IT Support and Managed Services frequently asked questions (FAQ) – Palmetto Technology Group

It depends on what you're trying to do and what plan you have. Some plans include desktop versions of the Office Suite, which do not require an internet connection to use. Some plans only include web app versions of these programs. And some programs are only available as web apps. If your company doesn't have reliable access to the internet, Office 365 may not be right for you. 

Yes, you can mix and match between plans. If you have one employee who needs just email and another employee who needs the whole suite – you can purchase the plan needed for each employee. You can even mix and match between Microsoft 365 and Office 365. 

In fact, we recommend monitoring your employees' app usage. If you have some employees who aren't using everything in their plan, you may be able to drop them to a lower plan with no loss of productivity. 

Microsoft stores your Office 365 data in secure data centers all over the world. To learn more about where your data is stored, check the Microsoft Trust Center. 

Microsoft doesn't necessarily all of your data for all time, though - that is set by your company's retention policies. It’s important to understand the ins and outs of things like “Deleted Items” in Outlook or Recycle Bin in SharePoint – but you don’t have to worry about managing day-to-day backups.

Yes, Microsoft has extensive security measures in place to protect your data. You can read more about these in the Microsoft Trust Center. However, a large part of the security of your Office 365 environment is your responsibility.

In most cases, yes. Since there is no “standard” Android build this can get a bit tricky – but most mainstream (and relatively new) Android phones should work just fine! With Office 365, you can use Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Skype for Business, OneDrive, Skype for Business, and OneNote.

Absolutely! You can access your Office 365 account from the browser on your phone or through the native mobile apps. We're big fans of the Outlook for iOS app! There are even some apps made specifically for mobile - like Office Lens (free for everyone, but will integrate with your Office 365 programs). 

Absolutely! For Office 365 Business Premium and E3 (or higher), you also get the install bits for the desktop software.

Yes, you can change plans at any time. In fact, we recommend monitoring your employees' app usage. If you have some employees who aren't using everything in their plan, you may be able to drop them to a lower plan with no loss of productivity. If you downgrade plans, be sure you're aware of what functionality you'll lose before you make the switch to avoid losing data or productivity. 

Office 365 can meet most compliance requirements, including HIPAA and HITECH, though you may need to use some add-ons. You can learn more about how Office 365 meets compliance requirements here.