FD Insights Issue 13 | Page 21

wide network of Microsoft-managed datacenters across 22 regions. he most easily recognisable of the individual CSP Programme elements is Office 365, everyone’s favourite cloud-based set of productivity tools, featuring instantly recognisable Microsoft products such as Word, Excel, Powerpoint, Outlook and Skype, as well as lesser known ones such as OneNote, Sway and SharePoint. T A variety of different subscription plans are aimed at different needs and market segments, providing different sets of features at different price points. These include Microsoft’s Personal, Home, University, Business Essentials, Business, Business Premium, ProPlus and Enterprise plans. The benefits of Office 365 are no-doubt well-known by now, but it bears repeating that the latest packages include the new Office 2016 versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more. Naturally with Office 365, customers are never stuck with outdated software because every new upgrade is included with their subscriptions, and Office also works seamlessly across all devices, be they PC, Mac, tablet, or phone. Microsoft Azure is a growing collection of integrated cloud services—analytics, computing, database, mobile, networking, storage, and web—for, according to Microsoft, moving faster, achieving more, and saving money. Along with Amazon Web Services (AWS), Azure is considered a leader in the IaaS field, providing both PaaS and IaaS services and supporting many different programming languages, tools and frameworks, including both Microsoft-specific and third-party software and systems. The integrated tools, pre-built templates and managed services make it easier to build and manage enterprise, mobile, Web and Internet of Things (IoT) apps faster. Users can run Linux containers with Docker integration, build apps with JavaScript, Python, .NET, PHP, Java and Node.js and build back-ends for iOS, Android and Windows devices, whilst Azure also easily integrates with users’ existing IT environments through a large network of secure private connections, hybrid database and storage solutions, and data residency and encryption features. Azure’s pay-as-you-go services can quickly scale up or down to match demand, and the platform runs on a world- Customer relationship management - often called CRM, CRM system, or CRM software - is a business solution that helps companies improve marketing, sales, and service engagement with their customers to drive organisational efficiency, while helping to improve customer experience. Microsoft Dynamics CRM is thus a customer relationship management software package developed by Microsoft which enables companies to market smarter, and sell effectively and productively. It provides social insights, business intelligence, and productivity with One Microsoft solutions. And it delivers Microsoft Dynamics CRM in the cloud, on-premises, or with a hybrid combination. Microsoft Dynamics CRM offers a full range of software with product integration not only for Office 365 and Power BI, but also Yammer, Lync, Skype and many other social conferencing systems that employees, customers, and business partners use. The latest version, Microsoft Dynamics CRM 2016, was officially released on 30 November 2015, with Microsoft touting it as the most comprehensive upgrade ever for Dynamics CRM, and advertising its advancements in intelligence, mobility and service, with significant productivity enhancements. Enterprise Mobility Suite Microsoft Enterprise Mobility Suite provides enterprise grade IT solutions for hybrid identity management, mobile device management, and information protection. single console. Its features include single sign-on to thousands of popular SaaS apps such as Salesforce, Concur, and Workday, as well as the ability to manage employee iOS, Android and Windows mobile devices from a It keeps corporate and personal apps and data separated, encrypts important files and information to ensure only the right people have access, and identifies advanced persistent security threats before they can cause damage to the organisation. It’s also simple to set up, always up to date, and connects to a company’s on-premises datacentre. 19 | www.firstdistribution.co.za