One of the leading office suites in the world, Microsoft 365 is a game changer for any business. With feature-rich packages such as Microsoft 365 Business Premium, 365 is the backbone of productivity and work in many modern offices.

With such a wide range of features and capabilities, knowing how to make the most of your Microsoft 365 subscription is vital. Maximising the value of 365 will ensure that you have the best experience, and will let you truly take advantage of the productivity and business benefits that come with it.

In this article, we’re going to go over everything you need to know about Microsoft 365, and how the many tools provided within the 365 package will help you fully take your business to the next level.

What’s included in Microsoft 365?

Microsoft 365 is a suite of tools and applications that are designed to help benefit businesses. With this comes a host of different features, from basic office applications to security features and even collaboration tools that will help your business function from inside and out.

There are different types of subscriptions and licenses you can procure that contain different levels of tools — from more basic ‘Office Application’ themed licenses to extensive security-heavy licenses with everything you’d ever need to run a business.

Key Productivity Tools

Office Applications

The original Microsoft Office applications — Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook — have been empowering businesses around the world for decades, and are the foundational tools for the Microsoft 365 package. These applications are still very relevant and are being constantly updated with new features as well as artificial intelligence features such as Microsoft Copilot.

Microsoft Loop

Microsoft Loop is a newer addition to the 365 Suite — and is a productivity powerhouse. It combines note-taking and ‘components’ to allow you to work in a free manner while also prioritising the organisation and collaboration on your ideas, keeping your ideas structured and easy to follow.

Clipchamp

Clipchamp is an easy-to-use and intuitive video editor that you can use to edit videos in an instant. Instead of having to use expensive video editing software, Clipchamp lets you trim, cut, combine, and process videos in an instant.

Microsoft Planner

Microsoft Planner takes planning and organisation to the next level. With a host of intuitive planning features and the ability to easily structure your day, Microsoft Planner is a single screen that gives you an overview of your day — which you can tailor to perfectly meet your needs.

 

Advanced Security Features

Identity and Access Management

Identity and Access Management is vital to any modern business. After all, controlling who can enter your network and identifying them to be able to give them permissions and access is vital — and Microsoft has a host of tools for this.

Most importantly, Microsoft Entra ID is a comprehensive Identity and Access Management tool that you can implement throughout your business. This will let you implement more robust and complex security policies, such as the principle of least privilege.

Mobile Device and Application Management

Mobile and BYOD management is incredibly difficult and complex. After all, balancing the needs of a business while also respecting the privacy and autonomy of your employees can make this a nightmare.

Microsoft 365 has built-in MDM for mobile devices and application management, meaning that this whole process is easier than ever. You can set policies and keep devices maintained, while also allowing for less suffocating mobile rules to ensure productivity and morale are high.

Next-Generation Cybersecurity

Cybersecurity is vital to the success of any modern business, and ensuring that your security strategy is robust will be the difference between success and failure in many cases. Microsoft 365 includes tools such as Microsoft Defender  — tools that have comprehensive security features to protect your business.

Collaboration and Communication

Microsoft Viva

Employee morale is vital, and understanding your employees’ needs and wants can be the difference between a successful and failing workplace. Microsoft Viva is the whole employee experience package, letting you get a better idea of how your employees are working and developing within your business.

Between training and development, Microsoft Viva is all about feedback and goals — helping you better understand your employees’ specific needs and goals for the future. Plus, Viva simplifies key processes that employees may have otherwise found strenuous.

Outlook

Outlook is another classic Office program that supercharges your email capabilities and planning capabilities. Now with modern features like Copilot, Microsoft Outlook is unmissable for any business wanting a robust solution to accepting emails and creating wider plans.

OneDrive for Business

File sharing and storage in the cloud are handy, and Microsoft OneDrive does both with ease. Instead of having to email and share files, you can just put them into your OneDrive and access them anywhere, with the ability to also share the link to them for easy collaboration.

SharePoint

For more complex and considered file storage needs, SharePoint does it all.

With the ability to tag and manage content, SharePoint is the king of file and data management — you can easily create sites for your employees to find files, while also being able to triage to get rid of unnecessary files and content.

On top of this, SharePoint has content management capabilities like no other. You can easily tag, revise, and collaborate on content  — making it easier than ever.

How We Can Help

Microsoft 365 is an essential part of the modern office, and taking advantage of it is vital for any business that wants access to the best suite of tools available. These many tools will allow your business to have a well-rounded, robust solution for any need, letting your business reach new heights.

If you’re looking to get started with Microsoft 365, reach out to us today. We’re here to help and will ensure you have everything that you need to be able to unlock your business’s true potential.

Get in touch with us now and see how we can help.