Add Value with Microsoft: Teams Managed Services and Cloud Solutions

Microsoft: Teams Managed Services, Cloud Solutions and More

Cloud technologies offer an attractive pricing model for capital expenses, but they may also bring operational costs, adding up considerably over time. These fees are well worth it, but only when cloud systems contribute directly to value creation for your business. This is where the best Microsoft Teams managed services, cloud solutions and more could help.

Microsoft has long been the dominant technology provider in the enterprise world, and this experience has positioned the company to offer cloud services especially valuable for modern businesses.

Managed service providers who are certified Microsoft Cloud Services Partners can help you identify the specific solutions that will be most beneficial for your organization. But there are Microsoft cloud systems particularly well-suited for value creation, including some you may not know. Let’s review them in detail. 

Microsoft 365

Cloud solutions are invaluable as enterprise employees increasingly use various devices to get work done. Giving employees access to all of the solutions they’ve used for years – Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, etc. – in the cloud, offers them a fully-featured productivity suite without having to learn a new interface. 

Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) provides the features and functionality of Microsoft’s leading productivity solutions through the web. It also includes saving files in the cloud, making them accessible on various devices so employees can work anywhere, anytime.

The flexibility offered by Microsoft 365 offers value creation on its own, but what makes it especially noteworthy is the fact you won’t have to train employees to work with an alternative app. Technology is changing quickly in the enterprise, and giving users something familiar can help them deal with the transition to the cloud with greater ease.

Microsoft 365 is one of the leading productivity suites, but its sheer complexity means organizations often don’t realize the full potential of their capabilities. A top Microsoft Partner can assist you in navigating the complexities of Microsoft 365 and support you every step of the way. Selecting the appropriate license, designing and customizing the solution, training end-users and providing ongoing support can be a breeze.

Related: How to Evaluate UCaaS Providers: A Comparison Guide

Microsoft Azure

Azure is an expansive cloud platform ecosystem that can serve as the foundation for a wide variety of services. For this discussion, let’s focus on the cloud services platform aspect of Azure.

Businesses face a growing challenge in their need to host, run and create a wide range of apps and services. Applications are increasingly the currency of the enterprise technology landscape. Users can access cloud apps on almost any connected device, creating a situation where location and infrastructure matter less than they have in the past. 

Giving users apps to meet their day-to-day needs, on the other hand, is critical. Azure provides a secure, flexible platform for businesses to rapidly roll out cloud apps, customize solutions as needed, and develop proprietary apps quickly.

Enterprise Mobility Suite

The right cloud tools can bring employees together to work in creative ways, even if they work remotely. The Enterprise Mobility Suite resides within Azure, making it an optional service you can obtain when using it. Its focus is on maximizing the potential value of smartphones and tablets in the enterprise. How?

• Single-sign-on functionality allows users to log in once and access all of their apps and services. This will enable organizations to provide robust security without inconveniencing users with multiple passwords, which leads to them taking shortcuts and putting data at risk.
• Device management functionality enables organizations to work with iOS, Android and Windows 10 devices from a central console.
• Enhanced flexibility allows the segregation of personal and work apps and services so users can focus on productivity.
• Built-in encryption tools keep data safe at all times, even if a data breach occurs.

Skype for Business

Microsoft Skype for Business took the simple instant messaging and videoconferencing capabilities that made the application popular in the first place and delivers it with security and productivity features only Microsoft can offer. However, this app ends its life in 2021.

According to the official statement: “Skype for Business Online will be retired on July 31, 2021, and after that date, the service will no longer be accessible. Between now and then, current Skype for Business Online customers will experience no change in service, and they’ll be able to continue to add new users as needed. However, starting September 1, 2019, we will onboard all-new Microsoft 365 customers directly to Teams for chat, meetings, and calling. Please note that the Skype Consumer service and Skype for Business Server will both be unaffected by this announcement.”

If you’re still using Skype for Business, a leading managed service provider could help you easily transition, as you will see in the following sections.

Related: How to Use Microsoft Teams: Voice Options for Businesses

Microsoft Teams Managed Services 

Last but not least, there are Microsoft Teams managed services. You can integrate Microsoft Teams with voice calling, even though it is not a native feature. It is common for small businesses owners to want to enhance this already powerful collaboration tool with enterprise-like voice capabilities. Here is a quick overview of its basic functionality.

To begin with, Microsoft Teams is free for Microsoft 365 subscribers. Unlimited chats, calls and videos are available. Every employee gets 2 GB of storage and your team has access to 10 GB of storage. 

A new feature of Teams is Together Mode, which allows users to share a virtual workspace simultaneously. By emulating a real-life workplace, users are more likely to stay engaged, even when working remotely. Calls in Together Mode can be for any sized team, even one-on-one sessions.

Additionally, Microsoft 365 offers the capability of integrating popular tools such as PowerPoint, Word and OneNote directly into Teams. Also available in Teams is the ability to carry up to 150 additional applications, including up to 300 contacts outside your organization. Microsoft Teams goes beyond traditional phone systems by including features such as video calls, chat and file storage. 

You’ll be able to select different features based on your plan choice. Still, in general, you can expect meetings and calls, chats and collaboration, productivity, access to Microsoft applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.), OneDrive sharing, security, administration and support.

Although Microsoft does not manage voice integrations for Teams, they do have certified partners who can. It is unlikely your IT staff will be skilled enough to efficiently or quickly handle this migration, even if they have a high level of expertise.

Rather than experiencing downtime during the migration process, Microsoft Teams managed services providers will help you migrate your platform gradually. With a unified communications solution, your company offer the same user experience across voice, video, data and mobile applications.

Partner with The Best Microsoft Teams Managed Services Provider

The ongoing operational expenses associated with the cloud can deliver a continuous ROI when the right solutions are in place. The Microsoft cloud offers plenty of options that drive value creation.

As you can see, Microsoft’s cloud portfolio is vast, and all of its solutions can pay dividends in the right situation. These are just a few of the most universally beneficial Microsoft cloud systems available. 

MSPs who are also Certified Microsoft Cloud Services Providers can help you analyze your business, get a clear picture of Microsoft’s entire portfolio and identify the best options for your specific context. With BCM One’s Microsoft Teams managed services solution, you can easily and quickly connect without ever worrying about phone quality or network issues. Get started today.