What You Need To Know About Office 365

By Alex D White


After introducing Office 365, Microsoft has received plenty of publicity on the service. As such, you might be wondering if the service is right for you, a client, or your organization. Office 365 is basically the cloud version of Microsoft. You can connect with it on the internet, set up an account, make a subscription, download the necessary files and start working. You do not need any installation disks. You may want to know a few things about office 365 in order to know if it is for you.

For many people, when they hear the term office 365, what comes to mind is the cloud productivity suite. Cloud can be defined as an off the site file hosting service that was popularized by the IT industry. The cloud version of Microsoft is Windows SkyDrive that enables you to upload your files and synchronize them to access later from any device without office installed.

Previously, windows users were confined to the desktop version of Microsoft office. However, this new service comes with new additions, including office web applications. The latter is an internet version of Microsoft office that is synchronized with SkyDrive. With these tools, you can be able to read and edit files from devices that have not been installed with office.

Before installing, you will need to have a compatible operating system. Windows users will need windows 7 OR windows 8, while Mac users will need OS X10.6 or later versions. You also need to be connected to the internet for you to install it, activate the key and manage your subscriptions. In addition, your device also needs to have a compatible browser like Chrome 18, Safari 5, Firefox 12 and IE 9.

If you want to make a subscription, you will have to consider a few factors. This is because the subscriptions come in the form of planned premiums. If you want to use it with a company of less than 25 users, you will take the small business premium subscription. For companies with more than 25 users, the midsize business premium will apply. Similarly, enterprise premium plan will accommodate more than 3000 users.

The service is also compatible with Microsoft office 2010 and 2013. You can use it with Office 2007, but some of the functions may not work. These files can work well with Office web Apps. If you have office 2013, you can upload the files you want to share with your contacts on SkyDrive without necessarily installing Office 365 and then invite them to view the files.

You may be wondering why you need the service if the office web apps are free. While these apps are great for viewing files and editing them, it does not come close to being a substitute for the regular desktop version, not to mention office 365. The latter, for instance, allows you to view your files on multiple devices with no office, which the office web apps cannot.

For most people worried about security, as you are, the service provides a similar Trust Center and user-level security as the desktop version. With this, you can set permissions through the Rights Management Service that supports encryption. As such, you are provided with a reasonable level of user security.




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