Why SMBs are Making the Move to Office 365 (o365):

Small businesses are looking to take advantage of SaaS solutions and the technology value they provide because it is at a price-point you can afford. The unforeseen challenge that we’re seeing is the added complexity to your systems that makes managing all the moving pieces more difficult. With so many disparate components of office software, for example, SMBs can struggle to keep pace with increasingly rapid update cycles. And upgrade cycles are significantly quicker (and more expensive) than they once were.

When you’re running a small business, these are inefficiencies you can’t afford. That’s why the move to an all-in-one toolkit like Office 365 can be so valuable for SMBs.

To reap the benefits of cloud computing without having to juggle multiple tools, more SMBs are switching to all-in-one tools with a migration to Office 365, Microsoft's business collaboration platform.

Today, one out of five corporate employees use an Office 365 cloud service, changing the way all businesses leverage traditional desktop applications, now in the cloud. Office 365 brings together many of your standalone applications in a centralized platform that takes advantage of the many benefits of cloud computing.

Here are five (5) key benefits of moving to o365 as a Small Business: 

The SaaS subscription or cloud-based services model also helps minimize costs associated with ongoing IT maintenance and upgrades.

1. Email productivity: cloud connectivity minimizes downtime and helps ensure that mission-critical communications are handled promptly without sacrificing the robust desktop functionalities offered by an on-premise solution.
2. Team collaboration: tools such as Microsoft Planner, Groups, and Teams are built into the platform to improve productivity whether employees are in the office or working remotely.
3. Enhanced security: security features such as email encryption, data loss prevention, mobile device management, and advanced threat analytics helps prevent costly security breaches and the downtime that results.
4. Centralized storage: with 50 GB storage space for each user, you don’t have to worry about the cost associated with file storage. Also, the version control feature helps reduce errors and delays in the collaboration process.
5. Long-term cost savings: without the need for any upfront investment in hardware or licensing, you can see positive ROI right away with improved employee productivity.

Why Now is the Right Time to Move to Office 365: Microsoft Small Business Server is Going End-of-Life in 2020

With the Microsoft, Small Business Server (SBS) going end of life in 2020, now is the time to make the switch. Microsoft products go through a product lifecycle which is defined by The Economic Times as “the cycle through which every product matures from introduction to withdrawal or eventual demise.”

There are many reasons that a product may reach end-of-life (E-o-L). Some examples could include a change in market demands, innovations in the technology, or a product may mature and become obsolete. It is critical to keep up with manufacturer notices regarding products that are nearing end-of-life. This vigilance will also keep you abreast of new upgrade options once these products are replaced.

With Microsoft SBS going End of Life in January 2020, it means that extended support for SBS products; which includes bug fixes and security updates, will no longer be provided. In essence, if your company has not retired it by then; any security or downtime issues you experience will be costly because Microsoft will not help you recover.

Because you’ll no longer have access to patches, updates, and support for any issues that arise with the server, many SMBs need to make the switch to o365 to continue to ensure an acceptable level of efficiency and productivity within their organization.

When E-O-L is not a factor, we typically encourage customers to review their email and collaboration platform in one of two primary situations:

1. You’re getting ready for a server refresh.
   In this case, if you’re on-prem using the exchange, you’d have another reason to make the switch.
2. You’re seeing a shift in your personnel.
   If you’ve got a younger crowd, Google might be a viable cloud collaboration tool for your small business.

We call this comparison Ford vs. Chevy. Gmail vs. 0365 is really about preference. We typically see younger demographics appreciate the Google interface and working from the cloud platform where we see a traditional, baby boomer demographic gravitates more towards the cloud functionality with the application available to have local to their pc.

Ready to move your small business to office 365 for business? Download our checklist to manage the process.