Microsoft has recently launched a new product, or more accurately they have packaged a series of their existing products into a new subscription solution for your business.
Let’s take a closer look at the new Microsoft 365 solution for small business and how it differs from Office 365 which has a lot of people confused including myself when I first heard about it.
So what exactly is Microsoft 365?…
In a nutshell it’s a suite of existing products, including Office 365 which includes an upgrade to Microsoft’s latest operating system, Windows 10. Strange concept right? Paying a subscription for the operating system that typically comes pre-installed on the computer when you buy it.
The official pitch from Microsoft is: “Microsoft 365 Business brings together features from across Microsoft’s offerings in a solution designed for small and medium-sized businesses. It’s powered by Office 365 and Windows 10, with device management and security features to help ensure your company’s data is protected.”
At this point I’m going to assume that you are already familiar with Office 365 and we’ll compare the differences between the two offerings. If you’d like to read more on Office 365 check out our recent article titled: Which Office 365 Version Is Best For Your Business?
In addition to all the goodies included with Office 365, Microsoft 365 for business includes the following additional features:
- Single console to manage user and device settings
- Self-service PC deployment with Windows AutoPilot
- Automatically deploy Office apps to Windows 10 PCs
- Protect company data across devices (remotely wipe devices that have been compromised)
- Secure access to documents on mobile devices
- Protect Windows 10 devices against malware, viruses, and spyware with Windows Defender
- Includes upgrade to Windows 10 if you are running 7.1, or 8.1
So the entire package offering of Microsoft 365 includes…
Microsoft Office
Stay up-to-date with the latest versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more.
Email and calendaring
Connect with customers and coworkers using Outlook and Exchange.
File storage
Manage your files from anywhere with 1TB of storage.
Data protection controls
Help secure business data on personal and company-owned devices.
Safest Windows ever
Get upgraded to Windows 10 Pro from Windows 7 and 8.1 Pro.
Cyberthreat protection
Help protect PCs from malware, viruses, and spyware.
Administration and deployment
Manage new PCs and devices faster and more easily than ever.
Dependability and support
Get 99.9% uptime guaranteed and 24×7 online and phone support.
So who is Microsoft 365 Business intended for?
Microsoft 365 Business was purpose-built for small and medium-sized customers that have little to no IT resources on staff, do not rely on an Active Directory domain controller, and need a solution that provides their employees with the best-in-class productivity and collaboration capabilities of Office 365 and device management and security solutions to safeguard business data and assets across devices.
What you should know before Microsoft 365 for Business:
Customers who wish to run Microsoft 365 Business in their organization must be running Windows 7, 8.1, or 10 Pro* on their current desktops and do not rely on a domain controller for their organization. Customers who use on-premises Active Directory must switch to cloud identity and management as part of their deployment. Current Windows 10 Pro PCs should be running Creators Update if they have not already done so.
*Windows 10 Pro upgrade rights are included with the Microsoft 365 Business preview if the target machines are presently running Windows 7, 8, or 8.1.
What is the best way to get started with Microsoft 365?
Partner-assisted deployment is the recommended way to deploy Microsoft 365 Business. Your IT partner is well-equipped to help you understand your options and make the best recommendations for deploying Microsoft 365 Business in your organization.
For more information, grab this free eBook directly from Microsoft. You’ll get a crash course on Microsoft 365 for business and see if this new solution will be a good fit for your organization.
Click here to get the free ebook today.
You can also review more information directly from Microsoft site here.
If you’re looking for more information or help migrating to Microsoft 365 get in touch with your IT provider. If you don’t have an IT provider, click here to contact me and I’ll be happy to help get your business migrated to this new small business solution.
I hope this article “Microsoft 365 vs Office 365 – No they aren’t the same thing” has helped shed some light on this new offering from Microsoft.
