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You’ve used Microsoft Office before. The suite of programs has been around for decades, enabling businesses to do everything from word processing to slide shows to complex spreadsheets and more. For many businesses, it’s the backbone of their office software.
So What’s Microsoft Office 365?
The core difference between Microsoft Office 365 and older versions like Microsoft Office 2016 is the move to a subscription, cloud-based model.
What this means for your business is instead of large upfront purchases of permanent licenses, you subscribe on an ongoing basis. This means that you always have access to the latest version, and you’ve eliminated the financial burden of upgrading after a few years when your software falls more and more out of sync with your clients and competitors.
You also get the option to install it on multiple devices per user rather than having your Office 2016 license locked to a single computer. This gives your staff, and thus the business, more flexibility by allowing them to use everything available to them.
Cloud Benefits of Microsoft Office 365 for Business
With Microsoft Office 365, your office software is now on the cloud. This means that while you’re able to download the desktop versions, you’re also able to access and edit documents entirely online from anywhere.
Now, fewer files are sent around, built-in versioning control allows for more powerful editing, and collaboration is easier than ever.
Because it’s on the cloud, you’re also able to reduce your data loss risk. Files can be hosted remotely rather than on your staff’s local desktops or laptops. The damage from accidental deletion or loss through theft or cyberattack is mitigated.
Is Microsoft Office 365 Worth It?
A subscription model will cost you more in terms of money spent — but only if you don’t intend to update your Office 2016 ever. In every other metric, the superior choice for business is Office 365. You’ve got the entire suite an internet connection away, the power to use it on multiple devices, and the confidence that you’re always operating in line with every other business that’s made the switch. You also get a host of extras, like free online storage and Skype conferencing.
Not to mention the flexibility of licensing your business based on your immediate demand. Need 50 licenses today? Sure. Do we need to move up to 52 for 2 months or 40 for a few months? No problem. Rightsize your licensing instantly and save money!
And if the cost is still an issue, consider the cost of not being on the latest, most secure software as your Office 2016 license gets older and older, the cost of supporting a user across multiple devices, and the cost of missing out on that collaborative approach.
Take the Plunge: Deploy Microsoft Office 365
If you’ve been operating with Office 2016, 2013, or earlier versions, breaking through the inertia and getting online with Office 365 might seem like a daunting process. How does security stack up? What’s the best bang for the buck on user provisioning? What’s the transition period like?
At CrucialLogics, we’re always ready to help when it comes to the Microsoft Cloud. As Microsoft Gold Partners, we’re experts at deploying and evaluating Microsoft environments maximized for security and productivity. Drop us a line to get started.
