The modern world is evolving to the use of cloud based solutions as organizations seek to improve their operations and protection levels. Microsoft Office 365 Business Premium is one of the must-have solutions because not only does it incorporate core applications, but also provides security features as well. In this blog, you will learn how to migrate to the Microsoft Office 365 Business Premium and know its advantages, disadvantages, cost and key considerations you should make.
Understanding Microsoft Office 365 Business Premium
It is vital first to take a look at what Microsoft Office 365 Business Premium is before migrating to it. This particular subscription contains all the apps that are in the Office 365 Business Standard, which include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlooks, amongst others. However, it also provides enhanced features like:
- Advanced Security: Preserves against cyber risks with applications such as MFA (Multi-Factor Authentication), DLP (Data Loss Prevention).
- Device Management: Securely sanction company devices and applications with the help of Microsoft Intune.
- Collaboration Tools: Microsoft Teams for instant messaging and collaboration among the members of a given team.
With these features, businesses can ensure their operations remain efficient while safeguarding sensitive information.
Step 1: Assess Your Current Environment
Before migrating to Microsoft Office 365 Business Premium, evaluate your current IT environment. This includes:
- Inventory Existing Software: Enumerate all active applications today such as emails, files sharing and storage, working productivity applications and business suites.
- Identify User Needs: Find out what your employees need in a new system and what they want for change. This may include special requirements for an application or storage.
- Evaluate Data Volume: Find out how much data is required to be migrated to Office 365 to identify the plan you’re going to execute.
Step 2: Choose the Right Subscription Plan
Understanding the costs associated with Office 365 Business Premium is essential for budgeting. The subscription typically starts at around ₹1,830.00 per user per month. Compare this with other plans like Office 365 Business Standard, which starts at ₹770.00 per user per month, to determine which option best suits your organization’s needs.
Key Considerations:
- User Count: Calculate how many users will need access to Office 365.
- Budget Constraints: Ensure that the chosen plan aligns with your financial capabilities while meeting your operational needs.
Step 3: Prepare for Migration
Preparation is key for a successful migration. Here are some steps to take:
- Backup Existing Data: This as a precaution ensures that all information that is stored currently is well backed up and cannot be affected by the particular change.
- Inform Employees: Brief your team on changes coming with the migration process and what they are likely to encounter as they transition.
- Create a Migration Plan: A good migration plan should include a schedule that shows the planned time for each step in the migration and who will be responsible for each step.
Step 4: Set Up Your Microsoft Office 365 Account
Once you’ve chosen your plan and prepared for migration, it’s time to set up your Office 365 account:
- Sign Up: To get a subscription for Office 365 Business Premium, prospect buyers have to visit the Microsoft website and ‘subscribe now’.
- Verify Your Domain: If you use your own domain (e.g., yourbusiness.com), you should check and make sure your Office 365 domain is set up correctly.
- Create User Accounts: Increase the total number of users who will need Office 365 by developing employee accounts for all the personnel.
Step 5: Migrate Data to Office 365
With your account set up, it’s time to migrate existing data:
- Email Migration: To download emails from a current provider into Office 365, Outlook, use Microsoft’s native tools or an external migration tool.
- File Migration: Transfer documents from your local computer or from Google Drive or Drop-box as well as from other cloud storage options into OneDrive or SharePoint.
- Application Migration: In this phase you should also set up any particular applications you are using that need to link with Office 365 in the correct manner.
Tools for Migration:
Microsoft provides several tools to assist with data migration:
- Microsoft FastTrack: Offers guidance and resources for migrating data smoothly.
- Azure Migrate: Useful for larger organizations looking to move extensive datasets efficiently.
Step 6: Configure Security Settings
One of the standout features of Microsoft Office 365 Business Premium is its robust security options. After migrating data, configure these settings:
- Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): This provides the added layer of security since the user’s identity has to be confirmed via another form (such as a text message).
- Set Up Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Plan for means that ensure that restricted information is not conveyed to members outside the organization.
- Configure Mobile Device Management (MDM): Deploy Intune to secure the access of company data with devices.
Step 7: Train Your Team
To maximize the benefits of Microsoft Office 365 Business Premium, provide training for your employees:
- Conduct Workshops: Arrange meetings to educate employees of new tools and graphics enhanced in office 365.
- Share Resources: It is recommended to grant access to the online tutorials and documentation that would prove helpful for employees to learn working in a new system.
Step 8: Monitor Usage and Gather Feedback
After completing the migration and training phases, keep an eye on how well the new system is working:
- Monitor User Engagement: Leverage other tools in Office 365 to monitor the usage of applications and look for problems in the process.
- Gather Feedback: Ask employees to talk about the applications they used within Office 365 during the previous week, and discuss how using Office 365 had affected their work. This information is useful in flagging problem areas that would require change or personnel upgrade.
Final Thoughts on Costs
Although comparing the costs of Microsoft Office 365 Business Premium with other plans including the rates of Office 365 Business Standard is crucial, it is significant to understand that choosing an optimal plan according to company needs is much wiser in the end because it will lead to higher profits in the long run – both in productivity and security. The benefits properly outweigh the costs at the beginning when considering elevating the efficiency and mitigating the threats of the data leaks.
Conclusion
Migrating to Microsoft Office 365 Business Premium can truly improve efficiency and at the same time, give strong protection for your company. This step by step guide when followed — from evaluating your current environment, to planning and executing and even tracking your utilisation after migrating — affords you the opportunity of a perfect transition that directly meets every business need you have.
