Microsoft Office 365 is Microsoft's new and popular way to license the Office products for online and desktop use. It also includes hosted Exchange for email, SharePoint, OneDrive for shared hard disk files, and the communications package Lync. The cloud based platform means Microsoft takes care of the system administration to update versions, apply security patches, monitor usage, ensure uptime and connectivity, and address hardware problems.
If you are still hosting your own Exchange Server in your facility, it's time to consider outsourcing so Microsoft can worry about the versions, patches, hardware failures, and other maintenance chores. Microsoft will also host it in a real data center with reliable power sources, battery backups, multiple internet trunk lines, and enterprise quality physical security.
If you're already outsourcing your email/Exchange hosting, Office365 is a wonderful alternative and lets Microsoft deal with the challenges of keeping email up and running 24/7/365.
If you select an option that includes the Windows copies of Office, you can install desktop copies of Microsoft Access, Excel, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher, Word, Lync, and InfoPath. This lets you have both the online versions of Office 2013 and the traditional non-Internet dependent local copy.
There are many options based on your situation:
We are also pleased to extend Microsoft's trial offer for their Dynamics CRM system. Click on these links for free 30 day trial offers (pricing below assumes a one year commitment):
Version | Free Trial | Description | Detail Link |
Office 365 Enterprise E3 |
Free Trial (25 licenses) |
E3 price is regularly $20/user/month and includes the Office desktop versions. Depending on options, prices range from $4 to $22 per user/month. (Includes Microsoft Access) | Details |
Office 365 Small Business Premium |
Free Trial (10 licenses) |
Small Business options are limited to 25 users in the organization. Premium price is $12.50/user/month, the basic without desktop copies is $5 a month. The small business plan does not include Microsoft Access which is only available in the Enterprise plans. | Details |
Office Pro Plus |
Free Trial (25 licenses) |
This is the traditional Office on the desktop without the online services. Rather than buying the licenses upfront, Microsoft now offers the ability to pay for it on a monthly basis for $12 and install it on up to 5 machines. (Includes Microsoft Access) | Details |
Microsoft Dynamics CRM |
Free Trial (25 licenses) |
Microsoft's Customer Relationship Management system and competitor to Salesforce.com | Details |
Good luck and let us know about your experiences using Office 365.
Strategic Overview
Microsoft Access within an Organization's Database Strategy
How many simultaneous Microsoft Access users?
Blaming Microsoft Access instead of the Developer
Microsoft Access Version Feature Differences
Microsoft Access Versions, Service Packs and Updates
Microsoft Office 365 Access Update Version Releases
Top 14 Features Added with MS Access 2007
Taking Over Legacy MS Access Databases
Winner of Every Best Access Add-in Award
Set AutoNumber Starting Number Other than 1
Avoid Unnecessary or Duplicate Indexes
Copy Command Button and Keep Picture
Module VBA to Forms and Controls
Subform Reference to Control Rather than Field
Suppress Page Headers and Footers on the First Page of Your Report
Annual Monthly Crosstab Columns
Add Buttons to the Quick Access Toolbar
Collapse the Office Ribbon for more space
Avoid Exits in the Body of a Procedure
Send Emails with DoCmd.SendObject
Error Handling and Debugging Techniques
Error Number and Description Reference
Remote Desktop Connection Setup
Terminal Services and RemoteApp Deployment
Missing Package & Deployment Wizard
Remove 'Save to SharePoint Site' Prompt from an Access Database
Class Not Registered Run-time Error -2147221164
Microsoft Access to SQL Server Upsizing Center
When and How to Upsize Access to SQL Server
SQL Server Express Versions and Downloads
Deploying MS Access Linked to SQL Azure
SQL Server Azure Usage and DTU Limits