With the core offering of M365, businesses get cloud-based suites of Office 365 and Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS), and Windows 10, with no need to buy separately. You can, however, purchase solutions and services within Microsoft 365 as separate licenses.

All tiers of Microsoft 365 have Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and Access, but depending on the subscription you get as per your business needs – you also get additional applications and services that enhance your organisation’s collaboration and storage:

• OneDrive for Business
• Planner
• Skype for Business
• Teams
• Yammer

In short, this is your business’s streamlined entry into the Microsoft ecosystem.

How is Microsoft 365 different from Office?

The short version is as follows.

When anyone refers to Microsoft 365, the discussion is about the all-in-one Microsoft package that includes productivity and collaboration applications, security and the latest Windows operating system. Essentially, the solution to get your business into the Microsoft ecosystem.

When anyone refers to Office 365, the discussion is just about the productivity work software we all use and need to get our jobs done – Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Skype, and so on.

Ultimately, Office 365 is just one part of the total M365 umbrella of software and services. Specifically, it’s the productivity and collaboration software applications your workers need to write documents, send emails and messages, schedule meetings and tasks, and share and collaborate with each other and your customers.

Microsoft 365 includes Office 365 in its entirety, in addition to the latest security, data protection, self-service device management and Windows operating system – an attractive offering.

In terms of bang-for-buck (cost) and features, Microsoft 365 is the best option for SMBs that need not only just the core applications, but comprehensive security, the latest collaboration platforms and streamlined device deployment to achieve a digital-first modern workplace.

The starting tiers of Office 365 also don’t include many of the additional services and collaboration tools such as Microsoft Teams and Windows AutoPilot, meaning you also need to upgrade to a premium license to get them, which is not as cost-effective as jumping straight into M365.