Microsoft 365 Archives - Bellwether Technology

Teams Premium vs. Microsoft Copilot in Teams: Do You Need Both?

Posted on November 8, 2024 by Merrick Sloss

Microsoft Teams has become essential for business communication, but as your organization’s needs grow, you might wonder: How can Teams work even better for us? That’s where Teams Premium and Microsoft Copilot come in. Each of these tools offers different ways to improve how you work, but deciding which one fits your needs best (or if you need both) can be challenging. Let’s look at what each can offer and see which might be the right choice for your team. Teams Premium for Secure, Streamlined Meetings for Organizations For companies that rely on Teams for high-priority meetings—like executive discussions, client […]

10 Questions to Coordinate Hardware Updates with Your Transition to Windows 11

Posted on August 7, 2024 by Merrick Sloss

With Windows 10 End of Life (EOL) approaching on October 14, 2025, it pays to be proactive. While you might be focused on software upgrades, there are also important questions about hardware refreshes that often get overlooked. Updating your operating systems is just one piece of the puzzle; updating your hardware is essential to protect your business and boost performance. When Windows 10 reaches EOL, Microsoft will stop providing updates and security patches, leaving your systems exposed to cyber threats and compliance issues. This means you need to replace devices that can’t run Windows 11. However, this necessity also presents […]

The Business Case for Upgrading to Microsoft 365 Business Premium

Posted on June 17, 2024 by Merrick Sloss

Have you been hesitant to upgrade your organization’s Microsoft 365 subscriptions from Standard to Premium because you’re not sure it’s worth the extra cost? It’s understandable to be cautious about spending more. However, it might be time to reevaluate the long-term value and return on investment (ROI) that the Premium subscription offers, especially in terms of security. Understanding the Difference Between Standard and Premium Microsoft 365 Business Premium includes advanced security features designed to counter modern cyber threats. In contrast, the Standard subscription offers only basic protection, which may not be enough against today’s sophisticated cyberattacks. Upgrading to Premium better […]

Start Planning Now for Windows 10 End of Support

Posted on May 30, 2024 by Merrick Sloss

Microsoft has announced that Windows 10 will reach its End of Life (EOL) in October 2025. EOL refers to the date when Microsoft officially ends support for the operating system (OS), including software updates, security patches, and technical assistance. After the EOL (or end of support) date, Windows 10 systems will no longer receive these vital updates and services. The implications of Windows 10 EOL are significant for businesses still running the operating system. Without continued support, Windows 10 will become increasingly vulnerable to security threats as new weaknesses are discovered. Additionally, businesses may encounter compatibility issues with newer software […]

Visualize Microsoft Copilot in Action: Practical Applications for Your Team

Posted on May 16, 2024 by Merrick Sloss

Understanding that Microsoft Copilot can make work faster and more efficient is valuable, but it’s the practical, real-world applications that truly demonstrate its usefulness. The application of this advanced AI within your team’s daily tasks is where the abstract concept of AI meets the concrete reality of improved workflows and productivity. Microsoft’s familiar tools—Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint—might be commonplace across desks, but Copilot’s integration with these applications shows up differently depending on the user’s role. This article offers a glimpse into how your team can harness Copilot in ways that matter most to their specific duties. We’re sharing these […]

Crafting Prompts for Microsoft 365 Copilot

Posted on April 11, 2024 by Merrick Sloss

Have you ever wished for an assistant who understands your needs perfectly and helps with your daily tasks? That’s exactly what you get with Copilot for Microsoft 365, the AI-powered partner integrated right into your Microsoft environment. It’s designed to understand and respond to your instructions as naturally as you’d talk to a person. To make the most out of Copilot, there are a few simple strategies you can learn to engage with it. Prompt engineering is the term that has been coined to describe the process of interacting with AI tools such as Copilot. It refers to the thoughtful […]

Get Started with Microsoft Copilot

Posted on February 22, 2024 by Paul Westervelt

Microsoft has launched a family of new products that carry the name Copilot. Copilot is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology that’s built into the Microsoft environment, and it’s poised to change the way people work. Whether or not you’ve already been working with AI tools, Copilot deserves exploration because of its integration with your data in SharePoint and OneDrive, and with applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Copilot is built on a type of AI called Large Language Model (LLM), a category of generative AI. LLM’s are a type of technology that utilizes a vast amount of text to understand […]

Leveraging Microsoft’s Azure Cloud: 5 Essential Benefits for Businesses

Posted on December 19, 2023 by Paul Westervelt

When you’re faced with the decision to replace your onsite servers or go to Microsoft’s Azure cloud, you will no doubt want to compare each option dollars to dollars. However, moving your servers from your physical space to Azure isn’t just a matter of relocating your data and programs to a different place. You actually gain a lot of benefits because of what you can do when your resources are in the cloud and that’s value that you can’t measure apples to apples. What’s the Azure cloud? Azure is Microsoft’s cloud computing platform. In addition to offering secure and reliable […]

Microsoft 365 Business Premium’s Security Advantage

Posted on November 2, 2023 by Merrick Sloss

If you’ve ever been confused by Microsoft 365 licensing, you’re not alone. Microsoft offers their applications in many different bundles that are designed to address various business needs from the basic to enterprise level. While it can be difficult to decipher exactly what is included in every subscription, the good news is that there’s most likely one that’s just right for you. You just have to figure out which one. Subscriptions versus Licenses Gone are the days when Microsoft delivered your version of office apps via a box with a CD. Everything is now offered on a monthly or annual […]

Take Communication and Collaboration to the Next Level with Microsoft Teams Phones

Posted on September 28, 2023 by Merrick Sloss

Microsoft Teams has become the favorite collaboration platform for organizations who appreciate having the apps they use every day all in one workspace. Did you know that it’s now possible to pull all your phone communications into Teams too? Moving to Teams Phones can solve many problems that you’re having with your phone system right now. It’s time for an upgrade if you have poor call quality and dropped calls; high maintenance costs and concerns about security; or the system is just too inflexible and takes too much time to manage. Razorline, a local business communications provider, installs Teams Phones […]