Microsoft 365 has effectively helped businesses on the path to streamlined operations, robust data security, and enhanced collaboration. In this article, our goal is to help you maximise Microsoft 365’s value to your business even more. Here’s a quick guide on the key features and practices that will teach you how to make the most of this powerful suite.
Collaboration Made Seamless with Teams and OneDrive
Microsoft Teams and OneDrive are essential for efficient communication and file sharing. Teams is perfect for real-time collaboration through chat, voice and video calls, while OneDrive lets you store and share documents securely through their built-in security features. These two tools integrate effortlessly, letting users share and co-edit files during conversations, ensuring everything is organised and accessible in one place. Making sure that your employees know how to use Teams and OneDrive can reduce clutter and increase productivity.
Another thing your employees must be familiar with is Copilot in Teams. This feature provides meeting summaries, organises discussion points, and helps with follow-up actions, making it a huge time-saver for team projects.
Security and Compliance at the Core
Microsoft 365 comes with numerous built-in security measures like multi-factor authentication (MFA) and data loss prevention (DLP) policies. To tick the security box, make sure that those features are enabled so your information is safeguarded from unauthorised access and accidental sharing. All employees must be informed about best practices for security, such as secure file sharing. Utilising Microsoft compliance manager should also be considered as it simplifies tracking and compliance with industry regulations.
Optimising Productivity with AI-Powered Tools
Microsoft 365 includes productivity tools like Copilot, Excel and Outlook that offer AI-powered time-saving features. For example, Excel can now convert printed tables into editable spreadsheets, and Copilot can assist with automated meeting summaries, follow-up tasks and document generation.
You should also encourage your employees to learn prompt-writing skills for Copilot, as specific instructions yield better results. Taking advantage of these tools means faster decision-making and smoother workflows, saving time on routine tasks.
Frequent Updates: A Double-Edged Sword
Frequent Microsoft updates ensure access to the latest features and security improvements, but they can also disrupt workflows for users who are not accustomed to changes. Make sure to prepare your team for these changes by scheduling brief trainings or tutorials and creating resources like user guides for any significant changes.
For businesses with limited IT resources, Microsoft 365’s cloud-based model is especially helpful in reducing the need for constant maintenance or hardware upgrades, as Microsoft manages updates directly.
Flexible Plans for Growing Business
Microsoft 365 offers several plans tailored to different business sizes and needs. Business Basic, Standard, Premium and Enterprise plans provide flexibility for your business to scale as it grows by only paying for the necessary tools. Start evaluating your current needs and future goals to select the best plan that balances collaborative and security features with cost efficiency.
Ticking the “Good IT” boxes in Microsoft 365 is a must for businesses of all kinds. This is to ensure that there’s a balanced approach to collaboration, security, productivity, and adaptability. Businesses can foster a collaborative and secure environment by leveraging tools like Teams, OneDrive, and Copilot and staying updated on security practices. Staying engaged with Microsoft 365’s evolving platform can help your team work smarter and better.
At Qamba, we specialise in helping businesses maximise their tech investment, streamline workflows and stay secure. Contact us to discuss how we can tailor Microsoft 365 to fit your unique needs and drive your business forward.
