Frequently asked questions for Microsoft 365
Office 365 is a suite of cloud-based productivity applications such as Microsoft Office, SharePoint, Teams, OneDrive, Yammer, OneNote, etc.
Microsoft 365, however, is a combination of services that blends together Office 365, Windows 10 OS, and Enterprise Mobility + Security.
Watch this short infocast from our Practice Lead for Modern Work + Security, Andrew MacKenzie, explaining the difference between the two Microsoft products.
Other content that may interest you:
 Microsoft 365 Business Solutions |
 Microsoft 365 for Not-for-Profit |
 Secure Remote Work Workshop |
 Copilot for Microsoft 365 |
 Microsoft 365 tips and tricks and best practices |
Available on your Microsoft 365 Business or Enterprise subscription are several useful productivity apps that can help make work a lot easier for you.
Apart from the popular and often-used Microsoft Office apps like Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, there are a few more that you need to be aware of.
- SharePoint for content management, company-wide collaboration and workflow automation.
- Teams for chat, conference calls, online meetings, or real-time collaboration.
- Power Apps and Power Automate for business process automation.
- Power BI for data visualisation and analytics.
- OneDrive for Business for secure file storage and sharing in the cloud.
- Viva Engage (formerly Yammer) for company-wide informal communications.
- Planner for assigning and monitoring tasks.
- Stream for storing and playing your corporate videos.
- Forms for online surveys and polls.
If you’re an existing PA client, we can help you discover these apps through our scheduled quarterly consulting visits or simply call us at 1800 126 499 to speak to a consultant.
Yes, there is.
Not-for-profit organisations can benefit from lower Microsoft 365 subscription fees. Eligible not-for-profits can take advantage of Microsoft 365 Business Premium, which is 75% off for up to 300 users.
If this is your first time taking advantage of Microsoft's not-for-profit offers, we recommend visiting these sites:
- Check your eligibility here.
- Register here to gain access to the benefits.
- Learn how we can help you get more from Microsoft 365 with our not-for-profit consulting services.
Contact us at 1800 126 499 or email us at [email protected] for more information.
Yes, you can still purchase Windows OS, Office 365, and Enterprise Mobility + Security Suite a la carte. You can purchase them through a Microsoft Tier 1 CSP CSP such as Professional Advantage.
However, it is more cost-effective to purchase Microsoft 365 Business or Enterprise SKUs as it already bundles several apps and solutions that would otherwise be more expensive when bought separately.
To determine the more appropriate licensing structure for you, please call 1800 126 499or email us at [email protected]. We will be happy to help you make sense of your Microsoft 365 licensing needs.
No, it is not. Microsoft 365 users need to pay for its subscription fee either monthly or annually. You may source your subscription either direct to Microsoft which you can pay through credit card or via Professional Advantage, where we bill you every month.
Yes, there is a trial version for Microsoft 365 which you can use for testing purposes for 30 days. You can try it for free here.
Professional Advantage can assist in the following services related to Microsoft 365:
- License subscription.
- User provisioning.
- Mailbox and file migration.
- Microsoft Teams deployment.
- Custom development for SharePoint and Power Apps.
- Reporting and analytics on Power BI.
- Integration of various Microsoft applications such as Microsoft Dynamics 365, Business Central, Dynamics 365 Sales, and more.
- Secure Remote Working.
- Security Baseline.
- Desktop and application virtualisation.
- Change management and user adoption.
- Post-production support and continuous cloud platform optimisation.
Contact us at 1800 126 499 or email us at [email protected] to speak to one of our consultants for more information on how we can help you with your Microsoft 365 needs.
Yes we can.
All Microsoft 365 plans have built-in baseline security such as multi-factor authentication (MFA), data loss prevention (DLP), conditional access, and anti-malware protection. Depending on the plans you are using, there are certain limitations or additional security benefits you get.
Business Premium for example, has advanced threat protection that guards against threats hidden in email attachments and links, can enable remote data wipe out for stolen or lost devices, and can limit access to sensitive information by applying restrictions. All of these security capabilities are available in Business Premium, without the need for you to purchase other third-party tools.
If you need further guidance on navigating your vulnerabilities and understanding how Microsoft 365 can assist with addressing your risks, please get in touch with us by calling 1800 126 499.
Microsoft 365 Business Basic is free for eligible small to mid-sized not-for-profits with up to 300 users. It includes:
- Web and mobile versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
- Microsoft Teams for virtual meetings, chat, and real-time collaboration.
- Exchange Online with 50 GB mailbox per user.
- OneDrive for Business with 1 TB of cloud storage.
- SharePoint Online for document management and team sites.
If your mid-sized not-for-profit needs desktop Office apps, advanced security and device management, and enhanced collaboration, you may consider Microsoft 365 Business Premium. Previously free for 10 users, it is now available to not-for-profits at 75% off.
Need assistance identifying which Microsoft 365 license is best for your not-for-profit? Contact us today to speak with one of our experts.
You need to register your organisation first with Microsoft to get validated for the eligible plans. The process will ask you to create a Microsoft 365 account. Microsoft will then begin the validation process after which you will then receive a confirmation from them.
All Microsoft 365 plans includes 24x7 phone and email support from Microsoft. However, if you purchased your subscription from a Tier 1 CSP such as Professional Advantage, you also get quick access to local technical, account management, and billing support.
Our clients also have the option to sign up for Managed Services for more advanced or custom support requirements.
Contact us at 1800 126 499 to learn more about this service.
You need to register your organisation first with Microsoft to get validated for the eligible plans. The process will ask you to create a Microsoft 365 account. Microsoft will then begin the validation process, after which you will receive a confirmation from them.
Your not-for-profit must meet and adhere to the following criteria:
- Your organisation holds a recognised not-for-profit status.
- You operate on a not-for-profit basis.
- You will only use the license for your organisation and staff.
Read Microsoft’s complete eligibility criteria here.
Register for Microsoft’s not-for-profit offers in four easy steps:
- Step 1: Register here and provide the required documents.
- Step 2: Microsoft will verify your organisation’s eligibility and may contact you for further information.
- Step 3: You should receive your eligibility notice from Microsoft within ten (10) business days.
- Step 4: You will receive an email with a link to the Microsoft Nonprofit Hub so you can take advantage of its grants and discounts.
Professional Advantage helps not-for-profits in these scenarios:
- Program selection.
- Microsoft 365 tenant setup.
- User and system administration training.
- Company portal or Intranet implementation.
- Change Management assistance.
- Ongoing support and maintenance.
- Integration or extension of Microsoft 365 apps to other systems you have in place.
- Generative AI or Microsoft 365 Copilot adoption.
- Information protection, governance and compliance.
- Cybersecurity risk mitigation.
For a complete list of our not-for-profit consulting services, please visit this page or call 1800 126 499 or email [email protected].