Optimize Microsoft 365 with Softchoice

Microsoft 365 provides vital resources for many enterprise digital workplaces. However, IT leaders typically struggle when it comes to protection, adoption and governance of these platforms.

KMWorld held a webinar with Greg Treanor, manager of modern workplace, Softchoice and Luisa Colmenares, senior manager, innovation, Softchoice, who discussed key considerations surrounding the importance of software rationalization, the selection of one platform, security, management, and adoption for Microsoft 365 and other Microsoft solutions

Microsoft 365 provides a complete collaboration solution for the modern workplace, Colmenares and Treanor explained.

As COVID continues to change the workplace, remote work is going to change the user experience with Microsoft 365. According to Riverbed, remote workers are 35% to 40% more productive than people who work in corporate offices. And 77% of executives say allowing employees to work remotely may lead to lower operating costs.

However, security risks abound as people work remotely, Colmenares and Treanor said. Data must be protected as it traverses mobile devices and cloud services. Data created outside the network must be classified and protected.

Microsoft 365 comes with built in security that includes identity and access management; information protection; threat detection; and security management.

It’s important to apply flexible protection actions including encryption, access restrictions, and visual markings. Workers need to understand their data landscape and identify important data across their hybrid environment. To govern company data automatically retain, delete, and store data and records in compliant manner, Colmenares and Treanor added.

They offered 4 tips for organizations to succeed with Microsoft 365, including:

• Rationalize your software investments: Inventory technology to identify all installed software, evaluate software usage, restructure licensing agreements and continuously review opportunities to reduce costs and gain greater outcomes from the software that remains.
• Mitigate the productivity dip: Plan and deliver an integrated adoption and change management program customized to your people and technology deployment.
• Security and stability built-in: Apply best practices for secure remote access deployment learned over thousands of collaboration deployments.
• Refocus resources through ongoing optimization: Seek out turn-key operations support to streamline management, long-term stability, and effective protection.

An archived on-demand replay of this webinar is available here.