Which Microsoft 365 Educational Platform is Best for Your School?
Microsoft Office 365 offers three platforms for educational institutions. Discover what each platform provides to choose the one that’s best for your school.
Microsoft offers three separate educational platforms for students and faculty members. While many schools naturally gravitate to the free platform, both Office 365 A3 and Office 365 A5 have much to offer educational facilities. Following is a brief overview of your options to help your school make a wise, well-informed decision.
Microsoft Office 365 (A1)
The Office 365 A1 platform is totally free and offers a vast array of tools and programs, including:
- All Office applications (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, OneNote, and Outlook)
- Collaborative tools such as SharePoint, OneDrive and Teams
- HD video conferencing and tools for creating, managing, and sharing video content
- Compliance solutions
- Encryption to keep your valuable data safe at all times
Microsoft Office 365 A3 and A5 Platforms
One big advantage of switching to Office 365 A3 or A5 is that these platforms allow Office tools to be used on the desktop and offline rather than solely on the internet. Furthermore, these platforms offer access to Microsoft Publisher, Microsoft Access and Bookings, helpful programs that enable you to store and analyze information, create brochures and other handouts, publish a school calendar for parents’ and students’ reference, and schedule appointments with parents online.
However, the most important reason to consider moving to Office 365 A3 or A5 is the fact that these platforms offer more security tools than the free platform. Both the A3 and A5 platforms offer Office 365 Cloud App Security to help you assess risk and gain insight into possible threats. Office 365 A5 offers sophisticated protection from phishing attacks and malware along with the ability to remediate attacks after a breach. Given the fact that cyberattacks on educational institutions aren’t uncommon, the additional cybersecurity features could be well worth the extra cost.
Getting Expert Help When Choosing a Platform
Are you still unsure which platform is right for you? On the other hand, are you concerned about your school’s cybersecurity standards but don’t have the budget to purchase Office 365 A3 or A5 for your faculty members and students? If so, Network Outsource can offer the assistance you need at a price you can afford.
Network Outsource is an education IT managed service that specializes in working with educational institutions in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. We can install, manage, maintain and troubleshoot a wide range of educational applications such as Office 365, Google G Suite, Scholastic, and MyHMH. We provide proactive cybersecurity patching and management to prevent breaches and monitor your network for signs of cyberbullying. Other services include mobile device management, compliance management, and the provision of hardware to suit your school’s needs. All our services are customizable, enabling you to obtain the assistance you need, when you need it, without having to pay for added features and tools you won’t use. Get in touch with us at your convenience for more information or to make an appointment with one of our experienced, certified consultants.
