Top benefits of Microsoft 365
Enterprise‑grade security built in
Microsoft 365 includes security features such as multi‑factor authentication, encryption, threat protection, and data loss prevention. These tools help protect businesses from phishing, malware, ransomware, and unauthorised access when correctly configured.
Work anywhere
Microsoft 365 is cloud‑based, allowing staff to access email, files, and applications securely from laptops, tablets, and mobiles. This supports hybrid and remote work without relying on on‑premise servers or VPN‑only access.
Reliable cloud storage and file recovery
Each user receives cloud storage through OneDrive, with additional shared storage via SharePoint. Built‑in version history and file recovery help protect against accidental deletion or overwriting of important documents.
Scalable and predictable pricing
Microsoft 365 uses a subscription model that scales up or down as your business changes. Organisations can add or remove users without large upfront infrastructure costs, making it suitable for growing or seasonal businesses.
Better collaboration and communication
Tools like Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint enable real‑time collaboration, video meetings, chat, and co‑authoring of documents. Teams can work together on the same files without version‑control issues or long email chains.
Australian data residency and compliance support
When an Australian tenant is created, core Microsoft 365 services such as Exchange Online, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Teams store customer data in Australian data centres. This helps businesses meet Australian privacy, data residency, and regulatory obligations.
FAQs
What is Microsoft 365?
Microsoft 365 is a bundled solution of existing products under the one licence. It includes apps and cloud services with (previously Office 365), plus security features to protect your business data, employee data, and your customer information.
Businesses not only save money from purchasing a bundled package, but reduce the burden on IT and increase employee productivity.
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What's the difference between Microsoft 365 and Office 365?
Microsoft 365 has replaced Office 365 as a one-suite solution for businesses.
Which Microsoft 365 Business plan should I get?
There are three plan options that are available for businesses: Basic, Standard, and Premium.
- Microsoft 365 Business Basic (formerly Office 365 Business Essentials): Best for businesses that need Teams and cloud storage. Only web and mobile versions of apps included. Desktop versions not included.
- Microsoft 365 Business Standard (formerly Office 365 Business Premium): Best for businesses that need Office apps across devices plus business email, cloud file storage, and online meetings and chat. Comes with Outlook apps (desktop versions included).
- Microsoft 365 Business Premium (formerly Microsoft 365 Business): Best for businesses that need everything included. Importantly, this pack offers advanced cyberthreat protection and device management (Azure Information Protection and Intune).
Not sure whether Standard or Premium is right for you? View our Microsoft 365 Standard versus Premium comparison chart or contact us for obligation free advice.
What are the security benefits?
Are you concerned about losing control of data if it’s moved to a cloud platform?
Security benefits of Microsoft 365 Business include:
- Restrict copying and saving of business information.
- Prevent unauthorised users from opening or viewing sensitive documents.
- Prevent non-compliant devices from accessing your systems
- Encrypt data on mobile devices.
- Quarantine compromised devices.
- Keep credentials safe.
- Confirm identities with multi-factor authentication
- Wipe data on lost or stolen devices.
- Back up email in secure archive.
- Block sharing of sensitive information like credit card numbers.
Can Microsoft 365 help with security and compliance requirements?
Yes. The biggest security pains for small businesses include email, mobility, user credentials, and compliance. Microsoft 365 Premium offers advanced cyber threat protection and device management.
One of the most significant advantages of Microsoft 365 for small businesses is its Advanced Threat Protection (ATP), a cloud-based filtering service that not only performs anti-phishing, anti-malware and anti-spams on receipt of the email, but continues to monitor and protect against dodgy links and attachments inside users mailboxes. Automatically investigating and responding to attacks, ATP not only gives business owners peace of mind, but the service is easy to deploy and manage.
How does Microsoft 365 manage security for staff personal devices?
Microsoft 365 allows businesses to protect their company data by managing company owned and BYO devices used to access company data through Intune. The cloud-based tool not only allows IT admins to restrict access to company information from selected devices, but it can also set different levels of restriction based on the user or location.
Intune also allows businesses to specify security rules, such as forcing MFA for certain scenarios or blocking access from certain geographical locations entirely.
What apps come with Microsoft 365?
Microsoft 365 includes some essential applications for businesses and industry professionals, including Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, OneDrive, Sharepoint, and Teams.
Apps are available on both desktop and mobile devices. Security and compliance is also taken care of with options available to protect your business data with the Microsoft 365 Business Premium pack.
I have more questions. Can you help?
Yes, Boost IT can help you with all your Microsoft 365 Business questions. Our product experts can help with installing, configuring, and maintaining applications and services.
We can also assist if you need to create business email addresses.
Worried about security? We provide a free security assessment to
- Identify security objectives
- Assess the current security state
- Provide customised recommendations and best practices
- Create an actionable security road map
Contact us today for a free assessment.
