Remote and hybrid working are here to stay, and as such, your business needs the right productivity suite that allows your employees to stay on task, collaborate and communicate, and keep data secure.
The Microsoft 365 suite was developed with remote working as its centre; as a cloud-based platform, your people can access their work on any device, anywhere in the world.
The productivity suite will also enhance your remote employees by providing them with the tools they need to be more productive and efficient, in a work space they are comfortable with.
Remote and hybrid is the future of work
As more employees are adopting remote working practices, the demand for tools to make it easier is growing as well. Remote and hybrid work is the future of work, and more organisations will find success by transitioning their operations to it.
More than 40% of employed Australians are working from home, according to the ABS, and the benefits in cost-savings alone are clear: employees are saving on commuting, buying lunch, and even work clothes, while businesses that have fully shifted to remote work are saving their office rent.
Greater collaboration
Microsoft Teams is an enterprise-grade collaboration tool that brings teams together to create and share content, manage projects, and stay informed.
Teams can be used for activities such as sharing files, scheduling meetings, and collaborating on documents with group members in real-time, regardless of location. It integrates with the Microsoft 365 productivity suite, allowing you to work on Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint slides.
It also tracks document changes and comments for greater visibility and accountability. This is also helpful if a group member is unable to join a scheduled collaborative meeting; they can catch up with all changes and project advancements in their own time.
Streamlined communication
As a chat-based communication hub, Teams allows for more natural conversations in text, voice, and video format. The platform allows you to create groups for quick, casual chats, video call large groups for formal meetings, and call people outside your organisation – such as clients and customers – without needing to add them to your work space.
Teams is the perfect platform for chatting and virtual meetings. However, the long-standing email service, Outlook, is still available for contacting people outside your organisation.
Outlook helps your employees manage their emails, calendars, contacts, and tasks. It provides features to help you stay organised, such as the ability to create events, meetings, and appointments which can be shared with other people. The calendar automatically shifts scheduled meetings to reflect your time zone, removing any confusion or delays that may otherwise have occurred.
Secure file sharing and storage
OneDrive is a cloud file storage and sharing tool which allows employees to share files, collaborate on projects, and manage their professional workspaces in one place. It is integrated with Microsoft apps such as Word and Excel, and it also works with other popular services like Dropbox and Google Drive.
For storage purposes, OneDrive has unlimited storage for all employees, regardless of role. With its cloud storage capabilities, employees can share and collaborate on files whether they’re in-office or working from remote locations.
OneDrive also allows you to set up sharing permissions, so you can control who has access to certain files. For example, if an employee works in a department that has a specific project that should stay confidential, you can set access permissions for only people who need access to the files.
Enhanced data security
All remote companies need to consider how to protect sensitive data in the cloud. Microsoft 365 has robust security features to keep your data safe in the cloud.
Some security features are:
Advance Threat Protection: monitors and analyses all traffic to detect threats before they cause damage to the enterprise. It also provides protection for the devices that are not connected to the network, such as laptops or smartphones.
Microsoft Defender: a security program that protects your computer from viruses, malware, and other malicious programs.
Multi-factor authentication: requires users to enter two or more pieces of information – such as a password, and a one-time code sent to their phone – before accessing an account.
Data Loss Prevention: a data protection solution that helps you protect your sensitive information from accidental or intentional disclosure.
Some security features must be manually enabled and managed, but all are dedicated to protecting your business’ data.
Greater productivity
By offering a single, unified platform for employees to access their information from anywhere, Microsoft 365 can enable employees to be more productive and efficient.
While virtual storage and file sharing can help remote workers easily access and share files, it can also help them maximise their productivity.
Additionally, allowing employees to work from home or outside of the office can help them feel more comfortable and thus productive. Removing the stress of getting up early, commuting, and sitting in a potentially loud and distracting workspace will enable your workers to focus on their tasks with a calmer mindset.
Find your remote working solution
Microsoft 365 can help you make the most of your remote workers. With Microsoft 365, you can create a unified and consistent experience across your business’ devices, so your employees can work on the device of their choice, regardless of location. You can also set up team workspaces that help employees collaborate and express themselves with ease and freedom while staying productive.
The Microsoft specialists at Itopia will help your business seamlessly transition to Microsoft 365, train your users in its best uses, and manage your entire Microsoft environment. Talk to them today and discover how your business will benefit.
