Microsoft’s Newest Cloud Offering: Office 365

What does Office 365 offer me?

With the release of Office 365, Microsoft has provided the most commonly used office software in the world in a cloud-based format. Beyond the familiar Office suite, the included elements of Exchange, Sharepoint and Lync make this collection of services a genuine and economical alternative to running a server. The monthly cost varies from $6 to $27 per user, but also includes regular updated versions of the software, thus saving companies or independent professionals the cost and aggravation of new versions every few years. Microsoft also guarantees 99.9% uptime, offers business class security and will undoubtedly continue to make improvements to hold their edge in the business environment. Look over the Office 365 offerings and decide if this new cloud service can be a leap forward for your freelance or company needs.

• Email and Calendar: The Microsoft Exchange program provides access to email, calendars, and contacts from PC or Mac computers, the web and even mobile phones. The cloud Exchange server provides 25 GB of email space for each user, and has the familiar Outlook interface. The Forefront Online Protection protects from spam and viruses. The online calendar makes scheduling a simple straightforward process with your work colleagues’ schedules accessible.
• The Office Suite: Office 365 includes the familiar programs Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft OneNote, and Microsoft PowerPoint in full-fledged web versions with collaborative abilities via the SharePoint platform. More than one user can work on a document in real-time, as well as utilize a document library for easy access for everyone. The cloud server makes these documents available on many mobile devices and promises to maintain formatting as users move from web, to mobile, to desktop. Critical data is protected with multiple data centers and a strict privacy policy.
• Communication: Through the Lync platform, users can enjoy instant messaging, video conferencing, and PC phone calling. Creating meetings or sharing your ideas via a whiteboard, even with individuals outside your business, can be a simple and easy process. Users can also easily create and maintain a public website with simple tools. Upgraded options are available, such as Access services which give you an online database that can track inventory, customer or vendor records, or a catalogue of products. There are also workspaces for blogs, wikis and even video files.
• Cost: At present, Office 365 has three tiers of subscription. Professionals and small business of up to 25 users can utilize the platform on a month-to-month basis for $6 monthly fee and includes online support. Mid-sized business to enterprise level platforms cost $10 – $27 per user, depending on the specific configuration. This level offers IT configuration and 24/7 IT support. There is also the option of Kiosk Worker plans for only $4 – $10 for more limited access. There is also a plan for educational institutions that is priced according to the configuration.

Office 365 represents a carefully considered business solution for all levels of business needs and has taken into account the evolving digital needs of the modern-day professional. So far, the reviews have been mostly positive, with a few hurdles reported for mobile access and during initial set-up. With Google and Amazon also pushing the envelope in the cloud computing world, Microsoft will likely keep pace or even exceed the possibilities set by the competitors. For the end-user, these cloud platforms have the potential to provide significant cost savings and freedom from the day-to-day IT headaches of backups of email and data files.

Next: “How does Office 365 Compare to Google Docs?”