ITH Publication - January 24, 2025, 2:06 pm

Microsoft365 has been in existence for over a decade now and caters to the needs of hundreds of thousands of businesses of different size in different locations around the world including Australia. Microsoft365 has primarily simplified communications (email, teams) and collaboration within the business landscape and significantly commoditised productivity applications for business. It has levelled the playing field in the business environment bringing enterprise applications within the reach of SMB’s allowing them to compete with relativity bigger businesses.

However, the question often arises as to whether SMBs businesses really need someone to manage Microsoft365 or is it something that is autonomous and doesn’t require assistance from IT providers. It’s a very subjective question and the answer to it lies in how Microsoft365 is utilised by the business. Today we are going to delve into some scenarios where a business might feel the need to engage an IT providers expertise in making use of Microsoft365:

 

1. Onboarding Users Smoothly

 MSPs can streamline the user onboarding process by setting up user accounts, configuring permissions, and ensuring that each user has access to the necessary Microsoft 365 applications. They provide training sessions to familiarize new users with the platform, ensuring a seamless transition and minimizing disruptions to daily operations.

2. Backup and Recovery of Data Stored Within Microsoft 365

 While Microsoft 365 offers data redundancy, IT cloud providers implement additional backup solutions to safeguard against data loss due to accidental deletions or security breaches. They establish automated backup routines and develop comprehensive recovery plans to ensure business continuity.

3. Collaboration of Files (OneDrive and SharePoint) with Users Internally and Externally

 A technology team can assist in configuring OneDrive and SharePoint to facilitate efficient file sharing and collaboration. They set up appropriate access controls, ensuring that internal teams can collaborate seamlessly while external sharing is secure and compliant with company policies.

4. Ensuring Robust Security of Company Data and Intellectual Property

 Security is paramount, and MSPs implement measures such as Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), data encryption, and regular security audits to protect sensitive information. They monitor for potential threats and ensure that security protocols are up to date to safeguard intellectual property.

5. Customizing Microsoft Teams and Integrating Telephony with MS Teams

 MSPs customize Microsoft Teams to align with organizational workflows, creating channels, bots, and integrations that enhance productivity. They also facilitate the integration of telephony services, enabling features like direct routing and call management within Teams.

6. Utilizing Microsoft 365 Licenses Efficiently

 MSPs analyse organizational needs to recommend the most appropriate Microsoft 365 licensing plans, ensuring cost-effectiveness. They manage license allocations and provide insights into usage patterns to optimize resource utilization. There is significant benefit for businesses if appropriate licenses are applied in ones environment which will allow them to make use of features like security, shared office licenses and device management to name a few

7. Making Use of Advanced Features Like eDiscovery, Encryption, Sensitivity Labelling, Multi-Domain, and Multi-Geo Setup

 MSPs enable advanced Microsoft 365 features to enhance compliance and data management. They configure eDiscovery for legal compliance, implement encryption protocols, apply sensitivity labels to classify data, and manage multi-domain and multi-geo setups to meet organizational requirements.

8. Utilizing Microsoft 365’s Intune to Perform Device Management

 MSPs leverage Microsoft Intune to manage and secure devices accessing corporate data. They enforce security policies, manage application deployments, and ensure devices comply with organizational standards, thereby protecting data across various endpoints.

9. Complying with Security Frameworks Like ISO27001, Essential 8, IRAP, etc.

 MSPs guide organizations in aligning their Microsoft 365 environment with industry-standard security frameworks. They conduct assessments, implement necessary controls, and provide documentation to demonstrate compliance with standards such as ISO27001, Essential 8, and IRAP.

 In conclusion, you will need assistance in above scenarios and by partnering with an MSP like IT Horizon, businesses can maximize the benefits of Microsoft 365, ensuring efficient operations, robust security, and compliance with industry standards. 

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