Launched by Microsoft back in June 2011, Office 365 is a SaaS solution, which provides an online version of the MS Office Suite, together with the SharePoint Server, Exchange Server, and Lync Server. Office 365 is now Microsoft 365. The features vary widely depending on the subscription plan. if you’re not using Office 365, you’re missing on features that can revolutionise the way you work, such as: 

  • Turning OneNote items into Outlook calendar events
  • Real-time co-authoring 
  • Editing and converting to PDF without difficulty 
  • Replying in-line to an email without opening it 
  • Working offline and uploading changes later 

As Statistic points out, Office 365 is used by over a million companies across the globe. 1 in 5 corporate employees now use the cloud service. They rely on the suite’s tools to create documents, communicate, and balance their books. Microsoft 365 is the best option for anyone who needs all the office apps. If you want to buy Microsoft 365 standalone version, you enjoy new features such as the black theme in Word. 

If you’re not sure Office 365 is right for your business, continue reading to discover the key benefits of using the software platform. 

It Gives You the Ability to Work Remotely 

Business is changing, and more companies are embracing the idea of remote work. Remote, flexible working brings about many benefits, including enhanced team morale, higher retention and engagement, and accomplishing more work. One of the main perks of Office 365 is that it allows you to work from literally anywhere as long as you have Internet connectivity. 

You can call upon Skype or SharePoint to simplify collaboration. Support for Skype for Business will end by 2025, just so you know. It will be replaced with Microsoft Teams. SharePoint can support cross-departmental collaboration via content management systems. The intranet connects all units and stores documents, policies, news, and so on.

Within a shared cloud document, you can co-author and allocate tasks thanks to @mentions. You and your team can work on the same process, which helps avoid confusion. If you use Office 365 in the browser, co-authoring is already enabled. Not only do you get to see the people editing the file, but also the changes they’re making in real-time. 

If you want to share a document but don’t want any changes to be made, change the permissions to read-only. Don’t worry if you make a mistake while AutoSave is on, as you can restore the previous version through version history. 

You Automatically Get Updates for All Other Microsoft Packages

By using Office 365, you get instant access to updates for other Microsoft packages, such as Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc. You can enjoy the latest features, security patches, and bug fixes. Office 365 instals updates automatically. If this setting isn’t activated, this is what you need to do:

  1. Open any Office 365 app.
  2. Click File.
  3. Select Account/ Office Account.
  4. Click on Update Options. 
  5. Press Update Now.

Discovered updates will be downloaded and installed in a jiffy. There’s no such thing as a perfect system. Office 365 is imperfect, so it needs to be improved from time to time. 

Office 365 Has Secure Cloud Storage 

Much of your server hardware will be unnecessary if you buy Office 365, so you can save physical space and eliminate the need for maintenance. You can securely store your data online in OneDrive, which grants access to 1TB of cloud storage for starters. 

Two-factor authentication ensures unauthorized people can’t see your files if they have access to your device. Security threats are identified on the spot, so you have peace of mind knowing your organization is safe. You’ll get alerted if OneDrive detects a ransomware or malicious attack. Therefore, you’ll be able to recover your files in the nick of time. 

To sum up, these are the benefits of using OneDrive:

  • You can access files from anywhere at any time
  • You can share content across teams, whether small or large
  • You can free up your devices’ internal storage
  • You can customise sync settings
  • You can security store files and information

By using OneDrive to store important data, you have a guarantee your files are safe, even in the event of an emergency. In case you didn’t know, data loss can happen at any time due to hardware failure, natural disasters, or power surges. 

Don’t Worry About Your Inbox Running Out of Space 

Office 365 is a subscription that includes, as mentioned previously, 1TB of cloud storage. You can buy more storage – in other words, acquire a plan with a higher storage limit. You can buy up to 2TB of OneDrive storage. Storage depends on your business and data requirements. You can opt for Microsoft’s unlimited cloud storage offer to save money in the long run.  Figuring out how much storage you need isn’t exactly easy. Carefully think about what you’re not storing and how much your storage needs will grow in the future. The good news is that you can always add more cloud storage or downsize if you find yourself with less data than anticipated. 

Microsoft Goes the Extra Mile to Protect Its Customers’ Data 

Hard as it may be to believe, Microsoft doesn’t use your data for advertising or profiling. Your documents and information are as safe as can be. Microsoft data centres are designed to protect data from harm, meaning that privacy controls are enabled by default for all customers of the service. Microsoft offers a financially-backed service, so customers are compensated through service credits. 

Customer data is used for: 

  • Troubleshooting
  • Feature improvement 
  • Personalised customer experience 

If you decide to leave the service, the necessary steps will be taken to ensure continued ownership of the data. Finally, importantly, using Office 365 will boost your reputation. Your customers are dealing with a company that takes itself seriously. It builds trust, advocates brand loyalty, and ensures long-term customer retention. So, don’t waste any more time and get out your credit card.