From higher accessibility to enhanced collaboration, discover the tangible benefits that come from implementing Microsoft 365 with the help of JourneyTEAM, a Microsoft Gold Partner.
Since its creation nearly a decade ago, Microsoft 365 has quickly become one of the most popular workplace suites on the market. In 2021, the platform grew to 145 million daily active users—a dramatic increase from the 75 million users in 2020.
The platform’s increasingly strong performance is attracting business teams from across industries. Some are attracted to the solution as it supports an organization’s drive towards digital transformation. Others are drawn to the suite of productivity, collaboration, and security tools contained in the apps framework.
But what is it specifically that’s driven 70% of Fortune 500 companies to purchase Microsoft 365 in the last 12 months? What are the key benefits of using Microsoft’s solution compared to other popular platforms such as Google Workspace or Apple iWork? In this article, we’ll dive into the top six benefits of using Microsoft 365 and how the solution is empowering businesses and employees on their journey towards digital transformation.
1. Tighter Security
With cybercrime higher than ever before (up nearly 600% since the outbreak of COVID-19), cyber security has quickly become a top priority for most businesses.
Microsoft 365 has security built into every layer, providing organizations with end-to-end protection from cyber threats. The platform’s industry-leading security features keep everything secure without sacrificing accessibility, helping users to remain productive.
Some of the platform’s security features include:
Data monitoring and protection: Microsoft’s customizable Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies ensure sensitive company data stays secure and protected by carefully monitoring data. And the feature applies to company email, SharePoint Online, Excel, Word, and more.
Compliance: Microsoft 365 features over 900 controls included in its compliance framework, making it easy for organizations to stay compliant. A team of compliance specialists also carefully tracks industry regulations, building them into new solutions.
Multi-factor authentication (MFA): MFA adds an extra layer of user protection, requiring users to prove their identity via a number passcode or security question.
Mobile device management: Microsoft’s built-in mobile device management is ideal for companies where users access data from their mobile devices. The feature ensures company data stays protected via policies set up by admins.
Advanced threat protection: This feature prevents ransomware, malware, or malicious links from entering user inboxes. Every attachment is opened in a separate environment before sending it to the user.
Azure Identity Protection: Azure Identity Protection uses machine learning to understand how users work in order to identify suspicious behavior or unusual activity. Suspicious behavior is immediately flagged, allowing admins to act more quickly.
Another important security feature to consider is that Microsoft 365 does not scan user data and make it available to third parties—something that other platforms such as Google Workspace have done.
Microsoft’s years of security ensure that all company data—no matter where it’s stored—stays secure and protected.
2. Enhanced Collaboration
Microsoft allows users to collaborate from anywhere using Teams. The platform provides users with a single, centralized location where they can manage meetings, calendar items, calls, files, tools, and more. The best part? These tools are available offline, allowing users to communicate no matter where they are.
Users can enjoy collaboration tools such as:
One-to-one chats and group chats
Shared mailboxes and calendar items
Meeting setup, summaries, and recordings
Voicemail, call transcripts, call history, and call summary
Tabs for rapid access to important information
Third-party app integration
3. Easy Accessibility
Unlike other technology platforms, Microsoft 365 is both desktop and web-based, allowing users to access the platform from any device, any time. And with offline capabilities for popular tools like Outlook and Teams (offline capability coming later this year), users can respond to messages, access business data, view customer information, and more even while offline.
4. Higher Productivity
More than half of US employees report they do not feel engaged with their work. This results in a workplace that is less agile, produces lower-quality results, and has lower levels of innovation. Organizations looking to combat these issues must provide teams with more intelligent and powerful productivity tools like those featured in Microsoft 365. These tools have been shown to bolster employee engagement, resulting in better business outcomes and a profitability boost of 21%.
Microsoft Teams, for example, acts as an instant messenger, file-sharing platform, scheduler, data storage, and collaboration tool. With everything needed to complete work available on a single, easy-to-use platform, users accomplish more. And with add-ons such as Grammarly, DocuSign, FindTime, Boomerang, PowerPoint Designer, and more, it’s easy for users to streamline processes and accelerate communication. As a result, employees feel more empowered and engaged with their work, empowering them to do more.
5. More Storage
With the amount of business data growing at an astronomical rate, businesses need a technology platform with large storage capabilities. Microsoft 365 users each have 1 TB of online Cloud storage data available to them—regardless of the Microsoft plan they’re on. Additionally, each user is provided with a 25 GB mailbox. In comparison, Google Workspace only provides 30 GB of storage for basic account users and those on a Business, Team, or Enterprise plan receive unlimited storage.
No matter how large datasets get, businesses will find all the accessibility, scalability, durability, and security needed within the Azure Storage platform. The cloud storage solution is accessible from anywhere, making it easy for users to access data when needed.
6. Powerful Email Capabilities
With most business communication occurring via email, businesses need a powerful, scalable, and secure email platform. Microsoft Outlook contains a variety of features, all designed to improve email communication. Some of these features include:
Easy-to-use interface: The platform is incredibly easy to navigate, allowing users to perform actions more quickly. And with tools and functionalities organized into self-explanatory categories, it’s easy for users to learn the ins and outs of the tool.
Large storage capabilities: Outlook offers users an additional 50 GB of email storage, regardless of the plan they’re on. To compare, Google offers only 30 GB of storage while other plans offer unlimited storage for an additional fee.
Bigger attachment size: The maximum attachment size in Outlook is 300 MB—Google’s is 25 MB. With Outlook, users can easily share large files or datasets with ease.
Flexible folder and label system: To ensure an organized inbox, Outlook features highly flexible and customizable email folders and labels. These labels enable users to quickly and easily sort through information in order to find what they need.
Third-party compatible: Outlook tightly integrates with additional Microsoft productivity tools such as Teams and other cloud storage services like Google Drive and DropBox.
Robust security: With antimalware and antiphishing features, Microsoft ensures no viruses or malicious content enters users’ inboxes.
Extend the Power of Microsoft 365 with JourneyTEAM
The benefits mentioned above are merely the beginning of what business teams can enjoy with Microsoft 365. Thanks to the platform’s flexibility and high customization, organizations are able to build a robust, scalable, and versatile platform designed to satisfy a variety of business goals.
JourneyTEAM supports businesses in their move to Microsoft 365 by helping them to create a customized, scalable, and secure Microsoft environment. As a Microsoft Gold Partner, we’re highly experienced in using Microsoft solutions and have all the skills and expertise needed to create an environment that works for, not against, business teams.
Contact a JourneyTEAM representative today to learn more.