
In a technology world saturated with options, it is essential to carefully explore software suites to identify the solution that best suits our needs. In this sense, Microsoft 365 emerges as a comprehensive suite that goes beyond traditional Office applications.
But what is Microsoft 365 and what is it for? This introductory guide seeks to answer this question by providing a detailed overview of the tools and services that make up this productivity suite. Join us on this journey to discover if Microsoft 365 is the ideal choice in your search for productivity and collaboration tools.
What is Microsoft 365? What is Microsoft Office 365 for?
Microsoft 365, a cloud-based platform, redefines the way we work by offering a wide range of tools and services designed to improve productivity and collaboration. Let's take a closer look at what it offers.
What is Office 365?
In short, Microsoft 365, also known as Office 365, is a collaborative cloud productivity suite that combines traditional Microsoft Office applications with additional online services for storage, user-to-user communication and advanced security features.
How does Microsoft 365 work?
Operating on remote servers, Microsoft 365 allows users to access documents and tools from anywhere with an Internet connection. Office applications, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, now operate in the cloud, making it easy to create and edit documents in real time, regardless of physical location.
Microsoft 365's intuitive interface makes it easy to learn, especially for those familiar with the Microsoft family of products. Learning to use the platform is simple, and prior experience with document creation makes the transition even easier. Microsoft 365 is used similarly to other systems in the Microsoft family, with the added benefit of automatically sharing information through the cloud. Setting access permissions for users and safeguarding information in OneDrive, Microsoft's cloud storage service, becomes a simple task.
In addition, Microsoft 365 goes further by storing all the information in OneDrive, its cloud storage service. This means that you can access its services by going to Office 365 online portal. The platform eliminates the need to have Microsoft systems installed on devices because documents are created directly in the cloud. This feature not only simplifies the work process but also helps to make the space on your devices more efficient.
What is Microsoft 365 for?
Despite its popularity, there are still people who wonder what Microsoft 365 is for. In a nutshell, Microsoft 365 serves as a comprehensive productivity and collaboration suite designed to improve efficiency in personal and business environments. Some of its key features include:
- Document Creation and Editing
- Real-Time Collaboration
- Remote Communication and Collaboration
- E-mail Management
- Cloud Storage
- Security and Administration
- Access from Any Location
What does Microsoft 365 have to offer? Key Microsoft Tools
One of the advantages of Microsoft 365 is that it offers a wide variety of applications and services to suit the diverse professional, educational, and personal goals of all its users. To see an updated list of all that Microsoft 365 has to offer you can click here.
Despite the wide range of products offered by Microsoft 365, there are a handful of applications that stand out from the rest and are the most popular. Some of these top tools are:
- Microsoft Teams
- Word
- Excel
- PowerPoint
- Outlook
- OneNote
- OneDrive
Let's look at these applications in a little more detail to understand what each one is and what they are for.
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is a communication and collaboration platform designed to facilitate real-time interaction. Teams provides a variety of integrated tools ranging from instant messaging to video calls and virtual meetings. This versatility allows teams to visually connect and collaborate regardless of the physical distance between them.
A highlight of Teams is that it gives you the ability to organize conversations into thematic channels, making it easier to manage and search for specific information. In addition, integration with Microsoft applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint enables seamless collaboration on documents directly within the platform.
Additionally, Teams is not only limited to Microsoft tools, but also offers integration with third-party applications, providing flexibility and adaptability to the specific needs of each team.
Microsoft Word
Microsoft Word is a word processing application designed to provide intuitive tools that enable users to create professionally formatted text documents, from simple letters to complex reports and manuals. Its easy-to-use interface and editing tools allow users to bring their ideas to life.
Microsoft Word is distinguished by its flexibility to adapt to a variety of needs, from business to academic and personal environments. Word provides a versatile platform for expressing ideas clearly and professionally. In addition, integration with other Microsoft services, such as OneDrive, facilitates document storage and collaboration, allowing multiple users to work on the same document in real time, no matter where they are in the world.
Microsoft Excel
Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet application that allows users to perform complex calculations, data analysis, and visual presentations of numerical information. Excel offers a grid organized into rows and columns, where users can enter data, formulas, and functions to perform a variety of data management tasks.
Excel also allows the creation of pivot charts, pivot tables, and interactive visualizations, making it easy to interpret and communicate data effectively. In addition, Excel integrates seamlessly with other Microsoft 365 applications, such as Word and PowerPoint, making it easy to incorporate data into documents and presentations.
Microsoft PowerPoint
Microsoft PowerPoint is an application for creating visual and engaging presentations that can be used in professional, academic, or personal environments, giving users the ability to communicate ideas engagingly. PowerPoint offers a versatile platform for designing slides that can contain text, graphics, images, audio, and video, allowing users to communicate information effectively.
The application is based on an intuitive interface that allows users to design presentations in a creative and structured way. With a wide variety of templates and design tools, PowerPoint makes it easy to create impactful presentations without the need for advanced design skills. Users can organize their content into sequential slides, add transitions and animations to enhance the flow of the presentation.
Microsoft PowerPoint is widely used in business environments to present reports, proposals, and results, as well as in academia to present projects and lectures. In addition, its integration with other Microsoft 365 applications allows a seamless transition between content creation in Word and Excel and its visual presentation in PowerPoint.
Microsoft Outlook
Microsoft Outlook is an email management and personal organization application. Its main function is to provide users with a centralized platform to manage emails, contacts, calendars and tasks all in one place.
Email management is one of the outstanding features of Outlook. It allows users to send, receive, and organize e-mail messages, as well as having advanced filtering and sorting tools to keep the inbox organized. Integration with calendar functions allows users to schedule meetings, reminders, and events, keeping a clear record of their schedules.
Outlook also provides a comprehensive platform for managing contacts, making it easy to track interactions and key information from professional and personal contacts. The task function allows the creation and follow-up of pending tasks, improving personal productivity.
Microsoft OneNote
Microsoft OneNote is a digital note-taking application, offering users a versatile platform for capturing, organizing and sharing information. OneNote provides a digital workspace where users can take handwritten notes, insert images, record audio and organize their thoughts.
OneNote is a fairly flexible tool that allows users to create custom notepads and divide them into sections and pages, add tags, draw, highlight, and add attachments, allowing a creative and detailed expression.
OneNote is especially useful in collaborative work environments. It allows users to share and collaborate in real-time on their notepads, facilitating collaboration and the enrichment of ideas in projects, meetings, or research. Not to mention that automatic synchronization with the cloud through OneDrive ensures that the information is available on all the user's devices.
Microsoft OneDrive
Microsoft OneDrive is a cloud storage service that provides users with a secure and accessible online space to store, synchronize and share files. In short, OneDrive allows users to access their documents and data from any device with an internet connection.
Files stored in OneDrive are automatically synchronized in real-time across all devices linked to the user's account, ensuring they always have access to the latest version of their documents. In addition, integration with other Microsoft 365 applications, such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, facilitates real-time collaboration on shared documents.
OneDrive offers generous storage space that allows users to save not only documents but also photos, videos, and other types of files. Thus, Microsoft OneDrive serves as a comprehensive cloud storage solution that suits all types of needs.
What Are You Missing? Differences Between the Free and Premium Version of Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 in its web version is available free of charge for all those who have a Microsoft account. You can create a free Microsoft account here. However, to take full advantage of Microsoft 365 applications, it is recommended to pay a subscription and access the premium version.
Advantages of using Microsoft 365 Premium
The major advantage of paying a Microsoft 365 license is that you will have access to advanced features of its core applications, as well as much more generous storage space on OneDrive. This means you'll be able to take full advantage of essential tools such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, giving you much more freedom of expression and enhancing your user experience.
In addition, the increased storage space in OneDrive gives you the ability to store and synchronize a greater number of files in the cloud, offering you flexibility and convenience in managing your documents and data.
How much does a Microsoft 365 subscription cost?
Microsoft 365 subscription offers different plans with prices that vary depending on the type of subscription and the provider. Costs may fluctuate due to special offers, promotions, and rates granted by Microsoft to its providers. It is important to explore the available options to find the subscription that best suits your needs and budget.
At Dharma Corp, C.A., we offer an attractive subscription to Microsoft 365 that provides access to its powerful productivity tools on up to 5 devices. This original and exclusive subscription is available for only $25providing our customers with an affordable solution to optimize their experience with Microsoft 365 applications.
Why NOT purchase a pirated Microsoft 365 subscription?
Opting to hack a Microsoft 365 subscription involves a number of risks and consequences. From a legal standpoint, this practice infringes intellectual property rights and, depending on how severe the infringement is, can result in significant legal consequences. In addition, pirated versions often lack regular security updates provided by Microsoft, leaving systems susceptible to security threats and vulnerabilities.
Additionally, people using pirated versions do not have access to the necessary assistance to solve problems or receive guidance. If we add this lack of official and/or certified technical support to the lack of regulated updates, the security of your documents and devices associated with your Microsoft account becomes a major concern.
On the other hand, the use of fake licenses can lead to bugs in Microsoft 365 applications. These unauthorized versions may lack key functionality or contain bugs that affect the stability and performance of the software.
For all these reasons, choosing a subscription or legal license for Microsoft 365 not only ensures compliance with laws and regulations but also provides a more secure working environment, backed by regular updates, reliable technical support, and optimal software performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
In the process of transitioning to Microsoft 365, it is completely understandable that users experience many questions and doubts. Migrating from previous versions of Office to this comprehensive cloud-based productivity suite can raise questions about new features, functionality, and ways of working. In this FAQ section, we will address common concerns that arise during this transition, providing clear answers and guidance to help users get the most out of Microsoft 365.
How to activate Microsoft 365 for free?
Microsoft offers a free online version of Office with basic applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint through Office.com. Although these online versions do not offer all the features of the paid subscriptions, they allow you to perform essential document editing and collaboration tasks.
To activate the free online version, follow these steps:
- Visit the website of Office.com.
- Click "Sign in" if you already have a Microsoft account, or "Create an account" to register.
- After logging in, you will be able to access the Word, Excel, and PowerPoint online applications for free.
How to share Microsoft 365 Family?
To share Microsoft 365 Family:
- Set up a Family Group in your Microsoft account.
- Invite your family members to the group.
- Purchase the Microsoft 365 Family subscription from the main group account.
- Share the benefits with other members of the group.
- Each member installs the applications using their own Microsoft account.
If you need more information, you can always get in touch with us for further assistance.
How to cancel a Microsoft Office 365 subscription?
Canceling a Microsoft 365 subscription can vary depending on how you purchased it. Here are some general instructions:
- If you purchased it directly from Microsoft:
- Go to the Microsoft account page and log in.
- In the subscriptions section, find the Microsoft 365 subscription you wish to cancel.
- Follow the instructions to unsubscribe.
- If you purchased through a Retailer or Partner:
- You must cancel directly with the retailer or partner where you made the purchase.
- You can follow the steps they provide to cancel you subscription.
How to implement Microsoft 365 in a company?
Implementing Microsoft 365 in a company involves evaluation, license acquisition, account setup, and data migration. In addition, it is crucial to establish security measures and provide employee training.
Our certified team is available to provide additional guidance and ensure a successful implementation. Get in touch with us and we will provide you with all the guidance you need to implement Microsoft 365 in your company.
How to buy Microsoft Office 365?
You can purchase a subscription to Microsoft Office 365 directly from our website. here. We have several payment methods and free online technical assistance for all our customers.
How do I know if I have Microsoft 365?
To check if you have an active Microsoft 365 subscription, you can follow these steps:
- Visit the website of Microsoft and click on "Login".
- Log in with your email address associated with Microsoft.
- Login to the Account Panel
- After logging in, find and select your profile or name in the upper right corner to access the account panel.
- Within the account panel, look for the "Subscriptions" or "Services and Subscriptions" section. Here you will find an overview of the active subscriptions in your account.
- Locate the subscription related to Microsoft 365. Check if it shows "Active" and the expiration date.
Additionally, if you have Microsoft 365 applications installed on your device, such as Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, you can open any of them and check the subscription status from the application.
If you have difficulty finding this information, you can also contact Microsoft technical support or contact our Dharma Corp team for personalized assistance.
What is the difference between Microsoft Office and Office 365?
The main difference between Microsoft Office and Microsoft 365 - also known as Office 365 - lies in its distribution and usage model. Microsoft Office is purchased through a one-time, license-based purchase. In this model, you pay a one-time fee to own and use a specific version of Office on your device. However, major upgrades may require additional purchases to access new features.
With Microsoft 365, on the other hand, you pay a monthly or annual subscription to access the latest version of Office, as well as online benefits such as cloud storage and real-time collaboration. Updates and new features are included in the subscription, eliminating the need to purchase new versions.
In what year was Microsoft 365 released?
Microsoft 365 was first announced by Microsoft in July 2017 and officially launched in April 2020. The Microsoft 365 brand includes different plans, such as Microsoft 365 Personal, Microsoft 365 Family, and others aimed at users and businesses, with continuous updates and improvements since its launch.
What happens if I don't pay for Microsoft 365?
If you purchase a Microsoft 365 subscription and choose not to pay for it, you will experience suspension of services associated with your account. This involves the loss of access to applications such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as any online services included in the subscription.
In addition, if you use OneDrive cloud storage, you could lose access to your stored files. If your subscription includes email services, such as Exchange Online, you may face restrictions on your email account, affecting your ability to send or receive messages.
However, some plans may offer a grace period to recover the account by paying the outstanding fee, but it is essential to review the specific terms of your subscription and, in case of problems, contact Microsoft support for assistance and to understand the options available to you.
** Reviewed by Zulay Conrado, Computer Engineer with more than 12 years of experience. Co-founder and Social Media Manager at Dharma Corp Store.