Enabling the future of work with Microsoft 365

Enabling the future of work with Microsoft 365

OverviewBreak with tradition and stop the monotony by building the future of work — a vibrant digital workplace, supported by services and solutions that enhance productivity, enable frictionless secure collaboration and improve management, no matter the location of end users and IT staff.

Many organizations have already gone at least partially remote.1 That’s a boost for flexibility, but a productivity and security risk if the right platform isn’t present. Shadow IT shows the challenge: Per 1Password, 63% of U.S. office workers have created accounts IT doesn’t know about.2

In this landscape, Microsoft 365 (M365) is an ideal platform for the future of work. Encompassing a comprehensive set of services including Microsoft Teams and Windows Hello, M365 provides enterprise-grade security and end user empowerment.

Softchoice has guided North American businesses for 30+ years. As a Global Microsoft Partner, we know a thing or two — well, six things — about creating a future-focused work experience. Consider these six critical success pillars when building the future of work for your organization.

1 globalworkplaceanalytics.com/work-at-home-after-covid-19-our-forecast

2 A GU IDE TO THE FUTURE OF WORK

The particular tools and processes that characterize traditional office environments — think email and conference room meetings — don’t necessarily translate to the future of work. M365 is built for this post-email world, through its combination of collaboration, security, and Windows into one comprehensive platform for safe, productive work.

M365 as the right platform

CollaborationHold meetings from anywhere using Teams, securely manage and access files across devices with OneDrive, and work together in Office 365 — all while leveraging SharePoint as the scalable, secure content repository connecting everything.

SecurityProtect everyone with M365’s industry-leading capabilities for access control and endpoint management/protection. For example, Azure AD ensures secure access to on-premises and cloud apps, including third-party ones, via convenient single sign-on.


WindowsIn M365, Windows becomes easier to deploy. Its wizard can guide you through in-place upgrades, or ones via Autopilot, Intune and Endpoint Configuration Manager.

Softchoice Secure Access for Remote Work solutions enable optimal end user collaboration and productivity through proper identity management. We perform hundreds of modern workplace deployments each year and apply that knowledge when enhancing customer M365 environments.

It doesn’t stop there. Our experience shows that device selection materially impacts end-user success, security, and productivity in M365.

Get the best device experience with M365


Many device types exist in the future of work, with significant implications for balancing security and productivity. Fortunately, M365 supports secure device and persona management, which Softchoice can enhance with our Modern Device Deployment and Management approach.

Windows AutopilotWindows Autopilot provides original equipment manufacturer-optimized Windows for initial deployments, sparing IT the complexity of custom image and drivers and simplifying changes to apps, policies and settings. Devices may auto-join AD/Azure AD or auto-enroll in mobile device management, too.

Windows Virtual DesktopWVD delivers published apps and desktops — for Windows 10, 7 and Server — to user-chosen native and web-based clients. It supports virtualized M365 apps for multi-user scenarios and lives in Azure, requiring no additional gateway servers.

Microsoft Surface Surface has unique advantages within M365 — its preboot protections and touch support in virtual environments are exclusive to its device family.

Softchoice Remote Access solutions leverage proper persona management to find the right device for each role, while facilitating a frictionless security experience. From hands-off device deployment to cloud device management, our combination of client hardware procurement and Professional and Managed services delivers secure productivity to your end users.

Now, it’s time to ensure teams can make the most of M365.

If the end-user experience doesn’t strike a balance between enabling productivity and enforcing security, shadow IT will grow: From January to March 2020, Awake tracked a substantial rise in traffic to file sharing sites, with 40% of it going to unapproved domains.

Better-aligned productivity and security is possible with M365’s Adoption and Change Management (ACM) service. ACM is a useful antidote to shadow IT, as it enables accelerated adoption through change and project management. End users get an integrated experience that minimizes friction and delays when adopting M365, lowering the likelihood of them seeking out risky alternatives.

Enable smoother adoption of M365

3 awakesecurity.com/blog/covid-19-security-impact-rise-of-shadow-it/


Softchoice takes a 4-step approach to ACM, the end result of which is secure yet straightforward access for your organization’s end Users:

Discover: We evaluate what you specifically need to drive effective ACM.

Design: Our team will design a practice that connects communications processes, organization-wide awareness and training to your success criteria.

Implement: Softchoice deploys the entire ACM design.

Sustain: We continuously measure adoption success and make adjustments alongside future of work insights.

Overall, Softchoice will direct your entire Adoption and Change Management journey and also assist in the implementation of Teams,Windows Virtual Desktop and other services that keep your employees connected.

Securing the digital workplace requires mitigating numerous risks, including those from misconfigured security, mysterious devices and strange networks. In a 2020 IDC survey of CISOs, respondents cited misconfigurations as the top contributor to data breaches.4 The best response is a well-implemented zero-trust security model, which trusts no one by default and helps reduce the risk of unauthorized access.

In M365, identity and access management is multifaceted, supported by services such as:

Microsoft Threat Protection: Secures endpoints, email, collaboration tools and cloud apps, while protecting identities via Azure ATP.

Microsoft Authenticator: Enables one-click multi-factor authentication in supported mobile applications.

Windows Hello: Replace complicated, hard-to-remember passwords with a FIDO2 Certified biometric login or PIN.5

Microsoft Intelligent Security Association: Integrate other vendor solutions with M365 components such as Endpoint Manager and the Graph Security API.

Softchoice Secure Access helps you unlock M365’s security power. Our approach helps you to proactively protect the connections between people, data and devices in your environment.

Strengthen M365 security

4 securityboulevard.com/2020/06/misconfigurations-poorly-managed-access-help-drive-data-breach-risks/

5 techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-it-pro-blog/windows-hello-fido2-certification-gets-you-closer-to/ba-p/534592


Rationalize M365 costs


For many organizations, going fully or even mostly remote was not on their radar when they originally acquired their current business technologies, resulting in tons of costly shelfware. More than one-third of all software licensing is wasted.6

Rationalizing these software costs is particularly important in the future of work, due to the growth of subscription charges and complex licensing. The rationalization process starts with knowing what on-premise and cloud solutions exist, and if they have viable, cost-effective replacements in the form of bundles, integrations and/or M365 equivalents.For example, an organization heavily invested in the Citrix ecosystem could use Citrix on WVD to preserve that on-prem investment while capitalizing on the multi-session capabilities of Windows 10.7

6 www.aberdeen.com/techpro-essentials/why-unused-software-is-costing-your-business/

7 www.citrix.com/global-partners/microsoft/windows-virtual-desktop.html

Meanwhile, Office 365 ATP can replace existing subscriptions or legacy security solutions, consolidating threat defense into one M365 subscription.

With M365, rationalization doesn’t have to entail a rip-and-replace. The variety of service bundles and integrations in M365 allows for extensive flexibility when rationalizing costs. Moreover, Softchoice can move you toward sustainable and manageable costs. Our Software Rationalization offerings help you more efficiently use software assets and licenses, while our Enterprise Lifecycle Management keeps you ahead of licensing issues and compliance risks.

Optimize M365 operationsIt’s not just end users. IT teams are increasingly remote, too, and in need of scalable, efficient channels through which to continue delivering support and maintaining operational continuity. Softchoices Managed Collaboration and Managed Workspace services for M365 provide the right framework for doing so.

Managed CollaborationThe Office 365 productivity suite’s apps are conveniently grouped in M365 and can be managed at scale to ensure consistent access for users. Teams can also serve as an internet phone system for additional support and management, augmented by real-time video, HD audio and messaging. In this domain, Softchoice Managed Collaboration provides not only end user management in Teams, but also Teams Enterprise Voice management for IT staff.

Managed WorkspacesIn addition to the previously discussed Windows Virtual Desktop and Autopilot, M365 encompasses Intune for mobile device management, plus Enterprise Mobility and Security for secure endpoint management of all devices. It also streamlines Windows deployment, as described earlier.

Put our 30+ years of experience to work for your business today. One solution and pillar at a time, the Softchoice team will guide you toward the future of work, along a path customized for your organization’s most important objectives. Book a consultation with us today.


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Enabling the future of work with Microsoft 365