Office 365 (now referred to as Microsoft 365) is a cloud-based suite of productivity and collaboration tools provided by Microsoft. It includes a variety of applications designed to help businesses and individuals improve communication, collaboration, and document management. Office 365 offers both cloud-based versions of popular Microsoft Office applications and additional cloud services for business management, security, and collaboration.
Key
Components of Office 365:
- Office Applications
- Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Access: These are the core productivity tools that users are
familiar with, available in both desktop and web versions.
- Microsoft Teams:
A collaboration and communication tool for chat, video meetings, file
sharing, and teamwork. Teams integrates well with other Office 365 apps.
- Exchange Online
- A cloud-based email solution for managing business
email, calendar, contacts, and tasks. It includes advanced features like
anti-malware protection and data loss prevention.
- SharePoint Online
- A web-based platform for creating, storing, and
managing documents and other content. SharePoint is typically used for
intranet portals, document management, and team collaboration.
- OneDrive for Business
- Cloud storage that allows users to store, share, and
collaborate on files. Each user gets a personal storage space, which can
be accessed from anywhere.
- Microsoft Teams
- A central hub for team collaboration, including chat,
video calls, file sharing, and integrations with other apps and services.
Teams is the go-to tool for remote work and project management.
- Skype for Business
(now transitioning to Teams)
- A communication tool for instant messaging, video
conferencing, and online meetings. Skype for Business is being gradually
replaced by Microsoft Teams.
- Yammer
- An enterprise social networking service for
communication within organizations. Yammer allows employees to share
ideas, ask questions, and engage in company-wide discussions.
- Microsoft Planner
- A task management tool that helps teams organize,
assign, and track tasks. Planner integrates with Microsoft Teams and
SharePoint for efficient collaboration.
- Microsoft PowerApps and Power Automate
- PowerApps
allows users to build custom apps without coding, while Power Automate
(formerly Microsoft Flow) helps automate workflows between different apps
and services to improve efficiency.
- Microsoft Stream
- A video-sharing platform for uploading, sharing, and
managing videos within an organization. Stream is often used for
training, meetings, and internal communications.
- Microsoft Sway
- A digital storytelling app that allows users to create
interactive reports, presentations, and personal stories.
- Security and Compliance Features
- Azure Active Directory (AAD): Identity and access management for securing user
authentication and ensuring only authorized users can access Office 365
services.
- Microsoft Defender:
Protects against malware, phishing, and other security threats.
- Data Loss Prevention (DLP): Protects sensitive information from being shared
inappropriately.
- Advanced Threat Protection (ATP): Prevents advanced cyber threats, including zero-day
attacks and malicious email attachments.