Microsoft Windows and Office 365 are the cornerstones of productivity in thousands of U.S. organizations. Windows has been the dominant desktop operating systems for many years, while Office 365 is the most popular suite of applications for everything from managing expenses via Excel to editing corporate copy in Word.
Microsoft 365: The changes to Windows and Office
It’s not surprising that these two office staples were combined into a new cloud subscription package, Microsoft 365. One Microsoft vice president called it “a fundamental shift” in the way the company views its software strategy.
Microsoft 365’s value lies in the way it consolidates management of many essential business services under one umbrella. This arrangement has clear benefits for security (e.g. easier updating across devices) as well as collaboration (a unified set application across the organization).
Its new technical design and redesigned business model highlight some of the challenges associated with administering older versions of Windows 10 and Office 365. Inexperienced IT departments may find it difficult to manage these platforms due to their complexity and the numerous cyberattacks they are vulnerable to. Here are some things to be aware of:
1. A proper data recovery strategy is not in place
Windows-based systems were vulnerable to malware like WannaCry ransomware, which spread around the globe in May 2017. Although the threat was quickly contained and a patch was issued by Microsoft, the incident highlighted a serious risk to many Office 365 implementations: not having any recourse in case essential data becomes unavailable.
Barracuda Networks found that two-thirds (63%) of Office 365 administrators use Recycle Bin to retrieve data. This is not a good idea. Data from the Recycle Bin cannot be recovered if it is accidentally deleted. It also expires after a certain time. This is only applicable to situations where you need to recover data from applications like OneDrive, SharePoint, and Exchange.
Many administrators also fail to test data recovery mechanisms on an ongoing basis. However, many admins need to support recovery at multiple locations. This is partly why Microsoft 365 has a unified management architecture. Administrators need a consistent and reliable strategy to make critical data available to multiple devices, services, and branch offices.
2. It is difficult to defend against advanced cyberattacks
Cybercriminals are attracted to Microsoft’s platforms because of their popularity. Skyhigh Networks researchers discovered a string of brute force attacks on enterprise Office 365 accounts in addition to the WannaCry attack we mentioned earlier, which targeted Windows PCs.
This incident involved multiple attempts to gain access to sensitive information held in one company’s Office 365 implementation.
The attack was finally detected and contained in the shortest time possible. It was nevertheless representative of the wide range of security challenges, e.g. access control issues, advanced persistent threat, etc. – Office 365. Microsoft 365 is known for its “built in, intelligent security” capabilities that protect corporate information from being stolen.
3. It takes a long time for essential data to be migrated
Office 365 is a well-known Microsoft product, but it was only able to surpass traditionally licensed Office in terms of revenue in mid 2017. It is easy to understand why on-premises Office continues to be so popular. This is because it allows for a high degree control for enterprises.
The transition from Office 365 to this form of Office can be difficult. First, it is important to consider the quality of the organization’s network connection. In some cases, it may take longer than expected.
There are also potential problems with authentication and identity management. Azure Active Directory, for example, is not the same as the older Active Directory.
Learn Office 365 from New Horizons Computer Learning Centers to Get a Better Knowledge
These are just a few of the many challenges you will face. To overcome them, you need to be well-trained in Microsoft platforms and CompTIA Security+ certifications. These credentials can be obtained at your nearest New Horizons. Also, make sure to check out our webinars page for tips on finding a job in today’s market.
Three Common Office 365 Management Problems that an IT Certification Can Help You Solve
