Microsoft 365 16.0

Forget the days when your operating system, your mail, and your Office tools were all different things.

Forget also the days when you could only access your files if seated in front of your PC. After only five years, Microsoft 365 has changed the rules of the game completely, especially now that connectivity, online communications, and remote access have become a basic need. Your operating system, your Office tools, your e-mail server, the tools that keep you connected to your family, friends, and colleagues are now one seamless package.

Subscribing to one of the various Microsoft 365 plans will give you access to all the Office tools you know and love (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) plus a set of new ones that you’ll end up loving too. These tools include Teams for collaborative work and online communications, OneDrive for your cloud storage and file-sharing needs, OneNote for all your digital notes, Microsoft To Do to manage your time and be more efficient, Skype to connect with family, friends, and co-workers, etc.

But probably the greatest thing about Microsoft 365 is not the wealth of utilities available, but the fact that they are all inter-connected, that you may access any of them from any of your various devices, that you are always one click away of your documents, photos, audios, videos, etc. The new Office tools have been optimized for collaborative work. They can be accessed from anywhere and shared with others for simultaneous editing, and saved in the cloud securely thanks to the 1 TB free storage included with your plan. This higher level of access together with its new sharing capabilities called for an extra level of protection. In this sense, Microsoft 365 has implemented a set of extra security features that guarantee that only you have access to your files and that only those you want can see them. This higher level of security covers not only your files, but also your devices, apps, and personal information.

If you want to make use of the latest versions of all these tools and be always up to date, you’ll be required to subscribe to a plan or to buy a one-time payment license (Office 2021) with certain limitations, no updates, and access to just the “classic” versions of the Office suite of tools. Microsoft 365 offers Personal and Family plans, Business and Enterprise plans, and others specific for students and Education for Schools. Regardless of which one you choose for your home or business, if you are new to Microsoft 365 prepare for a completely new experience.