Frequently asked questions about Microsoft 365

• What is Microsoft 365?

  Microsoft 365 is a subscription based plan that gives you access to Office applications and services online. It brings familiar programmes such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint together with file sharing and collaboration tools, online video conferencing and instant messaging capabilities and OneDrive secure online storage. All well-known desktop programmes have been reimagined for online use on any device, ensuring there is no loss of formatting.

• When did Office 365 become Microsoft 365?

  In Spring 2020 Microsoft officially renamed Office 365 to Microsoft 365. The name Office 365 continued to live on for a couple of years in a few of the individual apps, but by the end of 2022 all apps and features had fully switched over to the new name.

• What is the difference between the three packages?

  With Business Standard you get all the Office tools you get with Business Basic but you also get Desktop Apps, iPad Apps and Mobile Apps. This means subscribers to the Business Standard package can have all the Office Apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Publisher and Outlook) downloaded onto their PC or Mac or mobile devices and will be able to work offline without a problem. Business Standard also gives you versions of Office Apps that are specifically designed for use on iPads and mobiles giving the ultimate Microsoft 365 user experience.

  With Business Premium you get all the tools included with the other packages PLUS advanced security and device management features. You can protect your business data and sensitive customer data from cybercriminals, phishing attempts, spam, malware, unauthorised access and accidental deletion with enterprise-level security. You can also secure data on all devices and simplify how you manage users and data permissions.

• What is the Cloud?

  The term 'Cloud' describes a computer setup where everything is based online, instead of being stored locally on your server or your premises. The Cloud infrastructure is hosted by a third party and is very dependable as multiple servers, or computer nodes, share the workload. In the case of Cloud Storage, items are stored across multiple computer nodes so if one fails, there are enough remaining to pick up the extra load. This means the user will never experience any downtime or loss of performance.

  With Cloud you can access your files from anywhere, on any device via the Internet and even if you lose your device, you will never lose your files. Many services you use every day are cloud-based, including web-based email and online banking.

• Do you need the Internet to use Microsoft 365?

  Yes, you need an Internet connection to install and activate Microsoft 365 packages and use all Cloud-based services such as Exchange Email, SharePoint Online, Microsoft Teams, OneDrive and Office Online Apps. If you’d prefer to work offline, our Microsoft 365 Business Standard and Premium packages contain the desktop version of Office applications so once installed on your PC or Mac, you still have full access.

  Once connected to the Internet your files can automatically sync with your OneDrive Cloud storage to ensure a) they are backed up and b) up-to-date. You’ll also have access to the latest versions of your tools and apps at all times when online.

• Who can help me set up Microsoft 365?

  We provide a free service called 'Supported Setup'. Our team of specialists will validate your domain name and configure your DNS (Domain Name System) records to ensure you can make full use of all your Microsoft 365 product features.

  If you are familiar with DNS records and wish to set up your Microsoft 365 subscription manually, or if you wish to change anything after set up, you should follow the 'Manual Setup’ process within your Online Control Panel.

• Do I need a domain name to use Microsoft 365?

  Yes, your Microsoft 365 product is linked to a domain and this link is verified during the setup. All of your Microsoft 365 services will be associated to your domain name including your email address i.e. you@yourdomain.com.

• What happens if I already have a domain name?

  If your domain is registered with us, simply enter it in the cart when you buy Microsoft 365. Our team will take care of setting up your subscription and will let you know when you can start using your Microsoft 365 plan.

  If your domain is registered to another provider, you will need to enter it in the shopping cart and once you have completed your purchase you will receive an email directing you to your Online Control Panel. Once there, you can complete 'Manual Setup’ of your Microsoft 365 subscription.

• I already have a website; can I still use Microsoft 365?

  Yes, you can use Microsoft 365 on the same domain name as your current website. If your domain name is registered with us, we (or you) can set up your Microsoft 365 subscription on this domain by changing your DNS records accordingly.

  If your domain name is registered with another provider, you will need to change your DNS records with that provider. Instructions on how to do this can be found in your Online Control Panel on your Access Microsoft 365 page.

• I already have email with my web hosting plan, what happens to this if I use Exchange Email?

  If you already have email set up with any of our products we won’t automatically switch your email when you purchase Microsoft 365 (Exchange Email, Microsoft 365 Business Basic, Microsoft 365 Business Standard, Microsoft 365 Business Premium packages).

  There is an option to switch your email to Exchange Email within your Online Control Panel. When you switch, new emails will start arriving into your Exchange Email inbox, and will stop being received by your previous email service. All old email messages will remain within your previous email inbox. If you want to migrate your old emails to your new inbox, raise a support enquiry and a member of our team will be happy to talk you through the process or our team can do all the hard work for you for a small fee.

• I can’t see all the Microsoft programmes when I go to the installation page, why?

  There are two reasons why this may be the case. Firstly, the programmes available to install differ on each Microsoft 365 package. Secondly, it depends whether you are installing on a PC or a Mac.

  Microsoft installation on a PC includes: Excel, OneNote, PowerPoint, Publisher, Word, Access and Outlook.

  Microsoft installation on a Mac includes: Excel, PowerPoint, Word and Outlook. Also for a Mac, you can download OneNote from the Mac App Store for free.

• What is Azure Information Protection?

  Azure Information Protection (AIP) is a security application that runs alongside Microsoft 365. AIP allows you to have more control over your data, by understanding who has access and controlling what they’re doing with it. Plus, you are able to protect and encrypt emails to ensure the safety and privacy of your emails and documents.