The Difference between Microsoft 365 and Office 365

Microsoft is a juggernaut in the increasingly competitive business world with its many, many solutions for businesses of all sizes. With so many options, it can be tricky to figure out the right solution for your organization. Fortunately, you don’t have to figure that out on your own; Macro Systems will help you understand the difference between Microsoft’s Office 365 and Microsoft 365 solution.

Office 365
In its most basic form, Microsoft Office consists of a word processor (Microsoft Word), slideshow creator (PowerPoint), and spreadsheet builder (Excel), among many others, depending on the subscription plan. Office 365 is basically the Microsoft productivity suite, but in cloud application format. These services can be utilized either via the cloud or an on-premise solution, depending on where they are hosted and stored. Businesses that already have Windows 10 and other solutions for security can easily take advantage of Office 365.

Microsoft 365
Imagine you wanted to upgrade to Office 365, but you don’t have the proper operating system on your device. Maybe you simply want to upgrade to the latest version of Windows, as well. Microsoft 365 is for organizations that don’t want to purchase an operating system and all of the solutions in pieces, instead offering the complete package in an easy-to-consume format. Here is a list of what Microsoft 365 offers businesses at its most basic level:

• The Office 365 suite
• 1TB of storage
• Device management capabilities via Microsoft Intune
• Basic data and app security

There are also enterprise offerings for businesses that have more than 300 users.

Which One is Right for Your Business?
It all depends on where your business currently stands. If you have solutions you’re content with, as well as storage and data security, then Office 365 will probably be your preferred choice. If you have nothing and want to get going as soon as possible, however, Microsoft 365 might be worth investing in. If you’re not sure, Macro Systems can help you determine what your best options are. To learn more, reach out to us at 703-359-9211.