…and if you don’t have an IT department.
What is Office 365 Cloud?
The cloud is a metaphor for the Internet. In very simplistic terms, cloud computing means that your Microsoft Office 365 applications or software, data, and computing needs are accessed, stored, and occur over the Internet or the cloud. With Office 365 cloud, you can work on any Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook (email), Publisher, and Access file, doc, or presentation by logging into it from any device connected to the internet. You can also authorize other team members and staff with login credentials too. In other words, you don’t need your computer to work on a file in Office 365 cloud, just any device that can connect to the internet. Another advantage with Office 365 cloud is you can start working on a large file, then save it in the cloud, which frees up data space on your computer and allow others to log in to finish the file or collaborate on it. (Ken Withee & Jennifer Reed, Dummies a Wiley Brand®, Definition of Office 365 Cloud Computing, https://www.dummies.com/software/microsoft-office/access/the-publish-to-access-services-feature-in-access-2010/).
Generally Speaking…
The nice thing about Office 365 is that it lives in the cloud and is very flexible and easily accessible. You can migrate small test runs of data and files to Office 365 cloud or all your files to learn how you want to use it. RB’s Computer Service can help you set-up and migrate your data and files to Office 365 cloud and determine which data, either all of it or some of it, can be accessed from it. (Ken Withee & Jennifer Reed, Dummies a Wiley Brand®, Definition of Office 365 Cloud Computing, https://www.dummies.com/software/microsoft-office/access/the-publish-to-access-services-feature-in-access-2010/)
1. Affordable Cloud Storage: Microsoft 365 subscriptions come with a terabyte (TB) of file storage and sharing. (Mike Prachar, BigGreenIT, Pros and Cons of Office 365 and Microsoft 365, August 17, 2016, https://www.biggreenit.com/8-pros-and-cons-of-office-365/).
2. Office 365 cloud allows workers to access documents and emails from anywhere.
3. Cloud-hosted applications save your IT team time with troubleshooting and updates.
4. Switching to Office 365 prepares you for the future of cloud computing, which is here to stay. See RB’s Computer Service blog on Blockchain. (Taylored Blog, Taylored Systems, What Are the Pros and Cons of Office 365?, https://www.taylored.com/blog/what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-office-365/).
Cons
- Some online applications may have limited features. For example, the browser version of Office Word doesn’t allow users to access password-protected documents, nor can they run macros inside a document when working online.
- Storing your data on the Cloud makes it more vulnerable to security threats.
- You’ll have to continue paying subscription fees for the duration of your use. (Taylored Blog, Taylored Systems, What Are the Pros and Cons of Office 365?, https://www.taylored.com/blog/what-are-the-pros-and-cons-of-office-365/).
For the many of the businesses RB’s Computer Service works with, switching to Office 365 cloud is ideal for businesses without an IT department, and for employees who do most of their work “in the field.” Overall, the “pros” outweigh the “cons.” At the same time, RB’s Computer Service takes computer security very seriously. We noted above storing your data on the Cloud makes it more vulnerable to security threats. While there is no full-proof way to guarantee against a security breach, there are ways to decrease the likelihood of them and protect your data, such as making sure you backup everything or use a secured VPN to connect to the internet. RB’s Computer Service has solutions for these vulnerabilities, simply inquire with one of our certified staff members.
RB’s Computer Service can help you set up and migrate your Office 365 data and files to the cloud, either some of it for a “trial” run or all of it, and integrate your Outlook email into one platform. In addition to Office 365 cloud, RB’s Computer Service provides uncomplicated managed service agreements to help you with all of your networking needs.
For help with your business, contact us via phone or email: 763-441-3884 or help@rbsmn.com. We offer ransomware strategies and sell the best commercial-grade firewall routers, best laptop computers, best desktop computers, business computers, computer parts, and computer monitors. In addition, we do computer repair, iPhone and smartphone repair, and tablet repairs to customers and clients throughout central Minnesota and St. Cloud.