Do you know what’s included in Office 365? Whilst this is unlikely to be a question on your local pub quiz anytime soon, the list is longer than you might realise and many of the applications are things that your team could be using to great effect right now:

50Gb Mailbox. A Cloud-based version of Microsoft Exchange email with desktop email client, 50Gb storage and multiple shared calendars. Exchange is the gold standard for email servers and most Office 365 licences include a mailbox with lots of options, big functionality and more storage than you are ever likely to need. Since the demise of Microsoft Small Business Server (SBS) the vast majority of small to medium sized businesses are choosing to switch the storage and processing of emails from an on premise server to the Cloud, using Office 365.

Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Outlook. These are the standard office applications that most people have been using for many years. With most versions of Office 365 you will have these licences included in your monthly fee. You also have rights to use these applications on up to 5 devices – PCs, Macs, tablets and smartphones, and you will always have the latest version available. Some 365 packages allow the user to access these applications online, allowing users to edit all your documents in a browser with the same look and feel as the desktop version but on any device that has a web browser. Most 365 packages however also include a downloadable version of the software, similar to purchasing and installing a CD.

OneNote. OneNote is a virtual notebook that allows you to clip webpages, make lists, and store virtually any information you need in an easy-to-use format. It gives you access to all your data wherever you are and whatever device you’re using. There’s even a web-based version.

Skype for Business. Skype is great for home and work and lets you connect with millions of people to grow your business. If you want to use Skype at work, you have two options – either use the same Skype that you use at home or use Skype for Business. Skype for Business lets you add up to 250 people to online meetings, offers screen sharing, gives you enterprise-grade security, allows remote desktop assistance and is integrated into your Office apps.

OneDrive for Business. Each user gets 1Tb of storage. That’s a lot of storage! Think of this as the online hard drive for all your documents and data. If you store all your documents on line, they get backed up and are accessible from all your devices wherever you are.

Sharepoint. This allows you to build and share intranet sites with your team based around subjects or projects. You have 10Gb storage for team data.

So, now you know all of the important elements included within 365, but how can you work out what is right for your business? Here at Net Technical Solutions, our Account Managers and implementation specialists know Office 365 inside and out so we can help you decide exactly what you need, and get you up and running using all the good stuff that Microsoft have worked so hard to bring you.

Businesses that embrace and exploit Cloud services tend to be far more agile than their competitors – and more profitable as a result. So if you need more information, or would like to discuss costs, logistics or anything else, please give our Account Management team a call on 01252 235235.