8 Reasons Why You Should Migrate to Office 365
It’s almost impossible to have never stumbled across Microsoft Office 365. According to the latest statistics, it holds nearly 50% of the productivity software market and has over 1.2 billion users worldwide. This includes an impressive sprinkling of Fortune 500 companies – 95% of them credit their success to the cloud-powered platform.
Still not convinced? Keep reading as we answer all your FAQs and explain why you should migrate to Microsoft Office 365 today.
What is Microsoft Office 365?
If you’re one of the rare few who hasn’t heard of Microsoft Office 365, let’s start with a quick breakdown.
Basically, it’s a cloud-based productivity and collaboration platform that uses a subscription model. Pay a monthly or yearly fee, and you’ll receive access to Microsoft’s latest applications and features, including Teams, Word and Excel.
Although some online services, such as Outlook and Skype, can be used without a subscription, they’ll have storage limitations for businesses.
Who uses Microsoft Office 365?
So, who can use Microsoft Office 365? Absolutely everyone! Subscription models are universally appealing because they have multiple tiers, meaning you won’t end up paying for features you don’t want or need.
Microsoft Office 365 for families includes ad-free email and 6 TB of cloud storage for up to six people to share. Students benefit from simple class management tools, like digital notebooks and calendars. For businesses, Microsoft Office 365 is a no-brainer – they unlock a powerful suite of apps that boost productivity by a staggering 52%.
What are the benefits of migrating to Microsoft Office 365?
As more organisations migrate to Office 365, embracing the same technology becomes even more essential to stay competitive.
Plus, the real-time collaboration tools connect users from all over the world, eliminating the need for clunky central servers. When you can share and store data without physically coming together, you’ll save plenty of money on overheads in the long run. Ultimately, Microsoft Office 365 supports the next generation of businesses, which are slightly nomadic and less bound by traditional 9-to-5 working patterns.
Perhaps the most attractive benefit of all is the tonne of applications you’ll enjoy as part of your subscription. These include:
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Planner
- Microsoft OneNote
- SharePoint
- Microsoft Teams
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- OneDrive
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft To Do
- Microsoft Lens
- Microsoft Lists
- Microsoft 365 Admin
- Microsoft Dynamics 365
- Microsoft Power Automate
- Azure Information Protection
- Microsoft Stream
- Microsoft Whiteboard
- Microsoft Authenticator
- Microsoft Loop
- Skype for Business
8 reasons why you should migrate to Office 365
Now we’ve outlined some of the incredible features, let’s explore why you should migrate to Office 365 in more detail.
Supporting remote and flexible working
As mentioned, Microsoft Office 365 supports remote and flexible working – perfect for international organisations that place less value on physical addresses. But how exactly does it do this? It’s all thanks to cloud-based storage.
Company files are uploaded to Microsoft’s central cloud server, which can be accessed from anywhere in the world as long as you have a stable internet connection. Plus, there’s always a single data source, so you won’t end up with multiple versions of the same document.
If you’re an established business, you probably remember emailing hundreds of revisions to your colleagues – a confusing but common practice in the days before cloud computing.
Well, apps like OneDrive for Business have streamlined the process with real-time collaboration functionality. Multiple people can edit the same file via shareable links and in-document chats.
Virtually limitless storage
Expanding on the above, cloud-based storage is practically limitless.
While in-house servers eventually slow down and collapse under the weight of unnecessary files, virtual servers have superior processing power. They can handle more data than you’ll probably ever need, with fuss-free backup options for extra peace of mind.
Best of all, there’s no price variation for storage capacity. Microsoft 365 Business Basic costs £4.90 per user/month, and Microsoft 365 Business Premium costs £18.10 per user/month. However, both offer 1 TB of cloud storage per employee.
For reference, 1 TB is the equivalent of around 100,000 high-quality photos or 250,000 documents.
Enhanced security features and data protection
Unfortunately, the rise of virtual working has also increased cybercrime. Even the largest and seemingly most secure companies, like Yahoo and Facebook, aren’t immune to disastrous data breaches. However, without the clout and resources of these giant corporations, it’s difficult to bounce back from online attacks.
Luckily, Microsoft Office 365 boasts premium security features, such as spam filtering, antivirus software and privacy controls. Most importantly, you’ll benefit from information governance and authorisation tools. For example, you can attach sensitivity labels to documents, which restrict third-party access – such as Dropbox or Salesforce.
Scalable for future growth
Subscription models are typically multi-tiered – the more you pay, the more features you’ll access. Not only is this brilliant for tight budgets, but you can easily scale up (or down) depending on current and projected business requirements.
Although it sounds too good to be true, this can be done almost immediately. There are no barriers when adding or removing licences, and (we’ve mentioned it before, but it’s worth highlighting again) you’ll only ever pay for what you need and use.
Instant upgrades to the latest features
Many businesses don’t have the in-house support to manage updates and installations. After all, it’s a time-consuming process that demands technical expertise. Instead, they migrate to Office 365 – all the hard work is done for them, and they’ll never miss out on the latest features.
Microsoft is at the forefront of innovative cloud-based solutions, so there’s always something to look forward to. Some of their latest apps include Microsoft Lists (2020) and Microsoft Designer (2022).
Most excitingly, they recently launched Microsoft Office Copilot (2023). This AI-powered assistant edits and improves Word content, analyses data and organises your inbox for maximum efficiency.
Unparalleled customer support
Microsoft is gradually redirecting its resources away from legacy platforms towards newer services. As such, you’ll receive more thorough and consistent support when you switch to Office 365.
You’ll have a team of experts on hand 24/7 to answer your queries and solve urgent issues. Even if you don’t communicate with them on a daily basis, they’ll be working hard behind the scenes to ensure a seamless and secure online experience.
More cost-effective in the long-term
Microsoft Office 365 might seem like a hefty investment if you have dozens or hundreds of employees, but it’s actually more cost-effective in the long run. Firstly, you don’t have to choose the most expensive package unless you’re confident you’ll use all the features.
Additionally, you can eventually reduce overhead costs. For instance, you might give up your physical offices because your employees can work from home and remain equally (if not more) productive. You could also save money on third-party IT support.
Keeps your business competitive in the digital landscape
Although you shouldn’t blindly follow the latest trends, there’s a reason why so many companies use Microsoft Office 365. It’s become the gold standard of productivity and collaboration software, helping countless businesses streamline their operations.
Even if you feel resistant at first, you’ll eventually have to get to grips with the same technology. Most anxiety and fear simply stems from learning something new. Rest assured it will quickly dissipate after a few weeks or months.
Is it easy to migrate to Office 365?
There are several ways to manage an Office 365 migration, some easier than others. They include cutover migration, staged migration, hybrid migration and IMAP migration.
Cutover migration: A quick but fairly disruptive process that transfers all your resources at once. Recommended for businesses running Exchange 2003, Exchange 2007, Exchange 2010 or Exchange 2013, with fewer than 2,000 mailboxes.
Staged migration: This method breaks the migration down into steps, which takes longer but usually feels more seamless to employees. Recommended for businesses running Exchange 2003 or Exchange 2007, with more than 2,000 mailboxes.
Hybrid migration: This approach is the most popular because it gradually introduces Microsoft Office 365 functionality to existing infrastructure. It’s recommended for businesses running Exchange 2010, with 150 to 2,000 mailboxes, and for companies using Exchange 2013 or later.
IMAP migration: Internet Messaging Access Protocol (IMAP) migration only deals with items in a user’s inbox or other mail folders. To transfer over, you must already have Microsoft Office 365 installed.
The best option is usually the one that minimises disruption as much as possible. Although cutover migration is quick, it might cause issues in the long run if employees haven’t received adequate training. With that said, they can all be advantageous when handled correctly.
Need help deciding which package is right for you?
If you’re ready to migrate to Office 365 or want to learn more about the latest features, contact us today. We can help you find the right solution for your business.
Our premium email hosting and team collaboration solutions prioritise performance, reliability and support. Plus, up to 50 GB email storage, spam filtering and Acronis cloud backup. What more could you want?
Simply submit a ticket, email sales@nullswiftinter.net or call 03330 347500 to get started. We’ll get back to you as soon as possible.