Office 365: What You Need to Know
Office 365 is the latest in the modern push for services that allow businesses and individuals alike to take advantage of having enterprise level software at a fixed monthly fee. If you are new to Office 365 or are thinking about whether it is right for you, there are a few defining aspects of the new software that you should know.
publish date: March 13, 2017
Office 365 is the latest in the modern push for services that allow businesses and individuals alike to take advantage of having enterprise level software at a fixed monthly fee. If you are new to Office 365 or are thinking about whether it is right for you, there are a few defining aspects of the new software that you should know.
Applications Offered
With Office 365 you can choose your bundle. Many Office 365 bundles contain all the applications that were previously available in the Microsoft Office Suite. This includes Word, Excel, Publisher, Powerpoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Access. This aspect of Office 365 is on par with previous versions of Microsoft’s Office software.
This is important to know because it means that the transition will be smooth in terms of how you use the applications you are already familiar with. Changes that Office 365 brings from previous versions are how you can now use these applications to collaborate and increase efficiency.
Cloud Based
Office 365 has taken to the cloud. All activity that you do on the included applications will be saved and stored online. Cloud-based computing can completely change the way that you work with your team and can increase productivity greatly. When you have all your working documents set up in the cloud, you can have that file available to any team member with any edits being made to everyone in real-time. Not only this, but all updates are done over the cloud which allows users to continually have the latest updates instantly.
The cloud-based service also applies to how to get started with Office 365. In most cases, there isn’t any physical CD or hardware that comes with Office 365. All installation is done over the internet, which makes it simple to install for many users.
Subscription Pricing
With the increasingly popular payment structure, Office 365 operates on a subscription based billing schedule. So instead of one, large, upfront cost; users pay annually or monthly at a lower cost. This could be appealing to businesses that desire being able to budget for the service without having to worry about one large payment that they must pay again when they need new software.
Security
Much debate has been said over security of cloud-based software. Businesses want to be assured that their information is secure and they need software that does that. With the rising use, programs like Office 365 are only becoming more secure. As stated earlier, since you are automatically getting the latest updates online, your software will always have the newest security patches and additions with Office 365.
Bottom Line
If you decide to should make the switch to the cloud based Office 365, you need to take into consideration exactly how this software works. Understanding the cloud, payments, and security may require further research. Consult with professionals to get the most from your Office 365 and see how it can boost business in the connected world.