Future proof by your IT by leveraging the Microsoft Modern Workplace

Technological advancement has always been a major driver in business. In particular, its impact on the workplace has been most significant. Consider the ubiquity of remote working nowadays, when just a few years ago it was almost unheard of in many organisations. As one of the longest running technology companies in the world, Microsoft have often led the charge with using technology to transform work practices. The Microsoft Modern Workplace is the latest example of how their technology is setting standards for information technology in business.

Understanding the Microsoft Modern Workplace

Technology is perpetually in a state of change. This has meant that businesses have always had to accept that their IT infrastructure will need to be updated regularly. With that said, new developments in IT have made it possible for businesses to future-proof their IT much more effectively – and how does the Microsoft Modern Workplace support this? We spoke with a London-based Microsoft Solutions Partner, TechQuarters, about this. Like many London IT support companies, TechQuarters’ own IT infrastructure is built on the Microsoft Modern Workplace, and they have helped many organizations adopt it for themselves.

The Microsoft Modern Workplace includes a range of products, platforms, and services that fulfil different purposes within an organisation’s IT infrastructure:

1. Microsoft 365: An integrated suite of productivity tools combining Office applications with cloud-based services for email, document management, online storage, and collaboration.
2. Azure Cloud Services: Microsoft’s cloud computing platform offers scalable infrastructure, storage, virtual machines, and databases for building, deploying, and managing applications.
3. Microsoft Teams: A unified communication and collaboration platform enabling real-time chat, video meetings, file sharing, and app integration in a single workspace.
4. SharePoint and OneDrive: Web-based platforms for collaboration, document management, and content sharing within organizations, along with secure cloud storage for individuals.
5. Power Platform: A low-code development platform comprising Power Apps, Power Automate, and Power BI, allowing for custom application creation, workflow automation, and business intelligence and data visualization capabilities.

Benefits of Leveraging the Microsoft Modern Workplace

The Microsoft Modern Workplace can have a great many benefits for an organisation. It is designed to remove as many barriers as possible between businesses and the growth they are aiming to achieve. Having provided IT support in London for over 10 years, TechQuarters confirmed that the Microsoft Modern Workplace has always played a big part in facilitating their work. Below are some examples of the benefits that businesses can expect:

1. Enhanced Productivity and Efficiency with products like Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Teams.

• Seamless collaboration and communication through Microsoft Teams and SharePoint.

• Improved security and data protection with Microsoft Azure, and Enterprise Mobility + Security (which is included in M365).

• Scalability and flexibility for changing business needs – as all products in the Microsoft Modern Workplace are cloud-native, they are inherently scalable.

Steps to Future-Proof Your IT with the Microsoft Modern Workplace

Future-proofing your IT using the Microsoft Modern Workplace could transform the way your organisation operates. Having provided IT support Guildford and London businesses have relied on for years, and helped many of them migrate to the Modern Workplace, TechQuarters listed the following recommendations:

1. Assess your current IT infrastructure and identify gaps: Solutions like the Power Platform can help businesses fill specific gaps using custom apps and automation.
2. Planning and Strategizing: Develop a comprehensive plan and strategy for implementing the Microsoft Modern Workplace. Take into account timelines, resources, and potential challenges.
3. Cloud Migration and adopting Microsoft 365: Move data, applications, and services to the cloud, leveraging Microsoft 365 for enhanced productivity, collaboration, and data management.
4. Training and Upskilling Employees: Provide training programs to familiarize your employees with the Microsoft Modern Workplace tools, as this will encourage adoption and maximise ROI.