Office 365

Banzai_Joe · 19 Jul 2011 at 11:07

More for businesses really, but has anyone taken it up yet in their place of work?

Currently i have a dilemma;
Microsoft have requested that i do a software audit. :eek:

As most in the know will know, it's easier to get your head around some of Einteins theories than it is MS's licensing procedures.
Needless to say we have shall we say, fallen behind with our licenses. :rolleyes:

So the question is, should we take this opportunity to maybe move to the cloud for our 70 users and throw the money in a different direction?
That's assuming MS allow us to without first becoming compliant with our out-of-date existing licenses.

Currently we run on Terminal Services (hence the ease at which licensing compliance can fail).

I've partially virtualised our environment and as we have a 4mb MIA (Managed Internet Access) leased line from VM, quality of broadband isn't an issue......except when people aren't in the office. But then they log into TS from home anyway.

So, anyone using Office 365?

Opinions gratefully received.

Deleted member 77746 · 19 Jul 2011 at 12:38

Whats the current solutions for the environment your in? Office Deployments? Email Deployments? Desktop Deployments e.t.c? I have been trialing Office 365 myself but not too sure if it's something worth while as there are free solutions like Google Mail / Google Docs e.t.c.

Banzai_Joe · 19 Jul 2011 at 12:49

Well, currently, approx 50 of our 70 users work soley off TS-2003/RDS-2008, so in effect their pc's act as thin clients.
Designers work locally, cad, Adobe etc, with local installs of all the software they require.
Site workers use their laptops to RDP into the TS from outside the bulding. As does anyone who works from home etc.
This is why the company chose TS over other methods of working.

We work in an industry where Office Projects is the industry standard for what we do, so we kind of ought to stay the MS route really.
Generally Office 2007/2010 is used for outlook (exchange server 2007), word, excel, powerpoint and projects.

That's basically it.

Deleted member 77746 · 19 Jul 2011 at 14:08

Sounds like Microsoft Office 365 is the way to go right now. That would mean Microsoft will be hosting the exchange boxes and you even can maybe free up some server resources since it will be hosted outside of the business.

Currently do your users RDP into the network for Office/email use? If so Microsoft Office 365 will also cut bandwidth / resources used internally and there will be very little need to RDP into the workplace.

Metalface Mark · 19 Jul 2011 at 14:19

I have just switched from office to open office and for what i use it for (excel, world mainly), its fantastic and well worth a try (since its free).

Banzai_Joe · 19 Jul 2011 at 16:15

Metalface Mark said:
I have just switched from office to open office and for what i use it for (excel, world mainly), its fantastic and well worth a try (since its free).

Fair enough, but for a small-medium business, the risk is quite considerable. We have to be able to open, edit and distribute files that our clients also use. We need quick support should issues arise, opensource whilst it's got enthusiast all over the intnert can't guarantee that....as its free.
We did entertain the idea once, but bottled it for the for reasons above.

Deleted member 77746 · 19 Jul 2011 at 17:25

Branzai, please tell me you have sat down and give Google docs ago, much better thn open Office.