Microsoft 365 is Microsoft's subscription suite of productivity applications, business email, cloud storage and security tools. It includes familiar applications such as Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint, alongside Microsoft Teams, SharePoint and OneDrive, all licensed together and kept up to date automatically rather than purchased as standalone software.
How Microsoft 365 works
Microsoft 365 is licensed per user per month, with different plans offering different combinations of applications, storage and security features. Applications are accessed through desktop software, a web browser or mobile apps, with files and email stored in the cloud rather than on a single device. This means staff can work from any device while IT teams manage security, updates and access centrally through the Microsoft 365 admin centre, often working alongside Microsoft Entra ID for identity management.
How UK businesses use Microsoft 365
- A growing SME standardises on Microsoft 365 for email, document storage and collaboration, replacing a mix of older on-premises email servers and personal file storage.
- A finance team uses Excel and Outlook within Microsoft 365 alongside Business Central, with native integration between the two reducing manual data entry.
- An IT manager uses Microsoft 365 admin tools alongside Microsoft Intune to manage and secure company laptops and mobile devices from a single console.
- A hybrid working business relies on Teams and SharePoint within Microsoft 365 to give staff the same access to files and communication tools whether they are in the office or working remotely.
How Advantage helps businesses with Microsoft 365
Advantage advises on the right Microsoft 365 licensing mix for each business, manages the licensing relationship as a Microsoft CSP partner, and provides ongoing managed IT support to keep Microsoft 365 environments secure and well configured.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between Microsoft 365 and Office 365?
Office 365 was the original name for Microsoft's subscription suite of productivity apps. Microsoft renamed it Microsoft 365 in 2020 to reflect a wider scope that includes security and device management features alongside the familiar Office apps, rather than just the applications themselves.
What is included in a typical Microsoft 365 Business plan?
Most Microsoft 365 Business plans include Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, SharePoint and OneDrive, along with a business email mailbox and a defined amount of cloud storage. Higher tiers add features such as advanced security, device management and Microsoft Copilot as an add-on.
Does Microsoft 365 include Microsoft Copilot?
Microsoft Copilot is generally licensed as a separate add-on to Microsoft 365 Business or Enterprise plans rather than included by default, though Microsoft continues to roll certain Copilot capabilities into specific plans over time. Advantage can confirm what is included in your specific licence.
