The Advantages of Migrating to Microsoft 365: Cost Savings, Security, Collaboration, and Scalability

Microsoft 365 is designed to be easily accessible to Microsoft users from anywhere, which means that your team can work from any location and on any device with an internet connection. This can be particularly beneficial for organizations with remote workers or teams that need to collaborate across different locations. Additionally, Microsoft 365 includes accessibility features that make it easier for people with disabilities to access their applications and data.

Cost Savings:

By moving to Microsoft 365, you can bring cost saving potential to your company while maintaining security and accessibility within your licensing, hardware, and IT support. Some ways to realize your potential savings:

• Licensing Costs: Through the Microsoft 365 subscription-based service, your organization will save on licensing costs because you only pay for the licenses you need on a per-user basis. You can easily add or remove licenses as your organization's needs change, making this solution easier and less costly than a traditional Microsoft Enterprise Agreement.
• To determine potential licensing cost savings, you can compare the cost of Microsoft 365 licenses to the cost of your current licenses. You can also estimate how many licenses your organization will need and calculate the total cost of each option.
•  Hardware Costs: By moving to a cloud-based solution like Microsoft 365, your organization can potentially save on hardware costs because you won't need to invest in on-premises servers or storage devices.
•  IT Support Costs: With Microsoft 365, your organization can potentially save on IT support costs because Microsoft manages and maintains the infrastructure and applications. This means that your IT team can focus on other tasks, such as supporting end-users and developing new applications.
• To determine potential IT support cost savings, you can compare the cost of managing and maintaining on-premises hardware and applications to the cost of using Microsoft 365. You can also estimate the amount of time and resources your IT team currently spends on infrastructure and application management and calculate the potential savings.

When looking at the potential cost savings of moving to Microsoft 365, it's important to consider all the potential cost areas including features like multi factor authentication, antivirus/malware protection, DLP and other features available.  You should also compare the costs to other third-party subscriptions you currently have.

Security:

Microsoft 365 offers robust security features to help protect your organization's data and devices. This includes features like multi-factor authentication, data encryption, and advanced threat protection. Microsoft 365 Business Premium includes all the same apps and services plus advanced cyberthreat protection and device management capabilities.

• Identity and Access Management: Microsoft 365 provides advanced identity and access management features that help you manage access to your organization's applications and data. These features include multi-factor authentication, conditional access, and Azure Active Directory.
• Threat Protection: Microsoft 365 includes built-in threat protection features that help you protect your organization from advanced threats like phishing attacks, malware, and ransomware. These features include Microsoft Defender for Endpoint, Office 365 Advanced Threat Protection, and Microsoft Cloud App Security.
• Data Encryption: Microsoft 365 provides data encryption features that help you protect your organization's sensitive information. This includes encryption at rest and in transit, as well as the ability to control access to your organization's data.
• Compliance: Microsoft 365 is designed to help you meet regulatory compliance requirements. It includes features like eDiscovery and audit logs, as well as compliance certifications like ISO 27001, HIPAA, and GDPR.
• Mobile Device Management: Microsoft 365 provides mobile device management features that help you secure your organization's mobile devices and the data on them. This includes the ability to manage devices, control access to data, and enforce security policies.

These security features are built into your Microsoft 365 subscription and are designed to work together to provide comprehensive security for your organization's applications and data. By moving to Microsoft 365, your organization can benefit from these advanced security features without having to invest in costly security solutions.

Collaboration:

Microsoft 365 subscribers have access to a suite of applications that are designed to facilitate collaboration and teamwork. This includes tools like Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive, which allow your team to work together in real time, share files, and communicate seamlessly.  Some additional key points about each application:

• Microsoft Teams: Microsoft Teams is a hub for teamwork in Microsoft 365 that brings together chat, meetings, calling, and collaboration tools in one place. Teams allows you to easily collaborate with your colleagues in real-time, share files and information, and communicate effectively through chat, voice, and video.
• SharePoint: SharePoint is a web-based collaboration and document management platform that allows teams to work together on projects, share documents and information, and create and manage workflows. SharePoint is tightly integrated with Microsoft Teams and allows for seamless collaboration and document sharing across the organization.
• OneDrive: OneDrive is a cloud-based file storage and sharing service that allows you to store, access, and share files from any device, anywhere. With the OneDrive app Microsoft users can easily collaborate on files with colleagues, share files with external partners, and access files on the go.
• Co-authoring: Microsoft 365 includes co-authoring capabilities that allow multiple users to work on a document at the same time. These co-authoring capabilities offer collaborative editing features so multiple users can be editing documents simultaneously.  This makes it easy to collaborate on documents and ensures that everyone is working with the most up-to-date version of the file.
• Shared Calendars: Microsoft 365 includes shared calendars that allow you to view your colleagues' availability and schedule meetings more efficiently. With shared calendars you can easily coordinate with colleagues and ensure that everyone is on the same page.

The Microsoft 365 experience is designed to facilitate collaboration and teamwork. With tools like Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive, your team can work together seamlessly and communicate effectively, regardless of location or device.

Scalability:

Microsoft 365 is designed to be scalable, which means that it can grow and adapt as your organization's needs change. This can be particularly beneficial for organizations that are experiencing rapid growth or need to quickly adapt to changes in the market.

• User Management: With Microsoft 365, you can easily add or remove users as your organization's needs change. You can also manage user access and permissions to ensure that everyone has the right level of access to the applications and data they need.
• Storage: Microsoft 365 provides flexible storage options that allow you to scale your storage capacity up or down as your organization's needs change. This includes options for storing files and data in OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams, as well as the ability to purchase additional storage if needed.
• Applications: Microsoft 365 includes a suite of applications that can be added or removed as your organization's needs change. For example, you can easily add new applications like Microsoft Power BI and Visio or remove applications that are no longer needed. Of course, the business standard Microsoft applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are also available.
• Licensing: Microsoft 365 provides flexible licensing options that allow you to scale your licenses up or down as your organization's needs change. This includes options for adding or removing licenses on a per-user basis, as well as the ability to switch between licensing plans if needed.

Microsoft 365 is designed to be scalable and flexible, which means that it can grow and adapt with your organization. Whether you're adding new users, applications, or cloud storage, Microsoft 365 provides the tools and resources you need to scale your organization's technology infrastructure.

Accessibility:

Microsoft 365 is a cloud-based solution, which means that your team can access their applications and data from anywhere with an internet connection. This can be particularly beneficial for organizations with remote workers or teams that need to collaborate across different locations, whether they are in the United States or across the globe.

• Cloud-Based: Your team can access their applications and data from anywhere with an internet connection. Microsoft 365 cloud services allow your team to work remotely or from different locations without compromising on productivity.
• Mobile Access: Microsoft 365 apps are available on a range of mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets. This allows your team to access their Microsoft 365 mobile app and data on the go, whether they're in a meeting, traveling, or working remotely.
• Web Access: Many Microsoft 365 applications, such as Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and the Microsoft Office suite, can be accessed through a web browser. This means that your team can access their applications and data from any computer with an internet connection, without needing to install any software.
• Accessibility Features: Microsoft 365 includes accessibility features that make it easier for people with disabilities to access their applications and data. This includes features like screen readers, high-contrast modes, and closed captioning.

How can Akkodis Help with a Microsoft 365 Transformation?

Microsoft 365 can help your organization achieve its strategic goals, such as improving collaboration, reducing travel, and more. By highlighting these key benefits, you can make a compelling case as to why your organization should consider moving to Microsoft 365.

Akkodis is well positioned to partner with clients to make the shift from on premise to cloud SaaS solutions such as Microsoft 365. Contact us today to get started on making the switch you need to increase productivity and collaboration with your team.