Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) is a cloud-based subscription service that combines Microsoft’s familiar productivity apps with advanced cloud services, device management, and enterprise-grade security all combined in a wrapper called a “tenant”.
While people often think of it as just “Word and Excel,” it is actually a massive ecosystem designed to keep everything synced and accessible from any device.
In a traditional setup, you would buy a disc, install software on one computer, and save files to that hard drive.
With Microsoft 365:
The Software: Apps can be used via a web browser (Cloud) or installed locally, but they check in with the cloud for updates and licensing.
The Storage: Your files live in OneDrive or SharePoint, meaning you can start a document on your laptop and finish it on your phone.
The Sync: Real-time collaboration allows multiple people to edit the same document simultaneously because the “master copy” lives on Microsoft’s servers.
Microsoft 365 is generally divided into three main “buckets” of service:
Productivity Apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote.
Collaboration Services: Microsoft Teams (chat/video), OneDrive (personal cloud storage), and SharePoint (company sites).
Security & Management: Identity protection, automatic updates, and Intune (for managing mobile devices).
Key Benefits:
Always Up-to-Date: You never have to buy a “new version” (like Office 2019 vs. 2021). As long as your subscription is active, you have the latest features.
Accessibility: Because your identity is tied to the cloud, your settings, recent files, and custom ribbons follow you to any machine you log into.
Scalability: Businesses can add or remove “seats” (users) monthly, paying only for what they actually use.
Security: Microsoft handles the heavy lifting of server maintenance, data encryption, and threat detection.
Upgrade your workflow with Oxygen IT, your dedicated Microsoft 365 Cloud partner.
We take care of your cloud tenant, while you take care of your business.
Contact us today to discuss Microsoft 365 Cloud solutions.