Is Microsoft 365 Worth The Investment?

One of our clients’ most frequently asked questions has always revolved around Microsoft 365: is it worth giving a shot? In a word, YES! But just “yes” isn’t deep enough to help you make an informed decision, right? That’s why we’ve thought it wise to review this awe-inspiring technology, taking a deeper dive into its key features, benefits, and a few drawbacks. Additionally, we’ll also elaborate on the difference between Office 365 and Microsoft 365.

Microsoft 365 Key Features

If you’re looking for a cloud-based solution integrated with tons of office apps and superior security, Microsoft 365 has you covered. Below are some of this business productivity powerhouse’s features.

Team Collaboration

Thanks to Microsoft Teams’ in-app integration with Microsoft 365, collaborating and chatting with colleagues in real-time has never been easier. Your staff members can use this feature to text, share screens, and audio-or-video-call each other. And the best part? You don’t even have to exit the application you’re using for work.

Real-time Co-Authoring

Are you working on a joint project which is tight on the deadline and would take time to compute separately? Worry not. Microsoft 365 is a hub for excellent software like Word, Excel, OneDrive, PowerPoint, and SharePoint that support real-time team collaboration. For instance, you can co-author a task on Word and see the changes each person makes as they happen in real-time.

Workflow Management

Managing your team’s projects has never been easier with Microsoft 365’s Office Planner. And, the tool lets you organize & assign tasks, set deadlines, create plans, share files, and give status updates. Furthermore, the office planner is an excellent feature for planning workflows and enhancing collaboration among teams.

Limitless Accessibility (Work from Anywhere on Any Device)

Your Microsoft 365 subscription comprises tons of Office web apps, enabling you to work on your cloud files from any internet-connected PC. And, you don’t need to install the Office web apps on your PC. Additionally, you can access critical Office mobile apps to use Word, PowerPoint, OneDrive, Excel, and Outlook from your phone or tablet on the road. However, you’ll need to download and install them from the Google Play Store or iOS Store.

What are the Benefits of Microsoft 365?

If you’re still skeptical about adopting Microsoft 365 to streamline your business functions and processes, you might change your mind after learning its benefits. Here are a few:

Optimal Storage

Microsoft 365 subscription comes with 1TB OneDrive cloud storage sufficient enough to securely save, share, backup and access all your files across multiple devices from anywhere.

Advanced Security

Microsoft 365 leverages 18-bit SSL/TLS data encryption to protect its users against malware, viruses, and data breaches. Furthermore, it has a rock-solid ransomware detection and recovery attached to OneDrive to prevent attacks. Other security protocols include two-step identity verification and automatic deactivation of suspicious links.

Share Your Subscription

Upgrading to Microsoft 365 Family plan enables you to share your subscription with a maximum of 5 people at no additional cost.

Great Value for the Money

Microsoft 365’s monthly subscription charges are overly affordable, starting at only $5 per month. That’s like a giveaway, considering that they provide you with impeccable Office software you would pay hundreds of dollars to acquire. Additionally, when Microsoft 365 updates its premium apps, you receive the updates automatically and at no extra cost.

Here are a few more benefits:

  • Improved team communication and collaboration
  • Hassle-free access to files, anywhere
  • Enhanced business continuity
  • Predictable spending
  • Ongoing technical support via chat or phone

What are the Drawbacks of Microsoft 365?

You know what they say; in every seed of good, there’s always a piece of bad. Despite Microsoft 365’s first-class apps, integrations, and workplace management capacities, it comes with a few cons. These include:

  • Optimal functionality is dependent on a solid internet connection. Since the technology uses cloud-based systems, you can access or upload files when you have network downtime issues or poor internet.
  • You may experience compatibility issues. While Microsoft deserves the credit for timely systems and software updates, this can be hurting to some end-users since the advanced features tend to be compatible only with select devices.
  • Subscription renewal can be a real headache as the referring fees may lead to budget constraints.
  • You have no control over your data. Since Microsoft 365’s infrastructure is cloud-based, your business information doesn’t reside on-prem.

What’s the Difference Between Office 365 and Microsoft 365?

Office 365 is a cloud-based suite of premium business applications like Word, OneDrive, Outlook, SharePoint, PowerPoint, and more. On the flip side, Microsoft 365 is a conglomerate of services, encompassing Office 365 plus a host of other systems like Enterprise Mobility Suite and Windows 10.

Final Remarks

Hopefully, this short yet comprehensive Microsoft 365 review helped you realize the value it can bring to your business in terms of teamwork, collaboration, security enhancement, cost-efficiency, improved productivity, and more. Save for a few drawbacks like compatibility issues and recurrent subscription renewals, Microsoft 365 is a state-of-the-art that every business deserves a taste of.

If you’d wish to learn more about Microsoft solutions and management, get in touch with our tech advisors today!