How SLIM 360 Slashed Office 365 Costs by $300k.

Posted on July 27, 2023July 26, 2023 by dingusandzazzy

Optimizing costs for software and cloud contracts is a pressing challenge faced by organizations worldwide. Astonishingly, many businesses still need to recognize the significant savings that lie untapped within their Office 365 environment.

While many businesses have embraced the advantages of Office 365, they often miss out on potential opportunities for substantial savings. These overlooked opportunities for cost efficiency can profoundly impact their bottom line.

Introducing SLIM 360, a revolutionary Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) tool designed to unlock maximum cost efficiency for Office 365 users. Organizations strive to optimize software and cloud contracts while maximizing savings.

Are you ready to experience the transformative power of SLIM 360? Embark on enhanced cost efficiency and improved productivity in your Office 365 environment. Let us explore how SLIM 360 empowered a mid-sized enterprise to reveal hidden cost savings, revolutionize operations, and reduce annual expenses by an astounding $300k.

What is SLIM 360?

SLIM 360 offers a comprehensive solution, empowering businesses to uncover hidden cost-saving opportunities and revolutionize their operations. SLIM 360 enables organizations to slash expenses by an astounding $300k per year with powerful features like the following:

Tagging engine for effective categorization
Identification of unused licenses
Streamlined license assignments
Proactive software asset management

Learn more: SLIM 360: Spend 40% Less on Microsoft Licensing

What Case Study Has Been Done With SLIM 360?

Our featured company, an ambitious mid-sized enterprise, had already implemented some cost-cutting measures. However, they suspected that there was still untapped potential for further improvement. Seeking an innovative solution, they turned to SLIM 360 for guidance.

What are the Benefits of Using SLIM 360?

The Tagging Engine: the Power of Effective Categorization

One of SLIM 360’s standout features is its powerful tagging engine, which played a pivotal role in identifying cost optimization opportunities. Leveraging this tool, the company’s IT team swiftly identified services exclusively used by contractors.

These users, responsible for managing the SAP environment, required email access solely for multi-factor authentication (MFA). With SLIM 360’s recommendation, the company seamlessly transitioned from E3 to Exchange Online and Azure AD for MFA purposes only, significantly reducing costs without compromising security or functionality.

Uncovering Unused Licenses

In an eye-opening revelation, the company discovered that it had been paying for several unused Visio, Project, and Power BI licenses. With SLIM 360’s powerful insights, they swiftly identified these dormant licenses and took decisive action to either reallocate them to active users or terminate them altogether. This proactive approach resulted in trimming excess costs and optimizing license utilization, generating substantial savings.

Streamlining License Assignments for Efficiency

SLIM 360’s meticulous analysis also revealed instances of service accounts with improperly assigned licenses within the Office 365 environment. By rectifying these license assignments, the company significantly reduced unnecessary expenses. This streamlined approach reduced costs and ensured that every user had the appropriate level of access and functionality, enhancing overall productivity.

Proactive Software Asset Management

Beyond the specific strategies employed, SLIM 360 instilled a proactive software asset management mindset within the company. The organization maintained ongoing cost efficiency by continuously monitoring and optimizing Office 365 costs. SLIM 360 provided regular reports, identified potential areas for improvement, and offered actionable insights to drive further optimization.

Through the intervention of SLIM 360, our featured company achieved remarkable results, slashing costs by a staggering 15%, amounting to an annual savings of $300k. This case study serves as a testament to the vital importance of proactive software asset management in achieving optimal cost efficiency. By harnessing the power of SLIM 360’s robust features, organizations can unlock hidden savings, streamline their Office 365 expenses, and revolutionize their operations.

Learn more: 5 Tips for Controlling Your Microsoft 365 Budget

If your organization seeks to enhance cost efficiency within your Office 365 environment, SLIM 360 is the definitive solution. Experience the transformative power of SLIM 360 and unlock untapped savings today. For more about SLIM 360 and its capabilities, visit our website.

In an increasingly competitive business landscape, every penny counts. Embrace the possibilities of cost optimization with SLIM 360 and embark on a journey of substantial savings, improved efficiency, and enhanced productivity. Empower your organization with the tools to thrive in the modern digital era.

2023 Microsoft Office 365 Price Increases

Posted on June 8, 2023June 22, 2023 by dingusandzazzy

In 2023, Microsoft announced that it would be increasing the prices of its Office 365 plans for commercial customers. The new pricing structure will take effect on October 1, 2023, impacting businesses of all sizes.

What Does The Microsoft 365 Price Change Entail?

The new prices will vary depending on the plan and region, but some businesses could see their monthly costs rise by as much as 15%. The price increase is attributed to Microsoft’s ongoing investments in its cloud services, including Office 365. The company is adding new features and expanding its global infrastructure to meet the growing service demand.

Office 365 remains a cost-effective solution for many businesses despite the price increase. The suite offers many tools and features to help businesses improve their productivity and collaboration. Plus, it provides security and data protection that is hard to match with other solutions.

With Office 365 Price Increases, What Are The Alternatives?

For businesses looking to save money, a few options are available. First, Microsoft offers a free version of Office 365, called Office 365 Business Basic, which includes a subset of the features found in the paid versions. Additionally, businesses can save money by buying multiple years of Office 365 at once, as the company offers discounts for customers who pay for multiple years in advance.

The price increase for Microsoft Office 365 in 2023 reflects the company’s continued investment in its cloud services. While it may be disappointing for some businesses, the cost increase is necessary to ensure that Office 365 remains a top-performing and secure solution. Businesses looking to save money on Office 365 have options like Office 365 Business Basic and buying multiple years in advance. Businesses need to reassess their Office 365 plans and consider adjusting their subscriptions to accommodate the new pricing structure.

Optimize Your Office 365 Spend with SLIM 360

In addition to the options mentioned above, businesses can also use tools like MetrixData 360’s SLIM 360 to optimize their Office 365 spend. SLIM 360 is a software tool that helps businesses manage and optimize their Office 365 subscriptions.

With SLIM 360, businesses can clearly understand their Office 365 usage and identify areas where they can cut costs or improve efficiency. The tool can also help businesses optimize their Office 365 licenses, ensuring that they only pay for the features and services they need.

Key Features of SLIM 360

Some of the key features of SLIM 360 include:

Usage tracking and reporting: SLIM 360 can track and report the usage of different Office 365 services and features, giving businesses insight into which services are being used and which aren’t.
License optimization: SLIM 360 can help businesses optimize their Office 365 licenses by identifying which users need which services and features and assigning the appropriate licenses.
Cost savings: By optimizing their Office 365 licenses and usage, businesses can reduce their Office 365 spending and save money.
Security and compliance: SLIM 360 can also help businesses ensure compliance with security and data protection regulations by providing visibility into their Office 365 environment.

When There’s a Microsoft 365 Increase, Make Use of Metrixdata 360’s SLIM 360

In conclusion, businesses facing the price increase of Microsoft Office 365 in 2023 can use MetrixData 360’s SLIM 360 tool to optimize their Office 365 spend. The tool can help businesses track and report on using different Office 365 services and features, identify areas where they can cut costs or improve efficiency, and ensure compliance with security and data protection regulations. With SLIM 360, businesses can ensure that they are only paying for the features and services they need and reduce their Office 365 spending. For more information on our SLIM 360 click here. For other services, visit our website at www.metrixdata360.com.

Software Contracts and Negotiations: The Importance of Ringfencing for Licensing and Compliance

Posted on June 6, 2023June 22, 2023 by dingusandzazzy

Software contracts are binding agreements that define the terms of use and access to software systems. Negotiating a software contract and software license management itself can be complex, particularly regarding licensing and compliance requirements. That’s where ringfencing comes in as a key strategy for managing licensing and compliance requirements in software negotiations.

What is Ringfencing in Software Contracts?

Ringfencing isolates access to specific portions of a software application from the rest of the system. There are many ways technically you can ringfence access to an application. For example, you can limit the access to certain types of users or restrict the type of access they receive (say, by giving them reduced functionality). This is done to help businesses manage licensing and compliance requirements in software contracts by excluding certain users or groups from the licensing requirement.

For example, in a software contract requiring all users to be licensed with maintenance, certain workers may not need access to the software. This could include shop floor employees, retail employees, or healthcare workers, who may not require the same functionality or access as other users. In such cases, ringfencing can exclude these users from the licensing requirement, helping businesses avoid unnecessary costs and complexity. You would negotiate a clause to exclude these users from needing a license.

Why is Ringfencing Important in Software Contracts and Negotiations?

There are several key benefits to using ringfencing in your software contracts and negotiations for licensing and compliance:

Cost savings: By using ringfencing to exclude certain users or groups from the licensing requirement, businesses can achieve significant cost savings over time. This is particularly important for companies with large workforces or complex software systems, where licensing costs can quickly increase.
Compliance: Ringfencing can help businesses comply with industry regulations and standards by limiting access to sensitive data or functionality and providing better control over user access and permissions. It can also help you maintain compliance with the terms and conditions of your software contract.
Flexibility: Ringfencing provides businesses with greater flexibility in managing their software systems and licenses, allowing them to tailor access and functionality to the specific needs of different user groups.

Ringfencing is an important strategy for managing licensing and compliance requirements in software contracts and negotiations. By using ringfencing to exclude certain users or groups from the licensing requirement, businesses can achieve cost savings, improve compliance, and gain greater flexibility in managing their software systems.

Consider Ringfencing Today

So if you’re negotiating a new software contract, need help with software license management, think about ringfencing options, and negotiate with your vendor to find a solution that meets your needs and helps you manage your licensing and compliance requirements effectively. For more guidance on Ringfencing, speak to our team at MetrixData 360. Find out more here: https://metrixdata360.com/. If you’re looking for guidance on other matters like software licensing, Microsoft Office license, Microsoft Office lifetime license, end user license agreements, or software license management, get in touch with us too.

How IT Departments Can Navigate the Complexities of Windows and SQL Server Licensing

Posted on March 28, 2023September 26, 2023 by Hailey Austin

As technology evolves and organizations become more reliant on it, managing software licenses and deployments has become increasingly complex and critical. Microsoft’s Windows and SQL Server are among the most widely used software platforms, making it essential for IT departments to ensure that they are adequately licensed and optimized. This is where MetrixData 360’s Microsoft True Up Support comes in.

Our Microsoft True Up Support is designed to help IT departments navigate the complexities of Windows and SQL Server licensing and optimize their deployments for maximum efficiency and cost savings. With our team of licensing experts and powerful tools, we can help you ensure that you comply with Microsoft’s licensing requirements and take advantage of all the benefits your licenses offer.

One of our clients, a Fortune 500 Customer, saw significant benefits from using our Microsoft True Up Support. The Director of Infrastructure at this organization stated, “MetrixData 360’s Microsoft True Up Support provided us with the expert guidance and tools we needed to optimize our Windows and SQL Server licenses. We reduced our licensing costs by over 30% and ensured that we fully complied with Microsoft’s requirements. The value we received from this service was tremendous, and I highly recommend it to any organization looking to optimize their Microsoft licenses.”

SQL Server Deployments And Additional Tools

In addition to expert guidance and powerful tools, our Microsoft True Up Support also includes the following:

A comprehensive assessment of your current Windows and SQL Server deployments
A report outlining any compliance risks or inefficiencies in your current licensing and deployment strategies
Recommendations for optimizing your licenses and deployments for cost savings and efficiency
Ongoing support to ensure that you are fully up-to-date with the latest licensing requirements and best practices

We understand the importance of accessing reliable and accurate information when managing software licenses. That’s why we are dedicated to providing IT departments with the expert guidance and tools they need to optimize their Microsoft licenses and deployments. Our Microsoft True Up Support is a cost-effective solution that can help you save time, money, and resources while ensuring that your organization fully complies with Microsoft’s licensing requirements.

Customers Reviews On Microsoft Licensing and Microsoft True-Up Support

Customer quote 1: “MetrixData 360’s Microsoft True Up Support was a game-changer for our organization. The team provided a comprehensive assessment of our current licensing and deployment strategies. It recommended several cost-saving measures that we would never have thought of. The tools and support that we received have made it much easier for us to manage our licenses and ensure compliance with Microsoft’s requirements.” – CIO, a large financial services organization.

Customer quote 2: “We have been using MetrixData 360’s Microsoft True Up Support for several years, and it has been an invaluable resource for our IT department. The team’s expertise and attention to detail have allowed us to optimize our Windows and SQL Server licenses and reduce our costs significantly. We highly recommend this service to any organization looking to manage their Microsoft licenses effectively.” – IT Manager, a large healthcare organization.

At MetrixData 360, we aim to help organizations like yours achieve the greatest value from their Microsoft office licenses. Our Microsoft True Up Support provides you with the expert guidance, tools, and support you need to optimize your deployments and ensure that you fully comply with Microsoft’s licensing requirements.

If you’re interested in learning more about how our Microsoft True Up Support can help your IT department, we would be happy to arrange a consultation with one of our experts. Please don’t hesitate to contact us at MetricData 360 to schedule a time that is convenient for you. Alternatively, click here and answer the questionnaire.

SLIM 360: The Only Tool You Need to Control Licensing Costs

Posted on March 14, 2023June 19, 2023 by Hailey Austin

Harness the Data You Need to Optimize Your Software Licensing

MetrixData 360 and SLIM 360, as software licensing management tools, provide the data you need to optimize your software licensing, reduce costs, and ensure compliance. With comprehensive and customized reporting, you can gain visibility into utilizing all your software assets and make informed decisions about the software you acquire.

The software industry is making incredible strides at all ends of the spectrum, bringing new challenges that organizations, large and small, must act on to remain competitive. One of the most critical areas executives must monitor license compliance. Ensuring your organization complies with thousands of software titles can become a nightmare. However, there’s finally a solution to this problem: SLIM 360.

Unlock Powerful Insights

MetrixData 360 and SLIM 360 software tools offer potent insights into utilizing your assets, helping you make informed decisions about software acquisition and usage. A comprehensive dashboard and detailed reporting allow you to monitor usage, track compliance easily, and identify cost-reduction opportunities.

Reduce Your Software Costs

With our software procurement solution, you can quickly reduce your software costs by taking advantage of volume discounts and other cost-saving measures. Our software procurement solution makes it easy to stay on top of your software costs and ensures that you always get the best deals on software licenses.

Say Goodbye to Manual Software Tracking

Manually tracking software licenses and costs is a time-consuming process that can be difficult to keep up with. With our software procurement solution, you can easily keep track of your software licenses, costs, and contracts in one place. You’ll have access to real-time data on your software usage and can make informed decisions about your IT procurement strategy.

Simplify Your Procurement Process

Our software procurement solution simplifies the procurement process by automating the process of purchasing software licenses. Our intuitive interface makes tracking your software licenses and costs easy and ensures you have the proper licenses for your organization. With our software procurement solution, you can rest assured that you’re always up-to-date with your software licensing agreement and costs.

Optimize Your Software Licenses

Software licenses can be complicated and expensive. Mike Austin, an experienced director who knows the challenges of managing software licenses and costs, decided there was a need for a software licensing management tool that users needed to provide the data needed to optimize their software licensing agreement and reduce cost.

With Mike Austin’s help, you can ensure you get the most out of your licenses. Mike will review your current licenses, identify opportunities for savings, and help you get the best deals for your next software purchase.

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It’s no news that there are many ways to save money on your software licensing. But how do you know which one will be best for you? Are they worth the investment? What if you invest, but it never pays off? These are all questions that software buyers may have in mind, and SLIM 360 aims to provide insight into the answers.

Get a Health Check Today!

Want to understand your software costs? The ability to document past decisions, current status, and future projections means that you’ll have a much more effective discussion with your team members to look at your options and make an informed decision.

So, book a call here: https://calendly.com/herb-addis/slim-360-poc-demo?utm_campaign=Office%20365%20Proof%20of%20Savings&utm_source=PDF&utm_medium=O365_PDF_Button&utm_content=Proof_of_Savings_One-Pager&month=2023-03

5 Tips for Controlling your Microsoft 365 Budget

Posted on February 7, 2023March 20, 2023 by Hailey Austin

5 Tips for Controlling your Microsoft 365 Budget

Microsoft 365 is a powerful cloud-based platform that provides businesses with various services, including applications, storage, and communications. Investing in Microsoft 365 can be extremely rewarding for businesses, giving them access to powerful tools and programs. However, costs can quickly add up if you are not careful. With this in mind, it’s important to ensure that your precious resources are being used effectively by controlling your Microsoft 365 budget. In this blog post, we’ll discuss why it is essential to manage the Microsoft budget in 2022 and provide five tips for managing your Microsoft 365 budget to get the most value from it.

Cloud Spend Costs with Microsoft 365

Regarding cloud spending costs with Microsoft 365, it is extremely important to have a thorough understanding of all the associated with the Microsoft 365 budget. Without knowledge and oversight, businesses can easily find themselves facing unexpected spending spikes and surging costs due to inefficient or redundant use of cloud resources and consumption.

Microsoft 365’s expansive offering of programs means that it can be easy to unwittingly rack up costs with disorganized budgeting and suboptimal planning. But thankfully, the right Microsoft budgeting app, approaches, and cost-management strategies can help ensure that organizations avoid runaway spending. Investing in cost management tools and having proper visibility into where their money is going are key strategies for reducing cloud spending costs with Microsoft 365.

5 ways to Control Your Microsoft 365 Budget

To avoid cloud spend costs sneaking up on you, staying informed about Microsoft 365 is essential. Staying within the budget template while taking advantage of Microsoft 365’s capabilities can be a tricky balancing act. To help, here are five strategies that organizations can use to get the most out of their Microsoft 365 investment without overspending. From optimizing license usage to researching subscription deals, these tactics will ensure your organization stays on track with its financial goals.

1. Utilize Discounts and Subscriptions

One of the best ways to save money on your Microsoft 365 budget is to take advantage of discounts and subscriptions. Microsoft often has exclusive promotions or corporate discounts that you can leverage to get even more savings. The most popular discount program currently is the Workplace Discount Program (which allows businesses to give employees discounts on personal projects). Additionally, subscription-based plans can help you save money, as their TEI Study mentions that businesses are able to save up to 29$ per employee on technology costs in the long run since they come with a reduced fee over time. Taking the time to explore all the discounts and subscriptions available from Microsoft can pay off when it comes to reducing your budget and ensuring you get the subscription you need at a much lower cost.

2. Analyze Usage Reports

Many businesses don’t realize how much they’re spending on their Microsoft 365 service until they look at Microsoft usage reports. These reports provide detailed information about what features are being used and how much each feature is costing you over time. You can obtain a pre-built dashboard with a cross-product overview of the preceding twelve months and a variety of pre-built statistics through Microsoft 365 usage statistics. You receive unique usage insights for each analysis. User-specific data is accessible for the previous full month of the calendar as well. By analyzing these reports, you can identify areas where you may be spending too much money or where there may be room for cost savings.

3. Understand Licensing Requirements

Understanding your licensing requirements is key when it comes to controlling your costs with Microsoft 365. Different licenses come with different price tags depending on what features you need, so it’s important to take the time to understand what licenses exactly will meet your needs without breaking the bank.

4. Consider Third Party Solutions

There are plenty of third-party solutions available that can help reduce your costs with Microsoft 365 while still providing all the features you need to get work done efficiently. Researching these solutions before making any purchase decisions can help ensure that you’re getting the right product at the right price point without sacrificing quality or functionality.

5. Optimize Your Storage

The last tip for controlling your costs with Microsoft 365 is optimizing your storage space usage. Many organizations find themselves paying more than necessary for storage space due to excess files or unnecessary backups taking up space on their servers. Taking steps such as regularly deleting old files or archiving older documents can free up valuable storage space and reduce your overall costs with Microsoft 365 significantly over time.

There are four ways to optimize storage by 80%.

Cutting redundant, obsolete, and trivial information by evaluation through SharePoint Migration Assessment Tool.
Automating lifecycle management.
Adopting a defensible destruction approach (DDA).
Backing up content to remove inactive accounts.

SLIM360 as a Solution

For large-scale organizations, expensive over-licensing of employees can cause considerable losses each month. Recognizing this challenge, SLIM 360 provides an effective solution: by comparing current usage to available licensing tiers and highlighting any discrepancies that may result in wasted costs. This streamlined system offers modern organization for Software Asset Management which simplifies the process towards license optimization, so you’re able to accurately establish a budget planner for your business accordingly.

Furthermore, by carefully monitoring your agreements with its integrated AI engine, SLIM 360 prevents you from wasting valuable time finding, synthesizing, and analyzing gigabytes of licensing worksheets. By doing so, SLIM 360 will demonstrate and give you the following:

Notifications on possible cost reductions for purchases in Azure and Office 365.
Advise regarding Azure
Security alerts across Office 365 and Azure.
Automated subscription renewals

This will enable you to concentrate completely on license handling in your company.

Conclusion

Microsoft 365 provides businesses with an incredibly powerful platform that offers a wide array of features and functionality at a competitive price point, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement when it comes to managing costs associated with this service. By utilizing discounts and subscriptions, analyzing usage reports, understanding licensing requirements, considering third-party solutions, and optimizing storage space usage, you can maximize efficiency while minimizing expenses related to using this powerful cloud platform. Being mindful of spending and taking the time to plan ahead will put you on track for financial success.

To learn more about SLIM360 and how it can assist you in managing your Microsoft 365 budget, visit us here.

How Office 365 Works – The Organization’s Guide

Posted on November 25, 2022January 23, 2023 by Mike Austin

One of the most cutting-edge and comprehensive work tools on the market is Office 365. It has several components intended to help organizations become more productive and improve routine operations. But while Office 365 can significantly enhance how your business runs, properly integrating the program into your company’s daily operations can be challenging.

So how can you get around this problem?

Since Office 365 is a holistic platform for office productivity, and new functions and features are constantly added, employees should have access to initial and ongoing training on how it works. This will help them become acquainted with the software and its features, ensuring a smooth technology diffusion within your organization.

Subscribing to Office 365 represents a significant change for many organizations, which have traditionally purchased Office products for a one-time charge and then utilized the software for as long as possible. It may feel like an uphill battle, so organizations that are up for this transformation should be well-equipped with the necessary information. There are several factors to consider when licensing a software suite in this modern paradigm. Understanding how Office 365 works and how it is licensed will undoubtedly influence its efficient implementation within your organization, ultimately helping with Office 365 cost-cutting.

Below, we will go through a few reasons why you should consider switching to Office 365 to upgrade your organization’s operational efficiency.

Why Organizations Need Office 365

One of the primary reasons you should consider upgrading to Office 365 is that Microsoft is discontinuing its traditional desktop solutions in favor of subscription-based cloud solutions. This is true for both Windows and the Office 365 suite. Security updates will always be available for Microsoft cloud subscription products but not for older, unsupported versions of perpetual licenses. This could imply that there will be no updates, fixes, training, or support, potentially making outdated, non-cloud programs more vulnerable to malware and hackers and putting you, your data, and your organization at risk.

Office 365 Features and Functionality

Microsoft’s objective is to provide Office 365 members with a one-stop shop of continuously growing relevance, which is the opposite of the depreciation of their desktop products. Knowing how Office 365 works allows ease and efficiency in your operations. It now includes several frequently used company management features, communication tools, document and file management workflows, and even backup.

As a result, you gain more capability for your investment and benefit from the simplicity of learning only one user interface. You also benefit from the power of integration. All your documents, storage, and tools communicate with one another and work seamlessly together, saving you a tremendous amount of time and hassle.

1. Versatile Planner

Microsoft Planner is another time-saving functionality that comes with Office 365. A supervisor or a project manager can start a new group in Planner, such as for a department within your company or a specific task it is working on. A group in Planner and Office 365 can be momentary, like for an occasion, or permanent, like for regular responsibilities given to a sales department. Once a Planner group has been made, the group owner can create swim channels, or what Microsoft refers to as “buckets,” after which any group member can establish tasks that must be completed to achieve the planned goals.

Each task in Planner can be allocated to a single person or a group of people, and if necessary, it can be given a due date. Individual tasks can have attachments and components that are a portion of one major task, and each group or project Planner can be adjusted and updated. If a person’s role changes or they transfer to a different project or group, it is simple to redistribute their responsibilities. Since all group members can see the responsibilities, Planner helps facilitate transparency and effective collaboration.

2. Effective for Teamwork

The Office 365 service Microsoft Teams is the optimal solution for corporate group chats. Microsoft Teams offers visibility and accountability regarding discussions and work activity while enabling employees to interact with each other creatively and professionally. Microsoft Teams can be integrated into everyday business processes for companies who subscribe to Office 365 Business Premium, Business Essential, or Enterprise (E1, E3, or E5). With the help of Office 365, Microsoft Teams enables divisions inside an organization to collaborate more efficiently.

Microsoft Teams also offers many advantages over comparable competitors, like Slack. It not only provides greater benefits at a lower cost, but it also makes work more efficient and user-friendly. Strive to have your employees on the same page, as this will improve the working atmosphere and boost output, which will benefit your bottom line. With the right training, you can easily integrate Office 365 and its services into your company’s everyday operations.

Ongoing Battle: Organizations Struggle with Office 365 Cost-cutting

Despite the multitude of benefits of Office 365, most organizations are almost certainly paying too much for it. We surveyed 100 IT managers and purchasers, and 42% stated they were paying too much, while another 30% stated they were confused by licensing. The intricate licensing arrangements that enterprise agreements require are intended to be confusing, increase your expenditure and regulatory risk, and make it more difficult to keep records of who uses what licenses in your company.

It is essential to compare your utilization to the accessible licensing, illustrate where your staff members are over-licensed, and identify how much it costs you. For enterprise-level organizations, the cost of over-licensing staff can result in thousands of dollars being overspent each month.

Organize your licensing so that it is detailed and simple to comprehend, more feasible and efficient, and so you can make educated choices about your software expenditure, resulting in a streamlined and contemporary approach to software asset management.

MetrixData 360: Office 365 Licensing Specialists are Here to Help

It might be an unfamiliar and exciting opportunity to switch to Office 365, so it’s important to comprehend what you require and how you’ll employ it. By doing so, you can come up with a custom solution that best matches your organization’s needs, keeping your costs low and your productivity high. MetrixData 360 specializes in helping businesses transition from desktop services to cloud-based platforms by establishing a contemporary approach to software asset management for Office 365 cost-cutting.

Visit our website to learn how MetrixData 360 helps its clients understand how Office 365 works and to see how much you can save.

Microsoft 365 vs. Office 365: What’s The Difference?

Posted on November 8, 2022March 20, 2023 by Mike Austin

Sometimes Microsoft 365 and Office 365 are used interchangeably, which can lead to confusion about what each represents. If you’ve wondered about the difference between Microsoft 365 and Office 365 and which one is the better option for you, you’ve come to the right place. Although they are frequently substituted for one another, they are significantly different. The term “Microsoft 365” describes a broader range of software and services, including Office 365.

Let’s explore the differences between Office 365 and Microsoft 365. Once you are aware of the differences (and similarities), you can better distinguish between them and recognize their main characteristics. This knowledge can help you conquer the uphill battle of choosing the most cost-optimized Microsoft solution.

The Office 365 Suite

The Office 365 suite components are referred to as “Microsoft Office 365.” Microsoft launched the Office 365 package as a collection of teamwork tools to facilitate productivity. These include Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Exchange, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Microsoft Excel. Each of these instruments is designed to function with the others. But just because they were built to run on top of Windows doesn’t mean they have to. One of its greatest benefits is that most contemporary suites are cloud-based and readily available online. They can also be accessible on various platforms, including Mac and Linux laptops, iOS and Android mobile devices, and desktop computers. The Office 365 suite has effectively been expanded so that it is now essentially platform-neutral. Therefore, Windows-based machines are no longer exclusively used with the Office 365 package, which is significant for the larger “Microsoft 365” framework. While one of the top creative and collaboration suites for most organizations is still Office 365, Microsoft Teams allows staff members to collaborate on software like Microsoft Word and Excel from anywhere in the world. The Office 365 suite must also be carefully controlled to maintain communication efficiency and data protection.

The Microsoft 365 Suite

The Office 365 collaboration toolset and the larger Microsoft 365 environment are collectively known as “Microsoft 365”, comprising both the Enterprise Mobility Suite and the Microsoft Windows operating system. The operating system, mobility suites, and collaboration architecture have all seen significant improvements thanks to Microsoft – something that has become essential in a world where more employees work remotely. While operating the Office 365 suite from the cloud is an option, Windows also improves the simplicity of switching fluidly between desktop and cloud-based tasks.

Organizations that desire higher levels of flexibility and privacy are supported by Microsoft 365. The Office 365 suite can be utilized on various systems, but it mostly connects with the Microsoft 365 environment. This infrastructure was designed to assist and surround the Office 365 product line.

Another benefit of adopting a Windows system is its versatility. Windows computers have significantly boosted security and manageability support, provided regularly-updated security fixes, and offered more capabilities for remote work and collaboration

The Comparison: Microsoft 365 and Office 365

When you purchase Microsoft 365 (M365), Office 365 is included in the M365 package. So, what’s the difference between Microsoft 365 and Office 365 if Microsoft 365 also includes Office 365? In truth, both Microsoft 365 and Office 365 are essentially Software as a Service (SaaS) solutions. But Microsoft 365 has more services bundled together, which can be particularly useful for enterprise-sized organizations.

Along with O365, Microsoft 365 also consists of the Windows operating system and Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS). Because it contains the operating system and the EMS, two platforms with considerable capabilities, Microsoft 365 truly isn’t the same as Office 365. With additional services included, M365 offers a single, secure package for organizations to use for enhancing operations and collaboration.

While it may appear like semantics, it’s not. When researching systems, diagnosing them, or learning more about updating, optimizing, and managing them, it’s critical to be aware of the distinctions. It’s also significant from a developmental and architectural perspective. Would you like to spend money on the complete Microsoft 365 infrastructure? Or are you just thinking about Office 365? The distinctions (and similarities) between products like Office 365 E3 and Microsoft 365 E3 can considerably contribute to well-informed purchase decisions.

MetrixData 360: Here to Help

It isn’t necessary to spend significant time and effort finding hard savings in Office 365 subscriptions. You can start recognizing savings within six months with our support. You’ll be able to identify the areas where money is mismanaged and which individuals have excessive, insufficient or no licenses, helping to make your regulatory shortcomings and value gaps in your purchases more evident.

If you’re interested in software asset management, then visit our website to learn more about our Office 365 Licensing Bootcamp.

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