What is the difference between Microsoft Office and Microsoft Office 365?

Due to the development of the cloud in recent years, where we can now access information remotely with a Wi-Fi connection and manage our business on the go, products like Microsoft Office have been developed to meet the current demand. Now you can choose to use Microsoft Office or Microsoft Office 365, but is there any real difference between the two?

Traditional MS Office comes as a single download and gives you access to the latest version of the software, usually for around £100 more (more if you opt for the full business package). With MS Office 365, the software is provided by a subscription service where you pay for the number of users on a monthly basis, accessing your documents and tools like Word and Excel through the cloud.

The pros and cons of Microsoft Office

You can get all the usual tools for Microsoft Office and for the most part there will seem to be no difference between this setup and the MS Office 365 suite. You own the software outright and can use it on as many machines as your license allows. The problem is that when you want to upgrade to a newer version, you have to download and pay for the package, along with the licenses, again.

The pros and cons of Microsoft Office 365

There’s a lot to be said for the subscription service that Microsoft Office 365 offers. You can download it on multiple devices, just like you would Microsoft Office, but that’s just the beginning of the benefits.

• Firstly, it offers a cheaper outlay than MS Office, with monthly subscriptions available from £3.10 per user per month.
• You get more for your money with Microsoft Microsoft Office 365 with additional features and capabilities that can make a real difference to your business.
• You can download it on a variety of devices, including your smartphone, which means you’re less dependent on your office computer and can work more effectively on the go.
• Also, you get all the necessary updates automatically and you can stay up to date with new versions and also get 24/7 support.

The downside of Microsoft Office 365 is that there’s little customization, but that shouldn’t be a problem for most businesses. There’s also the security issue: the service is connected to the cloud, which means you can assume the threat level is higher. However, unsurprisingly, Microsoft has invested heavily in robust security systems.

Which one is better for your business?

A lot of SMBs and other businesses will see the benefits of moving to a platform like Microsoft Office 365, mostly because of the cost benefits. The problem many companies will have is how 365 integrates with their other software and how flexible it is likely to be. The notion of being able to access important things like documents and emails virtually anywhere in the world where there’s a Wi-Fi connection is also highly desirable in today’s fast-paced business world.

Working through a good cloud service including a highly secure hosted email service means there are now no barriers to doing business. You can perform a host of tasks from webinars, instant messaging, and sharing documents between teams.

Bring in the right IT consultancy

It’s not just a matter of signing up for Microsoft Office 365. If you want your business to be completely secure and benefit from a host of web-enabled tools, you need to choose the right IT consultancy that can advise you on what your business needs. and which features will benefit you most.