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Should I use Microsoft’s Office 365 for my business?
From the outset I have to say that there are comparable products available from other vendors such as Google. Microsoft’s Office 365 solution does become a natural step for any businesses who are using, and who plan to continue using a Microsoft based platform. Here are some reasons to consider a 365 based offering:
- It’s easy to setup – a simple web console allows you to administered all your users and mix of products. This can be billed on a monthly basis and your subscription modified as your business changes.
- You can use the “online” version of Office for example, or subscribe to use a desktop version as well.
- Automatic updates – Your applications are automatically updated, and whilst you subscribe will always allow you to use the latest version.
- Email, Office applications, Data Storage via One Drive and SharePoint keep your applications seamlessly connected.
- Platform independent (well mostly) – Use on Windows PC, Mac, IOS, Android, and in most browsers to access your company data. Work on the move or in the office.
- One user license (with the correct subscription) covers up to five devices.
- You do not need enterprise class hardware or support to use enterprise class products.
- Uptime – 99%. No solution can be 100% on, or guaranteed to be, but with a suite of cloud based products you can achieve better redundancy and up time than with an in-premise solution.
- Reduces liability – with outsourcing server and application roles to a product like 365 you don’t have to look after patching, upgrading and data backup in the same way as an in premise solution. Its therefore save time and worry.
Overall it may not suite every business model or way of working, but do not rule it out. In the long term it can make your business more agile, collaborative, and simply that bit more reliable. It can change the way you work in even small ways, which after a while you will not want to live without.
