There’s no doubt that productivity is the key to staying competitive, but how can small-to-medium-sized businesses ensure that they are staying efficient and effective across daily operations? If you are constantly looking for tools that not only streamline workflows but also foster collaboration and innovation, this is the guide for you. Microsoft 365, a cloud-based suite of applications and services, is a powerful solution for enterprises aiming to enhance overall productivity. However, to maximize its potential, internal teams need to adopt best practices tailored to their specific needs.
In this guide, our Microsoft-certified team at TechNet UC shares more on how leaders can boost efficiency, effectiveness, and productivity with Microsoft 365, offering actionable insights and strategies to make the most of this dynamic platform.
Microsoft 365 is much more than Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. This platform includes a suite of tools–ones that we’ll highlight shortly–that empower organizations to work smarter, not harder. With a powerful, cloud-based infrastructure that ensures seamless collaboration, scalability, and security, you can feel at ease wherever in the world your team may be operating from.
It’s no question that Microsoft Teams has become the go-to platform for communication and collaboration in enterprises. But, did you know its features go beyond simple chat and video conferencing, providing a truly centralized hub for teamwork in the 21st century?
Managing and sharing files efficiently is crucial for boosting productivity, especially in larger businesses. OneDrive and SharePoint offer secure, cloud-based solutions for storing, sharing, and collaborating on files.
We don’t mean to sound redundant, but efficient file management truly impacts your organization's productivity by reducing time spent searching for documents and also minimizes the risk of duplication or loss.
If necessity is the mother of invention, automation is the game-changer for enterprise productivity. Automation not only saves time but also reduces errors, allowing employees to focus on more strategic tasks, and Power Automate makes that level of “hands-off” accessible to all users regardless of their level of technical expertise.
Identify high-frequency tasks. Look for repetitive processes like data entry, approval workflows, or email responses that can be automated. This process can be expedited by working with an external team who specializes in data integration with Microsoft 365.
Microsoft 365 includes a suite of productivity apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, which remain staples in enterprise workflows. However, maximizing their potential requires more than just the basic knowledge.
Train your internal teams. Provide training with the help of a Microsoft-certified third party like TechNet UC to identify lesser-known but highly efficient features of Office apps.
Microsoft Viva is an employee experience platform under the Microsoft 365 umbrella of programs designed to improve engagement and productivity. The Insights feature, in particular, provides data-driven recommendations to optimize workflows.
The productivity of your enterprise depends on trust, which comes from ensuring that sensitive data and workflows are secure. Microsoft 365 provides robust security and compliance tools to safeguard business operations.
Sync across devices. Ensure files and data are synced in real time with OneDrive so team members never have to worry about not having access to a crucial document.
Introducing new tools is only effective if employees are supported in using them, and, let’s face it, a well-trained workforce is the true secret ingredient for maximizing the productivity potential of Microsoft 365.
Encourage feedback. Regularly seek employee input to improve workflows and tool usage. The next best thing to a fluid cloud infrastructure is a team willing to adjust operations based on insightful new information.
Microsoft 365 is a powerful tool for boosting productivity all-around, but its true value depends on how well the program is implemented and practiced. Our team of U.S. based engineers at TechNet UC can provide the expertise you need every step of the way. Unlock the full potential of Microsoft 365 with our one-on-one training sessions and assistance hotline for your entire team. Watch your productivity soar (rather than your costs!) and experience the difference our certified professionals can make in setting your business, and bottom-line, up for success.
If your organization is trying to the meet the ongoing demand of securing data, devices, and applications across both remote and office settings, you’re not alone. According to research conducted this year, 65 percent of companies offer some work flexibility in 2024, which is a 14 percent increase from 2023. It’s a new era, and people desire more flexibility in their working environment. However, what’s one negative side effect of flexibility? Loss of structure, especially when it comes to data security. There’s a better solution out there that can help you excel in both remote and office worlds.
Microsoft Intune, a cloud-based service within the Microsoft Endpoint Manager suite, offers powerful tools for managing and protecting endpoints—such as computers, mobile devices, and applications—in this new dynamic landscape. With Intune, organizations can confidently manage devices across multiple locations, safeguard data, and uphold compliance standards.
Our in-house team of certified Microsoft experts at TechNet UC will now dive more into how your small business can leverage Microsoft Intune to enhance security in hybrid work environments while maintaining a seamless user experience.
Technet UCOne of the core challenges in a hybrid workplace is managing a range of devices, including both company-owned and personal devices (Bring Your Own Device or BYOD) across multiple operating systems. Microsoft Intune provides a centralized platform for managing these devices, allowing IT administrators to streamline device policies, security protocols, and application updates from a single console.
Unified endpoint management with Intune simplifies operations and strengthens security by ensuring that every device follows the same protocols, regardless of where the user is located. This consistency is critical for maintaining a robust security posture in a hybrid setup.
Conditional access policies, made possible through Intune’s integration with Azure Active Directory (Azure AD), play a crucial role in securing hybrid work environments. Conditional access allows organizations to restrict access to resources based on various factors, such as device compliance, user location, and identity verification.
With conditional access, businesses can prevent unauthorized access and reduce the risk of data breaches, a growing concern for many business owners with the evolution of cyberthreats. This level of control is essential in a hybrid model, where users are accessing corporate resources from various networks and locations.
Intune’s app protection policies ensure that sensitive data remains secure, even when accessed on personal devices. These policies are particularly valuable for hybrid work environments, as they help organizations support BYOD policies while maintaining control over corporate data.
These app protection measures allow businesses to strike a balance between security and usability, giving employees the flexibility to work on personal devices without compromising sensitive information.
Endpoint security policies in Intune give IT administrators the ability to configure security settings, antivirus protection, and firewall policies across managed devices. These policies enhance device-level security, making it difficult for malware or unauthorized users to infiltrate corporate networks.
In hybrid work environments, a Zero Trust security model is vital. Zero Trust assumes that no device, user, or application is trustworthy by default, regardless of its location or history of access. Intune is designed to support Zero Trust principles, helping organizations safeguard against potential threats from remote connections or compromised devices.
Zero Trust minimizes the likelihood of breaches by ensuring that access to corporate resources is granted based on strict verification measures. This model is critical in hybrid setups where risks are amplified by the diversity of devices and networks.
For organizations operating under strict regulatory standards, Intune’s compliance tools are essential for maintaining control and visibility over devices and data. Intune’s centralized dashboard offers IT teams the ability to monitor device compliance, deploy security policies, and receive alerts on potential security risks, all from one place.
Remote support capabilities: IT teams can provide remote troubleshooting and support, keeping devices up-to-date and secure without requiring on-site intervention. Intune’s compliance tools give organizations the flexibility to meet regulatory requirements, a necessity for industries such as healthcare, finance, and government.
While security is critical, Microsoft Intune also enhances the end-user experience, enabling employees to work productively in a secure environment. Intune policies can be configured to offer seamless access to resources without disrupting workflows.
One of Intune’s standout features is its cost-effectiveness and scalability, which are particularly beneficial for growing organizations. Since Intune is a cloud-based service, it reduces the need for on-premises infrastructure, lowering maintenance costs and allowing companies to scale device management as needed.
Microsoft Intune provides the flexibility, security, and management tools necessary to support today’s fast-paced hybrid work environments. From unified endpoint management and conditional access to Zero Trust principles and app protection policies, Intune delivers advanced security features that will empower your team to protect crucial data, control device access, and ensure compliance across the board.
Ready to experience the powerful difference for yourself? Our team of U.S. based engineers are on standby to assist you every step of the way, from planning to team member training and data integration. We help companies embrace the hybrid work model confidently, knowing that their devices, applications, and information are always protected. You’ll quickly discover that Intune not only strengthens your security system but also empowers employees to work efficiently from anywhere, adding incredible value without the steep cost for organizations seeking to cultivate a resilient, secure, and productive future.
Are you ready to make this the year of growth for your small to medium size business? Just like a championship NFL team, you don’t want to be stuck trying to defend the end zone–you want to go on the offensive and soar ahead of the competition. The right tools and resources can help you do exactly that. As a cloud-based enterprise resource planning (ERP) and customer relationship management (CRM) platform, Microsoft Dynamics 365 offers a comprehensive suite of tools designed to boost your team’s productivity, enhance customer engagement, and foster customer loyalty, one of the most valuable assets in today’s fast-paced economy.
