The Role of Microsoft 365 in Remote Working
Microsoft
Frazer Lloyd-Davies
Five years have passed since the COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally changed the way we work. What started as a temporary response during a time of uncertainty has become a lasting part of working life for millions. While some companies have returned to business as usual, around 28% of Britons are still working remotely, either full-time or part of the week.
If your business is one of the many with a distributed workforce, or if it’s something you’ve been thinking of introducing, having reliable software is vital for maintaining productivity and company culture from afar. When your employees aren’t in the same physical space, that software becomes their main point of connection. It’s how they communicate, collaborate and stay engaged with the wider team. Without it, they’re left to work in silos with little visibility of what’s happening elsewhere.
For many businesses, the answer is Microsoft 365. As a cloud-based platform that combines a suite of integrated applications and services, Microsoft 365 offers everything remote teams need to work effectively. Here’s what it can do for your business.
Accessing Files and Apps from Anywhere
For starters, Microsoft 365 gives employees access to business-critical applications like Word, Excel and PowerPoint from anywhere with an internet connection. Since these apps are cloud-based, there’s no need for remote teams to install software on their personal devices. Instead, they can securely log into their Microsoft 365 account through a web browser and continue their work as usual.
Any changes they make are automatically saved to the cloud through OneDrive or SharePoint, which means employees can switch from a computer to a laptop, or even a mobile device, without losing progress.
Collaborating on Documents in Real Time
Microsoft 365’s cloud capabilities also make it easier for teams to share files securely, whether they’re working in the same office or spread across different locations. Rather than emailing attachments back and forth, which can quickly lead to confusion over multiple versions, employees can generate a secure link through OneDrive that gives others access to the original file.
Permissions can be set so recipients can view, comment on or edit the document directly, with changes appearing instantly. This way, everyone is working on the same version without the risk of someone unknowingly editing an outdated one.
Staying Connected Wherever You Are
When employees are working remotely, staying in touch with colleagues isn’t always easy. Without the casual conversations that naturally happen in an office, it’s easy for remote workers to feel out of the loop. Teams for Microsoft 365 provides employees with a dedicated platform for communication, whether they need to ask a quick question in a private chat or gather the whole team for a meeting.
Employees can also use Teams to schedule and host video meetings with clients or external partners, with features like screen sharing for presentations and background blur to maintain a professional appearance from a home workspace.
Keeping Remote Teams Secure
Naturally, devices connected to home or public Wi-Fi networks are at a greater security risk than those operating within a controlled office environment. But don’t worry. Microsoft 365 helps manage these risks with a range of security features designed to protect remote workers and the data they access, including:
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), which adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to confirm their identity in more than one way before gaining access.
- Conditional Access Policies, which control how and when employees can access company resources (e.g., restricting access based on location, device security status or risk level).
- Microsoft Defender for Office 365, which helps protect employees from phishing attacks, malware and malicious links.
- Data Loss Prevention (DLP) policies, which help stop sensitive information from being shared by mistake.
Making Microsoft 365 Work for Remote Teams
It’s clear that remote working isn’t going anywhere, but that doesn’t mean it’s without its challenges. One of the biggest hurdles is ensuring staff have everything they need to work as effectively as they would in the office. Microsoft 365 helps make this possible by creating a secure and connected environment where teams can collaborate, communicate and stay productive no matter where they are.
To help you make the most of what it offers, the team at Acronyms can tailor your Microsoft estate to suit the specific needs of your business. From helping employees feel confident using Microsoft 365’s features to deploying advanced threat protection and providing ongoing monitoring, our consultants are here to help.
Contact us today to book a free consultation and find out how we can support your remote teams with Microsoft 365.