…what’s all the hype about?” The answer is that you probably do have an Office 365 license, but this is Microsoft 365 (confusing we know!) the name is almost the same, so what’s the difference?
Microsoft 365 is a suite of products that includes Office 365, Windows 10 and Enterprise Mobility + Security. By combining everything into one license Microsoft’s goal is to help employees work more efficiently and securely. Microsoft 365 is a full business solution containing tools and applications to enable productivity, collaboration, communication and teamwork throughout all levels of your business.
What does Microsoft 365 have to offer your business?
Microsoft 365 is a universal productivity cloud allowing you to connect your business anywhere in the world so that you can work together across all your apps and devices. With advanced device management, you will gain an extra layer of security and protection, empowering you to manage a mobile workforce through the Enterprise Mobility + Security Suite.
With a strong emphasis on security, the Microsoft 365 Security Center provides you with the tools to manage and monitor security across your entire Microsoft infrastructure. Using a dashboard interface, you can view the security health of your organization, configure devices, users and apps, you will also be provided with alerts if suspicious activity is detected.
Alternatively, if you were to purchase an Office 365 subscription you will also need to purchase a Windows 10 Professional license for each user. Your organization would then need to ensure that each device is properly connected and protected under the security subscription.
Included within the Microsoft 365 bundle is a license for Windows 10 Enterprise. The benefit of having an operating system as part of your license allows for the deployment of Windows 10 for your entire organization. This allows you to customize the Out of Box Experience for Windows 10 PCs, eliminating the need for images, drivers and infrastructure to be managed by an IT administrator. Microsoft 365 ensures that everything has been integrated into the one bundle, minimizing costs for your organization and making sure that it is easy for your staff to use.
Overall, Microsoft 365 is essentially a “one license for everything” solution that simplifies and secures your business.
Licensing Model: which one is right for you?
Microsoft 365 offers businesses two licensing models depending on your needs and requirements; Microsoft 365 Enterprise and Microsoft 365 Business.
Microsoft 365 Enterprise is designed for large organizations and provides the broadest and deepest set of apps and services with a toolkit for teamwork, providing you with the flexibility and choice in how your business connects, shares and communicates.
Microsoft 365 Business is designed for small to medium-sized businesses with up to 300 users and integrates Office 365 Business Premium with customizable security and management features. It offers services to encourage employee productivity, secure your business and simplify IT management.
These licensing models can be further tailored to your business needs and budget through sub-levels of licensing including; E5, E3 and F1. E5 contains the full feature set of Microsoft 365, whereas E3 gives users access to the core products, F1 is for Firstline Workers and utilizes purpose-built tools.
To learn more about Microsoft 365 and how it can help your business operate more efficiently and securely you can speak to one of our Microsoft experts.
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