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Desktop Productivity:
Key considerations when
choosing Office 365
A guide to the issues surrounding Office 365 migration
www.servicedcloud.com
The quest for the right Office productivity package
Microsoft Office 365 is a group of software and services subscriptions under which Microsoft markets and provides productivity
software and related services to subscribers. For business and enterprise users, Office 365 offers plans including e-mail and social
networking services through hosted versions of Exchange Server, Skype for Business Server, SharePoint and Office Online, integration
with Yammer, as well as access to the Office software.
There are a number of Office 365 plans which productise and group the features and functionality of the software suite appropriately
for differing business requirements and budgets. In this guide we look at the issues that determine the choice of plan for small and
medium businesses.
Successful migration is beyond the skills of most who are not IT practitioners. There are many cases of failed Office 365 migrations.
Generally these are the result of skills gaps or inadequate planning.
Migration planning
- Most businesses are unlikely to tolerate disruption to business as a result of migration. For many zero down-
time is likely to be the order of the day. Executing migration without causing disruption takes a lot of planning
and experience.
SharePoint migration
- SharePoint migration is often tricky and needs to be done manually. Moving from on-premise SharePoint to
Office 365 SharePoint is a major undertaking which needs a good internet connection.
So, while going to Office 365 may eliminate the need for Exchange on-premise email server and file storage/backup, it may not
remove the need for Small Business Server (SBS) to run custom database applications on-premise. For businesses in this situation, the
big benefits that result from eliminating on-premise server(s) is missed.
Take for example a company that makes the move to Office 365 but decides it has to keep its on-premise infrastructure to keep
running legacy applications and databases. The in-house IT team might refer to it very loosely as a hybrid cloud. While this is one way
to think of it, its actually much more accurately termed a failed Office 365 migration. The business could be stuck for years trying to
figure out what to do with the legacy items. It is much better to have a plan from the start and only move when completely ready.
40 Beaufort Court Canary Wharf London E14 9XL Email: talk@servicedcloud.com Phone: 02070936020 www.servicedcloud.com
Security issues
For any business data security is a major consideration. The Office 365 platform is compliant with ISO/IEC 27001 security standards,
the European Union Data Protection Directive, and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA) for US health care.
Microsoft Office 365 and other cloud services are deployed from large scale data centres and delivered over the Internet to customers.
However, large public cloud infrastructure is often seen as insecure; services that are perceived as high value, such as Apple iCloud
have been compromised leading to unauthorised access and distribution of data.
Safe Harbour should protect the sovereignty of data of EU citizens and businesses stored by US companies. However, Microsoft will
hand over data stored on its European servers if requested to do so under the Patriot Act by US authorities. A Trust Centre portal
provides information on Microsoft privacy policies and security practices.
Essentially, to all intents and purposes, the risk associated with data hosted in Microsofts cloud is low. There is a much greater
security risk associated with PCs, laptops and other end-user devices.
Encryption, password control, antivirus, security updates, maintenance, and support all need to be properly planned to eliminate
end-user devices security risk when moving to Office 365.
In short, despite Microsoft backing Office 365 services with financial recompense is limited and may not compensate for losses
incurred by the business if the service fails.
It is highly advisable to provision for business continuity with a disaster recovery plan. A good example of how to ensure continual
availability of email services is to integrate Mimecast with Office 365 so you can continue to send emails.
These are appended with specialised features to suit Small Business, Education, Government, and Non-profit sectors. Individual
services are available from the following services groups:
Business-class email
File storage & sharing
Online meetings
Follow the link in the References and Further Reading section to see full plan and pricing information on the Microsoft website.
40 Beaufort Court Canary Wharf London E14 9XL Email: talk@servicedcloud.com Phone: 02070936020 www.servicedcloud.com
Hosted Desktop: An alternative to Office 365
Hosted desktop solutions provide Office productivity applications in a way that enables the issues that result from legacy custom
database applications, security risks and the requirement for resilience and Business Continuity to be addressed.
Hosted desktop eliminates on-premise servers and puts them in a data centre under the control of a Managed Services Provider
(MSP).
Custom databases as well as the Office suite is provided from a cloud owned and operated by the MSP. This enables the key issues
outlined above to be addressed and the productivity solution tailored 100% to fit the specific requirements of the customer business,
including:
Follow the link in the References and Further Reading section to see how Hosted Desktop solutions provide a comprehensive
approach to provisioning business technology.
Summary
Best advice for businesses considering the best Microsoft partner
When deciding how best to provision Microsoft Office productivity software, the best advice is to consult with a service provider that is
able to help you make the right choice for your business.
Follow the link in the References and Further Reading section to see how Hosted Desktop solutions provide a comprehensive
approach to provisioning business technology.
40 Beaufort Court Canary Wharf London E14 9XL Email: talk@servicedcloud.com Phone: 02070936020 www.servicedcloud.com
Why is Serviced Cloud a preferred
Microsoft partner?
Serviced Cloud is a specialist provider of cloud technology solutions to the service sector.
Serviced cloud has the expertise and experience to help professional services firms meet their regulatory obligations or follow
guidelines on the use of technology.
It is our confirmed belief that the cloud offers outstanding opportunities for service sector firms to leverage technology so it returns
more value to their businesses. Private cloud solutions enable businesses to enjoy the operational benefits of the cloud computing
architecture while retaining 100% control of data and meeting regulatory guidance.
Serviced Cloud works with in-house compliance experts or external consultants to ensure any solution exceeds interpretation of the
applicable regulatory codes. Serviced Cloud is able to provide the appropriate level of services required by the majority of professional
services businesses.
The business benefits of the cloud are regularly highlighted in the press and deliberated in boardrooms. Cloud technology is a topic
about which the vast majority of business leaders are likely to have more than a passing interest.
Based in the heart of London in Canary Wharf, Serviced Cloud was incorporated in 2009 with a clear and simple vision. We are
dedicated to helping business leaders in financial service organisations find the best way of successfully adopting cloud technology in
their businesses. We offer best of breed Hosted Cloud Services in our ISO27001 London data centres, and help clients to create their
own Private Cloud systems in their own offices or data centres.
Our friendly and professional engineers and consultants have extensive experience, proven track records and 'can-do' attitudes. We
offer independent advice but partner with the leading cloud technology companies to ensure seamless support. We are serviced
focused; our clients satisfaction is paramount.
Serviced Cloud
Hosted Desktop Solutions
http://www.servicedcloud.com/cloud-solutions/hosted-desktop
Mimecast
Mimecast Email Security
https://www.mimecast.com/globalassets/documents/solutionbriefs/office-365---key-considerations---v4.pdf
Microsoft
Office 365 Plans
https://products.office.com/en-gb/business/compare-more-office-365-for-business-plans
40 Beaufort Court Canary Wharf London E14 9XL Email: talk@servicedcloud.com Phone: 02070936020 www.servicedcloud.com