The Pros & Cons of Office 365 - ramsac Ltd (2024)

The Pros & Cons of Office 365 - ramsac Ltd (1)

Office 365 is a flexible software solution for any business. But it’s not the only player on the market, it even has to compete with its desktop predecessor. When you’re thinking about introducing a new piece of software into your company it’s important to know whether it’s a good fit.

So what are the pros and cons of moving over to Office 365? Here we break down the advantages and disadvantages of using Office 365 in simple, impartial terms.

Benefits of Office 365

1. Enjoy the latest version of Office

You’ll never be jealous of a colleague again. A big advantage of using Office 365 is that you will always be entitled to download the very latest version. This means you always have access to the latest features and gone are the days of conflict caused by colleagues using different generations of the Office suite.

And because you can download updates and upgrades for as long as you subscribe, you will also be reassured of always having the latest security updates and patches.

2. Superior security features

Critical documents can be stored in the Microsoft cloud, which boasts impressive back up and resilience, reducing the risk of documents being lost forever when a hard drive fails or a device is lost. But Microsoft also offers a host of upgrades, which means your organisation can benefit from cutting edge security features, including:

  • Encrypted email – to make the data you share more secure
  • Data Loss Prevention – software that detects and prevents potential data breaches
  • Mobile Device Management – software that allows you to control who can access what, from what devices – how those devices should be configured and if needed, gives you the ability to remotely wipe data from a lost mobile device
  • Advanced Threat Analytics – intelligence based protection from potential cyber attacks before they cause damage

3. Collaboration is easy

Don’t you just hate it when someone’s in the document you need to use? Then Office 365 might be for you. It allows everyone to contribute to a document at the same time.

You can see changes in real-time and don’t have to worry about having multiple versions of the same document. If you need to revert to a previous version, you can easily cycle back through revisions in the document.

All of your documents are stored in the cloud. This reduces the need to send sensitive documents over email. You can grant access to an individual without worrying about a copy of your document living on an email somewhere.

4. You can work anywhere, anytime

One of the biggest benefits of Office 365 is its flexibility. It allows you to work from anywhere on earth. All you need is an internet connection.

You can access your email, files and essential programs like Word and Excel from any location and on any device.

So, it’s great if you have employees on the road. Or you run a business where office space is at a premium. Office 365 allows you to set your staff free, safe in the knowledge that they have the tools to do their job.

It also boosts productivity. Staff can continue to work while they travel because they don’t need to be tied to their desks. But you don’t have to lose that team spirit, as co-workers can easily stay in touch via Teams groups, sharing content, running video calls and have team chats in a style similar to the WhatsApp experience.

As a result of using a cloud approach, nearly 80% of businesses said they’re saving money, seeing more productivity and better security.

5. Pay on a subscription basis

Office 365 is subscription-based. This gives you the advantage of not having to pay hundreds of pounds for every version of the software you need. So it’s great for your cash flow. Instead, you pay a monthly fee per user and only pay for what you need.

6. Mix and match plans

Office 365’s subscription service is flexible. It allows you to cherry-pick the programs and features you want. When you need more users or functions, you can add them immediately. When you need to scale back, you can. And it’s the scalability that is a huge benefit to small, growing businesses.

You can stay agile while maintaining a firm hand on your costs. You can also customise your plans for staff that do specific jobs. Because while everyone needs email, not everyone needs PowerPoint, so why pay for any more than you need? Office 365 gives you the advantage of flexibility.

Disadvantages of Office 365

1. Subscriptions aren’t for everyone

You don’t have to pay out one-time costs, but you do have to pay every month. This can be done via a registered credit card, or on a direct debit if you work with a Microsoft partner.

Your financial situation will inform whether you consider a subscription a benefit or a disadvantage. But, if it’s a downside, you may find that a yearly subscription serves as a happy medium.

2. Compatibility issues with bespoke systems

If you use bespoke applications in-house, you may find that they struggle to keep up with Office 365. It updates all the time and sometimes that breaks compatibility or integration.

Using specific versions of Office gives you greater control over when you upgrade. This allows you to set the pace of your in-house development.

3. Constant updates mean constant changes

Office 365 rolls out updates and features regularly. This is great for tech-savvy employees who are used to mastering tech quickly. But, if you have a workforce that is slow to adapt to changes, Office 365 might cause problems.

If people don’t like the new version or layout of Office 365, there’s nothing you can do about it. There is also the potential for productivity to dip while people get used to the change.

This is where tech solutions become tech liabilities. You need to make sure that your users are totally on board with your upgrade to Office 365 and understand what it means to use it.

4. Most people only use 20% of the functionality

90% of users, across all sectors, only use Word, Excel and email. This means that if you pay for an Office 365 subscription, you might not be getting as much value out of it as you expect.

This disadvantage can be solved by providing training on new features. You should also undertake regular audits on the programs being used to make sure you have the right package.

5. You don’t actually own the software

When you sign up for Office 365, you aren’t buying the software. You are being given permission to use Microsoft’s IP. If Microsoft decides it doesn’t want to support Office 365 anymore, you lose your tools. If Microsoft goes under tomorrow (extremely unlikely, but possible) the same thing happens.

What this means is that you could be building your entire business on Microsoft’s good graces. Over 80% of Fortune 500 companies use Office 365. It has over 120 million business users – and that number increases every day. So while it might be a concern, by using Office 365, you’ll be in good company.

Download our white paper

By 2020, 78% of small and mid-sized businesses will be using some type of cloud-based application. That application is most likely going to be Office 365. Why? Because it fits so seamlessly into people’s existing Office lives.

Find out more about Office 365 and our consulting and migration services, in our free white paper. It will give you a basic introduction to Office 365 and the benefits it can bring to your business.

Find out more about Office 365 and our consulting and migration services, in our free white paper. It will give you a basic introduction to Office 365 and the benefits it can bring to your business.

Download your free white paper

The Pros & Cons of Office 365 - ramsac Ltd (2)
The Pros & Cons of Office 365 - ramsac Ltd (3)

How can we help you?

We’d love to talk to you about your specific IT needs, and we’d be happy to offer a no obligation assessment of your current IT set up. Whether you are at a point of organisational change, unsure about security, or just want to sanity check your current IT arrangements, we’re here to help.

Get in touch

The Pros & Cons of Office 365 - ramsac Ltd (2024)

FAQs

The Pros & Cons of Office 365 - ramsac Ltd? ›

Since Office 365 is a cloud-based service, if you don't have an internet connection, you may not be able to access your files. If your company has an unreliable internet connection (or a very slow one), it's probably not the best option for you.

What are the pros and cons of Office 365? ›

What Are the Pros and Cons of Office 365?
  • Pro: Office 365 Allows Workers to Access Documents and Email from Anywhere. ...
  • Con: Online Applications May Have Limited Features. ...
  • Pro: Cloud-hosted Applications Save Your IT Team Time with Troubleshooting and Updates.

What are the disadvantages of Office 365? ›

Disadvantages of Office 365
  • Subscriptions aren't for everyone. You don't have to pay out one-time costs, but you do have to pay every month. ...
  • Compatibility issues with bespoke systems. ...
  • Constant updates mean constant changes. ...
  • Most people only use 20% of the functionality. ...
  • You don't actually own the software.

Why not to use Microsoft 365? ›

Since Office 365 is a cloud-based service, if you don't have an internet connection, you may not be able to access your files. If your company has an unreliable internet connection (or a very slow one), it's probably not the best option for you.

What is the main advantage of Office 365? ›

Discover how as we explore eight benefits of Office 365.
  • Over 150% ROI. ...
  • Have all the tools your business needs to work more efficiently. ...
  • Access your office anywhere, anytime. ...
  • Easily scalable. ...
  • Cross-collaboration has never been easier. ...
  • Stay updated. ...
  • You'll always be secure in Office 365. ...
  • Have the flexibility to mix and match.

What is difference between Microsoft 365 and Office 365? ›

Office 365 is a cloud-based suite of productivity apps like Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, and more. Microsoft 365 is a bundle of services including Office 365, plus several other services including Windows 10 Enterprise.

What 2 things can Office 365 be used for? ›

With a subscription to Microsoft 365, you can get:
  • The latest productivity apps, such as Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive, and so much more.
  • The ability to install on PCs, Macs, tablets, and phones.
  • 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage.
  • Feature updates and upgrades not available anywhere else.

What are the common and known issues with Office 365? ›

The most common Office 365 issues that individuals may experience are installation problems, sign-in difficulties, synchronizing errors, access issues to mail and calendars, recovery of deleted files, storage limits, file sharing problems, and update problems.

How long is Office 365 valid for? ›

In other words, the license has no expiration date, and users may run the suite for as long as they want.

How safe is Office 365? ›

Overall, yes. Microsoft 365 is a highly secure platform for both individual users and businesses alike—but only if you implement the right security controls on your end. In fact, Microsoft operates under a “shared responsibility” model.

How much is Office 365 per year? ›

Called Microsoft 365 Basic and priced at $1.99 per month or $19.99 per year, the plan will initially include 100 GB of storage, Outlook email and access to support experts for help with Microsoft 365 and Windows 11.

Is Office 365 outdated? ›

Is Office going away entirely? No, as part of Microsoft 365 you will continue to get access to apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. We will also continue to offer one-time purchases of those apps to consumers and businesses via Office 2021 and Office LTSC plans.

What is the yearly fee for Microsoft Office? ›

Overview of Microsoft 365 for Home
PlanPrice (Annual Subscription)
Microsoft 365 Family$99.99
Microsoft 365 Personal$69.99
Oct 3, 2022

What are the 7 key benefits of Office 365? ›

Here are 7 advantages of Office 365.
  • No Downtime. Crashed servers, lost files, and other failures will result in costly downtime. ...
  • Better Security. ...
  • Easy Access. ...
  • Superior Organization. ...
  • Predictable Cost. ...
  • Speaking of Licensing.... ...
  • Extra Mailbox Storage.
May 23, 2023

Do most companies use Office 365? ›

Office 365 is used by over a million companies worldwide, with 145,844 customers in the United States alone using the office suite software.

Can I use Office 365 for free? ›

Get started with Office 365 for free

Students and educators at eligible institutions can sign up for Office 365 Education for free, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and now Microsoft Teams, plus additional classroom tools. Use your valid school email address to get started today.

Do you need Office 365 to use Word? ›

The good news is if you don't need the full suite of Microsoft 365 tools, you can access a number of its apps online for free, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, Outlook, Calendar, My Content, Skype, Designer and Clipchamp.

Is Office 365 the same as regular Office? ›

Microsoft 365 includes the robust Office desktop apps that you're familiar with, like Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. You also get extra online storage and cloud-connected features that let you collaborate on files in real time.

What is equivalent to Office 365? ›

Other important factors to consider when researching alternatives to Microsoft 365 include email and features. We have compiled a list of solutions that reviewers voted as the best overall alternatives and competitors to Microsoft 365, including Google Workspace, OpenOffice, WPS Office, and LibreOffice.

Which of the following apps is not included in Office 365? ›

The correct answer is MS-Paint. ​MS-Paint is not a component of MS Office 365.

What is the three most popular features of Microsoft Office? ›

10 Microsoft Office Features You Will Love
  • Share Large Files As A URL. ...
  • Helpful Versioning. ...
  • Smart Lookup. ...
  • Outlook Groups. ...
  • New Charts In Microsoft. ...
  • One-Click Forecasting. ...
  • Skype Integration. ...
  • Cross-Device Compatibility. When collaborating, it's essential that you have strong cross-device support.
Feb 15, 2018

What is the difference between Office 365 and Outlook? ›

Overview. Microsoft 365, formerly Office 365, provides web, desktop, and mobile apps for Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote,... Microsoft Outlook is a personal information manager from Microsoft which helps users communicate, manage schedules & find...

How do I avoid Microsoft 365? ›

How to cancel a Microsoft 365 subscription. Go to the Manage subscription page and if prompted, sign in with the same Microsoft account you used to purchase your Microsoft 365 subscription. Select Cancel subscription (it might say Upgrade or cancel).

Which is the biggest issue at Microsoft? ›

With the increased use of internet and online computing, it is becoming difficult for the company to retain its market share. Another challenge that is threatening Microsoft is the lack of competitive apps within its ecosystem.

What are the major issues of Microsoft? ›

7 Common Microsoft Issues and How to Fix Them
  • General Functionality Issues. ...
  • Difficulty in Finding Applications for Windows 10. ...
  • Update Reboots without Warning. ...
  • Windows Insisting on Edge Usage. ...
  • Inability to Print after a Windows 10 Upgrade. ...
  • Malfunctioning MS Office 365. ...
  • Issue Regarding the Server Platforms.
May 29, 2017

Do I have to pay for Office 365 every year? ›

Do you have to pay an annual fee for Microsoft Office 365? The short answer is, yes. Microsoft Office 365 requires an annual or monthly subscription fee. There are different subscription plans available to choose from, depending on your needs and budget.

Does Office 365 need to be renewed every year? ›

You do NOT have to renew or buy Microsoft 365 direct with Microsoft. The worst option for customers is auto-renewal or buying direct from Microsoft. The company would like you to renew direct because they make the most profit that way.

What happens after 1 year subscription of Office 365? ›

Admins and users no longer have access to the services or Microsoft 365 apps that came with the subscription. All customer data—from user data to documents and email—is permanently deleted and is unrecoverable. At this point, you can't reactivate the subscription.

Has my Office 365 been hacked? ›

Unusual profile changes, such as the name, the telephone number, or the postal code were updated. Unusual credential changes, such as multiple password changes are required. Mail forwarding was recently added. An unusual signature was recently added, such as a fake banking signature or a prescription drug signature.

Can Office 365 be monitored? ›

You can use dashboards in the Microsoft 365 admin center to monitor the health of various Microsoft services for your organization's Microsoft 365 subscription.

How do I protect my email in Office 365? ›

If you are a Microsoft 365 subscriber, here is what is new to you: In an email message, choose Options, select Encrypt and pick the encryption that has the restrictions you want to enforce, such as Encrypt-Only or Do Not Forward. Note: Microsoft 365 Message Encryption is part of the Office 365 Enterprise E3 license.

Can you buy Microsoft Office for lifetime? ›

Microsoft Office Professional 2021 lifetime license: $30

It's available for both Mac and Windows, so be sure to grab the right one for the computer that you use regularly. If you're looking for productivity tools, it's difficult to match the Microsoft Office suite of apps.

What is the 1.99 charge for Microsoft? ›

Microsoft is introducing a new consumer tier to its Microsoft 365 subscription offerings. Priced at just $1.99 per month, Microsoft 365 Basic is designed to replace the 100GB OneDrive storage option with some extra features that sit in between the free option and the $6.99 a month Personal subscription.

Can I use Outlook without Office 365? ›

Here is a Microsoft spokesperson's statement: Microsoft License Terms: Outlook requires an eligible Office 365 commercial subscription for commercial use rights – an Office 365 plan that includes the Microsoft Office suite… Non-commercial use of Outlook is free (Outlook.com, Gmail.com, Hotmail.com,etc).

What version of Microsoft Office is completely free? ›

Microsoft 365 for the web is a free version of Microsoft 365 that you can use in a web browser. All you need is to sign up for a Microsoft account with a new or existing email address. Use Word, Excel, PowerPoint and more for free on the web.

What is the newest version of Microsoft Office? ›

Office Professional 2021: Includes Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Publisher, Access for Windows. Includes 1 licence for PC. Microsoft 365 Apps for business: Includes Office Home & Business 2021 apps, plus Access and Publisher for Windows, Microsoft Forms; web versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote.

Do I need Microsoft 365 if I have Windows 11? ›

Does Windows 11 Come with Microsoft Office? Users with Windows 10 licenses can run Windows 11 for free. However, if you want to access Microsoft 365 apps and services, you need a Microsoft 365 subscription.

How much should I pay for Office 365? ›

Microsoft 365 Personal – $6.99/£5.99 per month or $69.99/£59.99 per year – one person, 1TB of cloud storage. Microsoft 365 Family – $9.99/£7.99 per month or $99.99/£79.99 per year – up to six people, 1TB of cloud storage each, extra Family Safety features.

Which MS Office version is best? ›

Features: Microsoft Office 2021 is the most up-to-date version of the suite and includes all the latest features, such as AI-powered grammar suggestions and new data analysis tools. Office 2019 and 2016 both offer similar functionality, but they lack some of the newer features found in Office 2021.

Does Office 365 charge monthly? ›

You can choose to pay for your subscription on a monthly or yearly basis, and the Microsoft 365 Family plan lets you share your subscription with your family for up to 6 people, and use your apps on multiple PCs, Macs, tablets, and phones.

How to use Office 365 effectively? ›

Top 10 Office 365 Productivity Tips
  1. Use “Tell Me” ...
  2. Use Focused Inbox. ...
  3. Perfect Your Presentation With Templafy. ...
  4. Organize Notes With OneNote. ...
  5. Use Smart Lookup. ...
  6. Recall Sent Messages. ...
  7. Use SharePoint to Store and Reference Documents. ...
  8. Utilize Keyboard Shortcuts.

What are the four pillars of Office 365? ›

365 Defender: An Overview of the 4 Pillars of Microsoft's...
  • Stops attacks before they happen, reducing attack surface.
  • Detects and automates across domains, integrating threat data for fast and complete responses.
  • Hunts across all data, leveraging time saved to apply each business's unique expertise.
Feb 4, 2022

What is the basic concept of Office 365? ›

The Microsoft Office 365 suite is a hosted, online version of the traditional installed version of Microsoft Office software. This online service is subscription-based and includes Office, Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, Lync Online and Microsoft Office Web Apps.

Why is Office 365 worth it? ›

A Microsoft 365 subscription unlocks access to the full versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more across the web, mobile, and desktop. It also guarantees updates to the latest versions of the apps as they release, unlike with a standalone copy of Office.

What are some the biggest benefits of Office 365? ›

your subscription with up to five other people and each person can enjoy the benefits of premium Microsoft 365 apps across all their devices (PC, Mac, and mobile), 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage, 60 Skype minutes per month, and advanced security.

Do you have to pay for Microsoft Word on a laptop? ›

Use Word, Excel, PowerPoint and more for free on the web

Whether you're at work or on the go, create your best work on your favorite browser.

When you buy a new laptop does it come with Microsoft Office? ›

Your new laptop includes Microsoft Office 365 Personal pre-installed. Your 1-year subscription includes a host of benefits: Office 365 Personal can also be installed on one tablet and one smartphone, allowing you to sync your files across all your devices.

How do I install Office 365 on my laptop? ›

Sign in to download Microsoft 365

After signing in, follow the steps that match the type of account you signed in with. From the Microsoft 365 home page select Install Office. Select Install (or depending on your version, Install Office>).

What are two advantages of Office 365 compared to the traditional office? ›

Features and benefits of Office 365

The cloud based version of Office 365 has big benefits. Some of the best services included are high cloud app security, access across most mobile devices and computers, and continuous updates of the Office apps so you always have the latest features.

What are the pros and cons of office online? ›

Pros: Office Online is completely free, can easily be accessed from any device, and is better for real-time collaboration. Cons: Office Online only provides a few popular Office applications, doesn't have many of the more advanced features, and only works when you have an Internet connection.

What is the main difference between Office 365 and Office Online? ›

Office online is a free version of Office 365. It is linked to your Outlook/Microsoft account (if you don't have it, you can create it by going to Outlook.com). Because it's a web application that runs in your browser, Office Online will run on everything, from PCs and Chromebooks to iPads and Android tablets.

How long will Office 365 be supported? ›

We won't take any active measures to block older Office versions from connecting to Microsoft 365 services if they're in extended support and are kept up to date. This includes Office 2019 and Office 2016 after October 10, 2023. Both of these versions are in extended support until October 14, 2025.

What is the negative impact of virtual office? ›

Although a virtual office may boost worker productivity, there is the potential for slacking. Many employees need the structure and discipline that a physical office provides to do their best work. Communications may suffer if team members are emailing each other back and forth rather than having a direct conversation.

What are the disadvantages of Microsoft? ›

Windows operating system is relatively unsafe against security threats. Therefore, hackers can easily penetrate into the system by breaking its security layers. So, users of windows operating system are to be highly rely on anti-virus software to protect their data from malicious attacks.

What are the disadvantages of virtual office? ›

What are the disadvantages of a virtual office?
  • Ongoing Costs. If you're able to run your business from home reliably and without detriment to your professional appearance, a virtual office may be costly in the long run. ...
  • Less Social Contact. ...
  • Technological Issues. ...
  • No Permanent Physical Location. ...
  • Service Limitations.

Can I just download Word from Office 365? ›

With most Office 365 plans, you're able to download and install full versions of Microsoft Office programs like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on your PC, Mac, or mobile device.

What does Office 365 include? ›

With Microsoft 365 subscription plans you get the fully installed Office apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, and Access (Publisher and Access are available on PC only).

Can you download word if you have 365? ›

After you've signed up for Microsoft 365, you and your employees can install Office apps. Sign in to the Microsoft 365 admin center, and choose Office software. Under Language, choose the language you want, and then choose Install. When prompted, choose Run.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Twana Towne Ret

Last Updated:

Views: 6149

Rating: 4.3 / 5 (44 voted)

Reviews: 91% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Twana Towne Ret

Birthday: 1994-03-19

Address: Apt. 990 97439 Corwin Motorway, Port Eliseoburgh, NM 99144-2618

Phone: +5958753152963

Job: National Specialist

Hobby: Kayaking, Photography, Skydiving, Embroidery, Leather crafting, Orienteering, Cooking

Introduction: My name is Twana Towne Ret, I am a famous, talented, joyous, perfect, powerful, inquisitive, lovely person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.