Email, files and shared calendars no longer have to live on a box in the office. We help small businesses move to the cloud properly, and keep things tidy afterwards.
What we look after
Microsoft 365 administration
Licences, users, mailboxes and security settings, set up once and kept in order.
Hosted email
Email moved off old servers or other providers into Exchange Online, keeping your own domain.
SharePoint Online
Shared company files in SharePoint, organised so people can find them and only the right people can open them.
Cloud storage
OneDrive and other cloud storage set up so files sync to every device you use.
Web hosting
A reliable home for your website and domain, with someone who knows where the settings are.
Personal cloud solutions
Cloud storage for directors and home workers, kept separate from company data where it should be.
Office 365 is now Microsoft 365
Microsoft renamed its Office 365 business plans to Microsoft 365 in 2020. The plans combine the desktop Office apps with hosted email, OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams. Which plan you need depends on how many people you have, whether they need the desktop apps, and how much security you want built in.
We look at how your team actually works and recommend the plan that fits. There is no point paying for features nobody uses.
The benefits, and the catches
Working from the cloud means you can use any device, from almost anywhere, and always have the latest version of a document. For a small business that is a real gain.
The marketing rarely mentions the catches, so we will:
- Files that sync are not the same as files that are backed up. If a file is deleted or encrypted by ransomware, the change syncs too.
- Sharing links and permissions spread quickly and need tidying.
- Everything depends on a reliable internet connection.
- Licence costs creep up when leavers are not removed.
None of these are reasons to avoid the cloud. They are reasons to set it up with care.
Moving to the cloud without a bad week
- Look at what you have Where your email, files and calendars live today, and who uses what.
- Plan the move What moves, in what order, and when, so work carries on during the change.
- Move and check Email and files are moved, then checked before anyone relies on them.
- Tidy up and keep it tidy Old accounts closed, permissions set, backups in place, and leavers removed as they go.
Who this is for
- Offices still using an old email server
- Teams sharing files by email attachment
- Businesses paying for Microsoft 365 but using little of it
- People who need to work from home and the office
What we need from you
- A named contact who can make decisions
- Access to your domain and email accounts
- A list of who needs access to what
- A little patience on moving day
Questions we are often asked
Does Microsoft back up our Microsoft 365 data?
Microsoft keeps the service running and holds deleted items for a limited time. That is not the same as a backup you control. A separate backup protects you against accidental deletion, a bad leaver or ransomware.
Can we keep our email address?
Yes. Your domain moves with you, so addresses stay the same.
Do we still need a server in the office?
Many small offices no longer do. Some still benefit from one, for example for specialist software. We will tell you which applies to you.
What happens if the internet goes down?
Files that are synced to your PC stay available offline, and changes catch up when the connection returns.
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