MS365 Apps Guide

Microsoft 365 Apps: The Complete Guide
(and how AllSector lowers your cost + risk)

Microsoft 365 is far more than Word and Excel. It’s a secure, ever-evolving cloud platform that powers how your teams write, meet, share, automate, and protect data. Below is a practical guide to the core and “hidden gem” apps—and how partnering with AllSector Technology (a Microsoft Cloud Solutions Provider) can trim monthly licensing costs while adding expert governance, security, and day-to-day support.

What’s in Microsoft 365 today?

Create & communicate

• Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook – the classics on web, desktop, and mobile.
• Teams – chat, channels, meetings, webinars, PSTN calling, and collaborative workspaces.
• Loop – portable components (tables, task lists, notes) you co-edit across apps in real time.
• Whiteboard – free-form visual collaboration.
• Bookings – self-service appointment scheduling.
• Stream & Clipchamp – capture, edit, and securely share video.
• Yammer/Viva Engage – company communities and announcements.

Store & share

• OneDrive – personal secure cloud files with offline sync and known-folder backup.
• SharePoint – intranets, document libraries, and automated approvals.

Plan & track work

• Planner & To Do – lightweight task management for teams and individuals.
• Lists – structured tracking (issues, assets, onboarding) with alerts and rules.
• Project (optional add-on) – advanced PM with dependencies and roadmaps.

Automate & build

• Power Automate – no-code workflows (approvals, notifications, data moves).
• Power Apps – custom apps for web/mobile using your Microsoft 365 data.
• Power BI (add-on or included in some SKUs) – interactive dashboards.

Secure & manage

• Defender for Office 365 (in select plans) – anti-phish, safe links/attachments.
• Intune / Endpoint Manager (Business Premium, Enterprise) – device and app management.
• Purview (select plans) – retention, DLP, eDiscovery, and sensitivity labels.

How to get the most out of Microsoft 365

 1) Embrace Teams as your work hub  🙏
Bring chat, meetings, files, and approvals into one place. Connect channels to SharePoint libraries and Planner/Tasks so conversations and documents stay together.

2) Design your SharePoint the smart way   🌐
Create a home site (intranet), team sites for each department, and document libraries with metadata + versioning. Add Power Automate for review/approval flows.

3) Automate routine processes  🤖
Use Power Automate for things like: new-hire checklists, policy acknowledgments, ticket triage to Teams, and “save email attachments to SharePoint” rules.

4) Right-size security   🛡️
Turn on MFA, Conditional Access, and Defender for Office 365 policies. Use baseline Intune device compliance (disk encryption, OS patch level, screen-lock) and publish a short “how we protect company devices” guide for staff.

5) Keep learning  💡
Adoption moves in waves. Provide short, role-based training (15–30 minutes) on Three Things: “Files in OneDrive,” “Meetings in Teams,” and “SharePoint basics.” Repeat quarterly.

Why buy Microsoft 365 through AllSector?

Lower total cost  💰
As a Microsoft Cloud Solutions Provider, AllSector can consolidate SKUs, apply nonprofit and SMB-friendly pricing when applicable, and right-size licenses so you aren’t over-buying features. You get a single, predictable invoice—and less waste across plans.

Expert guidance + managed support  🤝
We don’t just sell seats; we align licensing to your real needs, then harden, monitor, and support the environment—24/7 help desk, proactive monitoring, security services, backup, and DR expertise. That combination reduces outages and risk at a lower cost than staffing and tooling it alone, a model AllSector has delivered for years across managed services, hosting/monitoring, security, help desk, and project implementation.

Nonprofit & HHS savvy   ❤️
If you’re a nonprofit or health & human services organization, our team understands your compliance and budget realities and brings purpose-built processes and governance to keep programs running while controlling spend.

End-to-end delivery—strategy through support 🎯
From strategic planning and network/infrastructure design to application selection, implementation, and ongoing training, AllSector provides one accountable partner for Microsoft 365 success.

A sample Microsoft 365 rollout with AllSector

1. Assess & right-size: Map users to the right SKUs (e.g., Business Basic vs. Business Premium), de-duplicate licenses, and apply nonprofit eligibility where applicable.
2. Secure by default: Enforce MFA, Conditional Access, baseline Intune.
3. Structure content: SharePoint information architecture + retention.
4. Automate: 2–3 quick-win Power Automate flows (approvals, notifications).
5. Protect data: Backup Microsoft 365 (mail, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams) and test restore.
6. Adopt: Team-by-team enablement sessions and quick guides.
7. Operate: 24/7 help desk, monitoring, quarterly optimization reviews, and roadmap.

FAQ (quick hits)

• Which plan should we choose?
  SMBs often mix Business Basic (web/mobile apps + email) and Business Premium (adds Defender + Intune). Nonprofits may qualify for discounted equivalents.

• Do we still need backups?
  Yes. Microsoft protects the platform; you’re responsible for your data’s retention/restore strategy. AllSector designs and manages robust backup policies.

• Can we integrate line-of-business apps?
  Absolutely—via Power Automate connectors or custom Power Apps, with governance to keep data compliant.