Microsoft 365: costs, features, and benefits for businesses

In today's rapidly evolving business environment, organizations are constantly looking for solutions to improve productivity and reduce operating costs. For business success, technology plays a central role in optimizing daily activities such as sending emails and sharing files. But as dependence on technology increases, there are also increasing expenses that companies are often not prepared to bear. Here's what to know to maximize your investment in Microsoft 365.

What you'll find in this article

  • What is Microsoft 365
  • Microsoft 365: How does it work?
  • What does Microsoft 365 include
  • Microsoft 365: what advantages does it offer to companies?
  • Microsoft 365 and Office 365: what are the differences?
  • How much does Microsoft 365 cost
  • Conclusion
Microsoft 365: costs, features, and benefits for businesses

Addressing the dilemma of how to benefit from technology while keeping IT costs low has become a priority for many companies. In this context, Microsoft 365 emerges as a key solution, designed to offer greater value at a lower cost than other single-use options. This suite of integrated tools consolidates IT infrastructure, while improving productivity, strengthening security, and offering a modern, intuitive experience for employees.

With more than one million customers worldwide, Microsoft 365 provides an ecosystem that supports business growth at a competitive cost. Its features include a wide range of applications and services that allow companies to optimize their operations without compromising the quality of the work done.

Among the benefits that help reduce IT costs, Microsoft 365 offers the possibility of consolidating many functionalities into a single platform, eliminating the need to invest in separate tools and reducing maintenance and management costs. In addition, the suite regularly updates and improvements at no additional cost, ensuring that companies are always on the cutting edge without incurring unexpected additional expenses.

What is Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 is a subscription-based service and a suite of various apps offered by Microsoft. Users can choose to buy and pay for Microsoft 365 only once, but the prevailing model is to subscribe to a plan that best suits their needs and pay a monthly fee.

Microsoft 365 offers a wide range of unique features and benefits. The suite includes renowned applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as other essential business productivity tools. By subscribing to Microsoft 365, users always benefit from the most recent and updated versions of the apps offered, without the need to purchase new packages or update existing ones.

One of the defining characteristics of Microsoft 365 is its cloud-based nature, designed to allow users to access their applications and data from any location and device. This means that it is possible to work flexibly and collaboratively, both from desktop and mobile devices, since all apps and data are hosted on Microsoft servers.

In addition, Microsoft 365 offers a number of advanced features, including integrated security, efficient communication channels, and data analysis tools to support the needs of modern businesses. Thanks to these features, Microsoft 365 presents itself as an essential tool for improving productivity and collaboration within any organization.

So, Microsoft 365 represents not just a suite of productivity apps, but a complete solution for business computing needs, offering advanced functionality, continuous updates, and flexible access, all in an affordable and scalable subscription model.

Microsoft 365: How does it work?

In the past, Microsoft Office sold boxes of software that included some of its applications. When a consumer decided to buy a new computer, they would often also add a box of Microsoft Office to the shopping cart.

All he had to do was pay once to buy Microsoft Office and then he would have access to the software in perpetuity. This sales model has been the pillar of Microsoft's business for many years. However, in recent years, Microsoft has undertaken a significant change in its business strategy.

Today, if you want to use apps like Word, Excel and PowerPoint, you have to opt for Microsoft 365, available only through a subscription. With Microsoft 365, users can enjoy all the latest features and updates offered by the suite. Thanks to the subscription model, there is no need to worry about paying to update individual apps, as the software is updated automatically at no additional cost.

But do I need to renew my Microsoft 365 subscription every year? The answer depends on the user's needs and preferences. If you don't need the latest features and prefer to use a more stable version of the apps, you might not need to renew your subscription every year. Plus, with Microsoft 365, you don't need to install any software on your device, as the apps are accessible through the cloud. This means that users can access their applications and data from any location and device, without having to worry about keeping their hardware up to date or solving complex technical problems.

Microsoft has simplified the user experience with Microsoft 365, offering an affordable and accessible solution for personal and business productivity needs. Its wide-scale adoption, with more than 1.5 billion users worldwide, testifies to its effectiveness and its impact in the modern work environment.

What does Microsoft 365 include

Some of these features and benefits will be familiar to experienced users of these apps. However, using Microsoft 365, storing, accessing and sharing files produced on Word, Excel or PowerPoint becomes more efficient thanks to cloud-based storage with up to 1 TB of online space available to each user.

Every feature of Microsoft 365 plays an important role in improving the file sharing method, making it more efficient and secure, as well as strengthening the user's communication skills.

1. OneDrive

This form of storage is familiar to anyone who uses Microsoft 365. OneDrive has been an essential element of Microsoft Office since 2007, so it's no surprise that it's an integral part of the Microsoft 365 package. Whether you have a OneDrive account for work, school or personal use, you can store and protect files produced with Word, Excel and PowerPoint and access them from any device, wherever you are. You can share folders with other people and give them permission to modify files.

The changes are synchronized with the shared folder, ensuring that everyone is always up to date. All Microsoft 365 users get their OneDrive for Business, a secure and reliable cloud storage app that allows you to access and share files with colleagues from anywhere, whether on your phone, tablet or desktop. Each user has 1 TB of storage, providing ample space for business documents and data.

Overview of Microsoft OneDrive

2. Excel

Microsoft 365 allows users to identify trends and categorize data, while it also offers HR features such as tracking hours and organizing employee profiles and expenses through Excel. Excel, as an integral part of Microsoft 365, provides powerful tools for data analysis and management, allowing companies to optimize HR processes and improve operational efficiency.

Overview of Microsoft Excel

3. Exchange

In the context of Microsoft 365, Exchange stores mailboxes in the cloud instead of on a local server. All information is synchronized between devices, allowing users to access all their material from anywhere and at any time. Thanks to this synchronization and remote access, Microsoft 365 offers a flexible and efficient user experience for managing emails.

4. Outlook

Another essential component of the Microsoft 365 package is Outlook, which allows users to log in and send emails on any device, wherever they are. Outlook offers the ability to manage and share your calendar to schedule meetings more efficiently.

With Microsoft 365, businesses of all sizes can take advantage of Outlook to manage emails, tasks, calendars, and contacts from a single integrated platform. This offers a centralized and convenient way to organize and coordinate communications and business activities.

Overview of Microsoft Outlook

5. PowerPoint

Microsoft 365 includes PowerPoint, a program for designing and presenting slides that helps users stay organized, focused, and in control of their audience during presentations. Thanks to PowerPoint, it is possible to create attractive and professional presentations with ease, ensuring an optimal visual and communicative impact.

Overview of Microsoft PowerPoint

6. SharePoint

Microsoft 365 offers SharePoint as an intranet and team collaboration site for businesses, allowing employees to collaborate with colleagues at any time and from any device.

Through SharePoint, you can distribute business services and information efficiently and build your online presence to promote your corporate brand. Thanks to the flexibility and accessibility offered by Microsoft 365, companies can improve internal communication and team productivity.

Overview of Microsoft SharePoint

7. Microsoft Teams

With students, teachers, employees and managers often dispersed in different places, it is essential to have an effective collaboration tool to facilitate communication and group work. For example, teachers must be able to conduct lessons with students who are not physically present in the classroom. Students should be able to participate in study sessions or work on projects together with other classmates. Managers also need to organize meetings with employees remotely.

In these situations, Microsoft Team is extremely helpful. Microsoft Teams offers a video conferencing and collaboration system that facilitates meetings with people around the world, offering integrated chat and voice call functions. In addition, it allows you to create and share documents instantly using applications such as Word, Excel or PowerPoint while communicating. It is also possible to attach documents directly during chat conversations.

Microsoft Teams represents a complete tool for collaboration and videoconferencing within Microsoft 365, allowing file sharing, scheduling meetings directly from the calendar and synchronizing with other apps such as OneNote and OneDrive, thus improving teamwork efficiency and business communication.

Overview of Microsoft Teams

8. Word

Word makes it easy to create documents, including presentations, proposals, business reports, plans, and budgets. It also allows you to easily build a library of key forms such as memos, agendas, invoices, and bank statements. With its wide range of tools and functionality, Microsoft 365 supports the document creation and management needs of companies of all sizes.

Overview of Microsoft Word

9. Yammer

Within Microsoft 365, Yammer represents the corporate social network, offering the possibility to communicate with colleagues in other departments and offices, create special groups to initiate conversations, collaborate, communicate and collaborate within the organization, promoting knowledge sharing and teamwork efficiency.

Overview of Microsoft Yammer

10. Microsoft Defender

With Microsoft 365, users get enhanced security and peace of mind thanks to Microsoft Defender. There are three different plans available depending on the level of security required. Exchange Online Protection, Defender for Office 365 Plan 1, and Defender for Office Plan 2 all offer advanced security features, including:

  • Data loss prevention to protect sensitive business information.
  • Threat intelligence.
  • Device management that allows data to be deleted if a device is lost or stolen or a device is stolen.
  • Protection against advanced threats hidden in emails or attachments.

All three plans also offer survey and reactive action capabilities, but upgrading to higher-end plans increases the level of security available. Microsoft 365 thus guarantees complete protection for companies, protecting sensitive data and preventing advanced cyber threats.

Are you looking for a technical team that knows how to move in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem?

To successfully implement business processes within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem, the following skills are needed:

  • software development skills
  • excellent knowledge of the Microsoft Azure cloud
  • ability to manage the Microsoft 365 tenant and its policies
  • knowledge of the main vertical software included in the Microsoft 365 subscription

Dev4Side Software has the vertical technical skills to provide you with a single, transversal point of contact for all the elements of your subscription.

Microsoft 365: what advantages does it offer to companies?

Full suite of tools

The comprehensive suite of tools offered by Microsoft 365 is notable for its wide range of applications, which includes more than 30 individual apps and services designed to meet various business and personal productivity needs.

In addition to well-known apps such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint, Microsoft 365 also includes lesser-known but equally useful tools. For example, Microsoft Sway is an innovative application for creating and sharing interactive reports and presentations, while Microsoft Lists tracks and organizes work items in tables or web-based databases. This diversity of applications underlines the versatility and breadth of the Microsoft 365 suite, which adapts to the needs of a wide range of users and usage scenarios.

Accessibility and flexibility

Users can access files and applications from any location and device, which effectively supports today's mobile workforce, allowing businesses to operate seamlessly regardless of their geographic location. In addition, the cloud-based nature of Microsoft 365 guarantees the collaboration of ideas and the maintenance of connectivity, overcoming geographical barriers.

Microsoft 365 is thus an ideal option for companies looking to optimize productivity and adapt to the needs of a constantly evolving work environment.

Improved collaboration and productivity

Microsoft 365 is designed to enhance collaboration and productivity in companies, offering a wide range of tools that help employees work together more effectively, regardless of their location. Key tools included:

  • Microsoft Teams: facilitates teamwork with online meetings and real-time collaboration.
  • Microsoft SharePoint: a platform for sharing and managing documents.
  • Microsoft Planner: helps organize and manage projects and activities.
  • Microsoft OneDrive: provides cloud storage for easy file access and sharing.
  • Microsoft Outlook: combines email, calendar, and task management for effective communication.

With this comprehensive suite of tools, Microsoft 365 promotes better communication, more efficient teamwork, and smoother work processes, helping to maximize business productivity.

Robust security features

Microsoft 365 offers peace of mind in a world where data protection is a critical property. The platform provides a number of powerful tools to protect sensitive business data, including:

  • Enhanced threat protection: proactively detects and responds to cyberthreats.
  • Data loss prevention: helps prevent unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information.
  • Access management: controls and limits access to and modification of business data.
  • Encrypted email: keeps the contents of the emails safe.
  • Mobile device management: protects business data on employees' personal devices.

With these powerful security features, Microsoft 365 ensures that business data remains protected and complies with regulatory standards, offering a reliable solution for businesses of all sizes.

Protecting business devices with Microsoft Defender

Scalability for business growth

For businesses that grow and evolve over time, Microsoft 365 adapts effortlessly to their ever-changing needs. The platform is designed to scale up or down, allowing businesses to easily add or remove users and services as needed.

For large corporations and enterprises, Microsoft 365 offers advanced features, such as customizable plans for different business needs, advanced security for sensitive business data, and compliance tools for regulatory requirements. In addition, the platform provides detailed administrative controls and analysis, which help companies manage their assets effectively.

Microsoft 365 is therefore presented as a flexible and scalable solution, able to support the growth and expansion of companies over time.

Constant updates and improvements

For companies, staying up to date with the latest technologies is essential and Microsoft 365 proves to be a valid ally in this process. The platform receives regular updates or needs further action from users. A tangible example is represented by the introduction of a new feature powered by artificial intelligence — Microsoft 365 Copilot — designed to increase productivity in all the apps in the suite.

Thanks to these constant updates, companies that adopt Microsoft 365 can be sure that they have the most up-to-date security tools and measures, thus ensuring their competitiveness in the market.

Integration with other applications

Integration with other applications adds additional value to the appeal of Microsoft 365. This allows companies to adapt their workflows and connect with other tools used, creating a more efficient and coordinated work environment.

For example, companies can connect Microsoft 365 to customer relationship management (CRM) systems such as Salesforce, ensuring smooth access to customer data within Microsoft apps. In addition, project management tools such as Trello or Asana can be integrated, allowing better monitoring and management of projects directly from Microsoft 365 applications. This flexibility in working with different software solutions promotes a more cohesive and productive business environment, thus contributing to the company's overall success.

Professional communication tools

The professional communication tools offered by Microsoft 365 are essential to ensure effective communication in the business environment. Outlook represents a consolidated standard for managing e-mail and scheduling, while Microsoft Teams offers a complete platform for internal and external communication, including the possibility of video conferencing, which is particularly useful in the current context of remote work.

The integration of Outlook and Teams within Microsoft 365 provides an effective solution to meet the multiple communication needs in the contemporary business landscape, thus helping to improve efficiency and collaboration within the organization.

Data analysis and information

With tools like Power BI integrated into the suite, businesses can harness the power of data analysis to make informed decisions. These tools allow users to easily view data, create reports, and obtain information that can guide business strategy.

Additionally, Microsoft 365 offers a powerful machine learning-based tool called Microsoft Viva Insights, which helps employees stay focused, productive, and engaged by analyzing employee data from Microsoft teams, Outlook, and other sources. Thanks to these capabilities, companies can gain valuable insights and improve their decision-making, contributing to the overall success of the organization.

Overview of Microsoft Viva Insights

Microsoft 365 and Office 365: what are the differences?

In line with its strategy of providing a unified productivity platform for customers, Microsoft officially rebranded its productivity suite from Office 365 to Microsoft 365 in April 2020.

What's the difference? Mostly, it's just a matter of naming. While it's still common to come across the name Office 365, it's important for users to understand that Microsoft 365 includes pretty much everything — the same applications, subscription options, etc. — offered by Office 365.

However, it's important to note that some enterprise plans have retained the Office 365 name. These plans include:

  • Office 365 E1
  • Office 365 E3
  • Office 365 E5

Regardless of the naming changes, it's important to note the difference between Office 365 and Microsoft 365. If in the past Office 365 was mainly focused on productivity applications, with the introduction of Microsoft 365 the offer expands to include a wide range of tools and services.

So, although some plans still keep the name Office 365, Microsoft 365 represents a more complete and integrated evolution for business productivity.

How much does Microsoft 365 cost

Microsoft 365 is an affordable choice for businesses. Its subscription model avoids high initial costs for software and hardware, instead offering predictable monthly or annual payments that cover software, ongoing support, and regular updates.

This makes it easier to plan financially and manage business resources. In 2024, Microsoft 365 offers a range of plans designed to meet diverse business needs:

  1. Microsoft 365 Business Basic: designed for businesses that require essential remote work functionality, this plan provides cloud services such as Exchange, OneDrive and Teams.
  2. Microsoft 365 Business Standard: In addition to the functionality of the Basic business plan, this plan also includes additional productivity applications such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint, ideal for companies that need a wide range of office tools.
  3. Microsoft 365 Business Premium: aimed at companies looking for advanced security and device management features. This plan offers advanced cyber threat protection and device management capabilities, in addition to what is included in the Standard plan.
  4. Microsoft 365 Apps for Business: This plan focuses on providing the core of the Office apps cloud storage, but excluding corporate email, it is suitable for companies that need Office applications but do not require a sufficient range of tools and services.

Each plan is designed to meet specific needs, ensuring an economic choice for businesses at various stages of growth. As you move to higher plans, additional tools are offered, such as the Microsoft Bookings appointment manager and the Intune mobile device manager, to meet more advanced business needs.

If a company is having trouble choosing the most suitable plan, Microsoft offers help finding the optimal solution and allows you to cancel the plan within the one-month free trial period.

Conclusion

Microsoft 365 offers a comprehensive and affordable solution for businesses of all sizes, offering a wide range of features and plans to meet the specific needs of each organization.

Thanks to its subscription model, businesses can avoid high upfront costs for software and hardware and benefit from regular updates and ongoing support.

With a variety of options to choose from and the ability to scale functionality as the business grows, Microsoft 365 confirms itself as a valuable investment in improving productivity and business security.

FAQ on Microsoft 365

What is Microsoft 365?

Microsoft 365 is a cloud-based subscription service offering a suite of productivity apps, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, along with tools for collaboration, security, and communication. It allows access from any device, providing flexibility and up-to-date features.

How does Microsoft 365 benefit businesses?

Microsoft 365 enhances business productivity through tools like Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive, which support collaboration, data management, and communication. It also offers robust security features and regular updates without extra costs.

What does Microsoft 365 include?

Microsoft 365 includes a variety of applications such as Outlook for email, Excel for data analysis, Teams for collaboration, and OneDrive for cloud storage. Each app integrates seamlessly, enhancing efficiency and productivity.

How does Microsoft 365 differ from Office 365?

Microsoft 365 is an evolution of Office 365, encompassing all the traditional Office apps plus additional features like advanced security, device management, and cloud services, making it a more comprehensive solution.

How much does Microsoft 365 cost?

The cost of Microsoft 365 varies depending on the plan, ranging from basic plans with essential apps to premium plans offering advanced features like enhanced security and device management. Pricing is subscription-based, available monthly or annually.

What are the security features of Microsoft 365?

Microsoft 365 offers advanced security features, including data loss prevention, threat protection, and encrypted emails. These tools help safeguard sensitive business data and ensure compliance with industry standards.

Can Microsoft 365 scale with business growth?

Yes, Microsoft 365 is designed to scale with your business. It allows easy addition or removal of users and services, adapting to changing business needs while maintaining cost-effectiveness.

How does Microsoft 365 improve collaboration?

Microsoft 365 improves collaboration through tools like Teams, which supports video conferencing and real-time document sharing, and SharePoint, which enables efficient document management and collaboration across teams.

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