How to Convince Leadership It’s Time for Moving to Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 is generating quite a buzz from both large enterprises and small businesses recently. The latest trends have seen organizations become increasingly comfortable with the idea of using the services of a cloud-based platform to drive business productivity at a flexible, predictable cost. And thanks to Microsoft’s migration manager tool, moving to Microsoft 365 has never been easier. Enable your team members to collaborate within Office apps, intelligent cloud services and utilize Microsoft’s top-notch security features all in one place.

As an IT director, you want what’s best for the digital transformation of your organization. As such, there are certain costs and expenditures associated with technology that makes some business leaders question whether the cost outweighs the benefits. That’s understandable.  Convincing leadership it’s time to make a major change is no easy feat. The age-old argument, “Everyone else is doing it” doesn’t always suffice as a justifiable reason to hop on the bandwagon. But what if, in this instance, it does?

Around 80 percent of Fortune 500 companies have already undertaken data migration to Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365), and start-ups and medium-sized organizations are now following this trend. Smaller organizations have begun to implement Microsoft’s productivity suite into their everyday operations and utilize the set of tools to meet their specific, ever-evolving business needs.

The Benefits of Moving to Microsoft 365 (Besides Microsoft Teams)

Office 365 migration from an on-premise IT environment poses a significant step for any organization. Taking your business to the cloud introduces an array of novel tools and product updates, and paves the way for new workflows and routines. Most of all, it allows you to rethink the way you do productivity.

Improved communication via Microsoft Teams is often cited as a driving force for moving to Microsoft 365, as well as the key advantage of enhanced collaboration. But what are other reasons many are switching to this cloud-based service?

5 Key Benefits of Microsoft 365

1. Mobility: You can access applications remotely from any device, allowing you to work anywhere and instantly switch between desktop and mobile apps. This is particularly helpful for attending Microsoft Teams meetings while on the move. Additionally, you can work offline and files will automatically sync across devices when you reconnect.
   
2. Real-time collaboration: OneDrive for Business enables several people to co-author documents simultaneously, updating a single file rather than emailing new versions each time changes are made. Secure links can also be shared with external contributors, so everyone can literally be on the same page without losing track.
   
3. Intuitive solutions: In addition to the traditional suite of Office apps, the cloud-based portfolio is bursting with new tools such as Planner, Editor, Forms and Power BI. These integrated products offer new ways of working, boosting productivity while reducing the specter of shadow IT; you can keep more content within Microsoft rather than multiple third parties.
   
4. Multi-device functionality: Should physical devices fail, business continuity is eased with cloud access to all email, files and applications. Although not ideal, end-users can continue working from smartphones or tablets while awaiting new laptops. When their new machine arrives, users simply log in to find all Microsoft 365 data and settings available within minutes.
   
5. Threat Protection: The Microsoft Defender portal comprises anti-phishing features that identify email containing malware, immediately blocking delivery to greatly reduce the risk of zero-day exploits. The prevention, detection and remediation model can boost your security posture.

Despite these benefits, business leaders may still find it best to stick with on-premises infrastructure because they’ve already invested heavily. It’s up to you, the IT director, to convince them that moving to Microsoft 365 could ultimately save money.

Microsoft 365 Can Ultimately Save You Money

While the potential for improved productivity and security may be compelling, budgetary constraints can delay digital transformations. To speed up the decision-making process, it’s best to be prepared with figures and hard facts when presenting to leadership. Various reports suggest the Microsoft 365 ROI is comparably favorable, with a Forrester economic impact study indicating a 135 percent return on your investment within three years. In the world of IT, this is huge.

Additionally, when calculating the business benefits of cloud migration, it’s important to factor in two things:

• Retiring legacy platforms: As you depart from on-premises networks, you’ll naturally see a reduction in server and energy costs. The need for ongoing maintenance will also be removed when moving to Microsoft 365, which is a significant bonus. Legacy systems typically require specialist knowledge that is increasingly hard to find due to the changing technology landscape (cloud hosting).
  
• Scalability: Certainty over costs is one of the main Office 365 subscription benefits. You know precisely what to budget for and can customize plans to ensure each group has access to the best workloads for their roles. You can also scale up or down instantly, adding or removing licenses as business needs dictate. This flexibility is particularly useful if you experience rapid growth or seasonal fluctuations.

Available at a fixed rate, Microsoft 365 subscription plans make it easy for you to win certainty over software expenses and allow you to budget your business purposes without hidden pricing woes. Another bright side to moving to Microsoft 365? Microsoft seamlessly manages any upgrades and the introduction of new functionalities, so you don’t need to lose sleep over expensive migration projects that have become an everyday reality in the Microsoft ecosystem.

What Better Cloud Solution Is There?

Today’s companies have to stay nimble as conditions shift and business needs fluctuate. Can you justify new hardware expenses to keep up? Is your business geared up to survive a manmade or natural disaster? Do you feel vulnerable to the cyber threats out there? This changeable forecast calls for moving to Microsoft 365, a premier cloud solution and a top choice among cloud managed service providers.

At SkyTerra we make taking advantage of the cloud seamless. As your cloud managed service provider, we’ll recommend the best approach for your specific business. As a Tier 1 Microsoft Gold partner and the largest Microsoft cloud provider in the Northeast, our experience with making clients at home in the cloud is reflected in our everyday accomplishments. Contact us or book a meeting today for tailored solutions that put every dollar of your tech investment to work for your business.