What is Microsoft Teams?
Launched in 2017 by the Microsoft Corporation, Microsoft Teams, or MS Teams, is an online communication tool that can be used for a variety of purposes. Since its initial release, MS Teams has been used for online schooling, business meetings, and other professional uses. In the corporate world, the search for new and better communication tools is always prevalent. For any meeting, online class, or conference, efficient communication platforms are needed that perform all their duties well. To get access to MS Teams, all you have to do is get a subscription to Office 365, which includes all the go-to Microsoft applications in one place.
What is the Office 365?
Due to the ongoing pandemic situation, businesses set up remote working as an option for employees. This meant that employees would work from their homes, but it also meant they would need the best communication tools available. Office 365 is the newest development in the Microsoft world. The way it works is that you pay a monthly or yearly fee and get access to all Microsoft apps. Moreover, you can choose between subscriptions that allow you to use the same account on up to five different devices. In this way, you can share the Microsoft apps with your family members or colleagues with the Office 365 service. For more personalized plans for your business, you can take the help of Office 365 consulting services. These services help to provide solutions tailored to the needs of your business.
What is the Difference Between Microsoft Office And Office 365?
As it is easy to confuse the two, it is important to make the distinction between Microsoft Office and Office 365 clear. One of the main differences between the two is that Microsoft Office only contains a one-time fee that you pay up-front. However, Office 365 has a recurring fee that you pay every month or every year depending on your plan. Moreover, in the Office 365 service, you also get access to the OneDrive cloud storage which can prove immensely useful for your business.
The 7 Things You Should Know About Microsoft Teams
1. The Teams And Channels
In MS Teams, teams are generally referred to as groups. You should avoid making too many of them, as they are best kept to a minimum. To understand them better, think of them as different classes or groups. In a business organization, separate teams should be made for each department of the company. This means one for HR, one for marketing, and so on. In online schooling, different teams can be made for each subject that the student has. As for the channels on MS Teams, they are used for conversations. Each team is made up of channels. Channels are conversations that you have with your teammates, and they can be sorted according to a topic, or project.
2. How To Share Documents in MS Teams
Within a channel, any team member present can add to the conversation whenever they like. However, at some point in meetings, it may be necessary to share and store documents for your other colleagues. This is made easy through the SharePoint Online service. Each MS Team will have a site there that will contain a default folder. You do not have to manually save the files being shared to this folder, as it will happen automatically. If your documents are sensitive, you can adjust the security settings and manage who has permission to view and change the files.
3. Video Calls And Screen-Sharing
Online conferences are made easy with video-calling, but not all platforms provide a smooth service like MS Teams. The calls are fast and do not have issues with connectivity. The images and videos are also high-quality, and this has a positive effect on the productivity of your business. You can also record meetings on MS Teams for employees or students that could not be present. The recorded meetings are saved in the team channel and can be viewed at any time. The participants of the video call on MS Teams can also make changes to the screen that can be shared with the permission of the host. If you need more altering to your video calls, Office 365 consulting is available to make the changes for you.
4. Online Meetings and Audio Conferencing
You can have real-time and best quality online meetings with Microsoft Teams. Only the best video and audio calling options are available on MS Teams. Teams are capable of performing calls through any device, including PC, or mobile phones. The communication is seamless and does not falter. For people who do not have a consistent schedule, they can still stay up-to-date with business projects, or classwork at their own convenience.
5. The Security Features on MS Teams
Microsoft understands the importance of keeping your data in safe hands, and away from any kind of threats. This is why a subscription to Office 365 is highly recommended, as the security on MS Teams is unmatched. The features include but are not limited to two-factor authentication, encryption, and external and internal security.
6. Better Ways of Presenting Data
When options such as screen-sharing and Microsoft Graph are brought into the discussion, it becomes clear that MS Teams is the superior communication tool. Microsoft Graph is an innovative programming model that you can use to access and configure large amounts of data on MS Teams. If you are the CEO or the instructor in a class, you can use the Microsoft Graph to see the performance of your various teams and channels. You will also be able to have an overview of the most productive hours in a day for your employees or students.
7. The Two Approaches on Using Microsoft Teams
You can make use of MS Teams in two ways, the organic (or raw) approach, or the controlled approach which is more business-oriented. In the organic approach, users and colleagues have more freedom with the platform. They are allowed to make use of any channel or tool they want, and MS Teams is used organically. However, in the controlled approach, the business or classroom may decide to implement rules. This means to monitor and control which people have access to the different teams and channels, and keeping a tight policy over every tool. In businesses that handle sensitive data, this approach is the best decision for the company.
In conclusion, Microsoft Teams work best when you purchase them through Office 365. MS Teams offer a variety of communication options that are not available on any other platform, if your business or class needs extra help and counseling, the option to consult with Office 365 is also available.
