Empower your team and safeguard your business with Microsoft 365 Business

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Built for small to medium sized businesses with up to as many as 300 employees and available worldwide today, Microsoft 365 Business includes the Office 365 suite of productivity and collaboration tools, in addition to device management and security tools to protect company information across Windows 10 PCs, mobile devices, and apps. This integrated solution is designed to simplify IT for small and medium sized businesses.

Also, the general availability of three new business apps—Microsoft Connections, Microsoft Listings, and Microsoft Invoicing—which join Microsoft Bookings, Outlook Customer Manager, and MileIQ to create a suite of capabilities that help small businesses grow and thrive. These apps are now available in Microsoft 365 Business and Office 365 Business Premium for customers in the U.S., U.K., and Canada.

Laslty, Microsoft StaffHub, an app to help Firstline Workers manage their workday, is now included in Microsoft 365 Business and Office 365 Business Premium subscriptions.

Become a modern workplace

Today’s modern, global workplace is moving in a new direction, which brings with it major opportunities and challenges for all businesses. Businesses have to meet the needs of a five-generation workforce, deal with an increasingly complex cyber-threat setting, and innovate quick enough to meet evolving customer expectations.

All the while, small and medium sized customers want solutions that are easy to manage and maintain. Often times, small business owners find technology options to be complex and costly, leading many to settle with a patchwork of services or opt out of investments altogether. These approaches compromise business productivity and open the door for security vulnerabilities, which could be a reason why 43 percent of all cyber-attacks last year were targeted at companies with fewer than 100 employees.

Safeguard your business

Microsoft 365 Business is made to provide the productivity tools and security services businesses need in a single, simple-to-manage product. It safeguards company information, extending security across users, apps, and devices. It ensures that PCs are up to date, helping to prevent vulnerabilities in security that cyber-thieves often exploit. In addition, it provides protection for company information across devices, with the capability to delete company data from lost or stolen devices.

Empower your people

Microsoft 365 Business delivers productivity and collaboration tools that businesses need in order to help their employees be the most productive that they can possibly be. It includes the suite of Office 365 productivity and collaboration apps, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as Outlook for email services, SharePoint and OneDrive for sharing files with customers, co-workers, and suppliers, and Microsoft Teams for chat-based teamwork and collaboration.

Simplify your IT management

Microsoft 365 Business is designed to make the management of technology for businesses and their IT partners simpler and less costly. It offers simple setup and management, so business owners and their teams can dedicate higher amounts of their time and energy toward building their businesses as opposed to constantly worrying about logistics. You can set up new employees, configure device security policies, and manage user identity and access, as well as ensure all your people are on the most up-to-date versions of Windows 10 and Office, all from a single console. On top of all of these points, the single per-user, per-month subscription streamlines costs and simplifies management.

Acquire customers and nurture business growth with three new apps

Three new apps are also available with the purpose of helping small businesses gain new customers, increase revenue, and accelerate billing and receivables.

These new business apps can all be managed centrally from the Business center. They build on top of three apps from Office 365 that are already available:

Give Firstline Workers the tools they need to do their best work with StaffHub

The global workforce in comprised mostly of Firstline Workers; they are the heart and soul of many small and medium sized businesses. StaffHub is an app that is purpose-built to help Firstline Workers manage their workday, allowing business owners and employees to easily create and manage schedules, assign and complete tasks, and communicate with each other.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

All workers welcome with Microsoft 365

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]A new vision for the empowerment of Firstline Workers in the digital age was unveiled with the introduction of Microsoft 365 F1 - a new offering that bundles Office 365, Windows 10, and Enterprise Mobility + Security in order to provide an all-in-one intelligent solution to empower all workers.

The modern workplace requires companies to meet new employee expectations, connect a more distributed workforce, and provide the tools that allow all employees to create, innovate, and work together to solve customer and business problems. A truly modern workplace brings out the best in the ingenuity of their employees, creates a culture that consists of innovation and action, and empowers all workers from the executive team  all the way to the Firstline Workforce.

Firstline Workers make up most of our global workforce. Totaling around two billion people around the world, they are the people behind the counter, on the phone, in the clinics, on the shop floor, and in the field. Often times they are the first to engage a business's customers, the first to represent a company’s brand, and the first to see products and services in actual action and practice. They comprise the backbone of many of the globe’s largest industries, and without them, the goals and ambitions of many organizations could not be met.

There is a real chance for technology to provide Firstline Workers with a more intuitive, immersive, and empowering experience. There is a real opportunity for Firstline Workforce to tap into their fullest potential with a variety of tools, spanning from Microsoft 365 and Dynamics 365 to Microsoft IoT, Microsoft AI, and Microsoft HoloLens and the Windows Mixed Reality ecosystem.

Microsoft 365 F1 represents a very important step towards a vision of including the Firstline Workforce in digital transformation by empowering every worker with technology.

Transforming the Experience of the Firstline Workforce

Microsoft 365 F1 provides the tools that enable every worker to push their ideas into action. It fosters culture and community, with Skype Meeting Broadcast for interactive townhall meetings and Yammer to help employees find and share best practices across the company.

Microsoft 365 F1 makes it simple to train and upskill employees, with Microsoft Stream to share dynamic, role-based content and video, and SharePoint to easily distribute onboarding and training materials all while managing institutional knowledge in one secure place.

It supports firstline productivity and digitizes business processes, with Microsoft StaffHub, a purpose-built app for Firstline Workers to manage their workday and Microsoft PowerApps and Flow to automate everyday activities. Today, we’re announcing new capabilities coming to StaffHub, including the ability for employees to clock in/out and track tasks. We are also making it easier for employees to stay connected in StaffHub, by integrating messaging with Microsoft Teams, the hub for teamwork, and highlighting corporate announcements made in Yammer. Finally, we’re enabling customers to connect StaffHub to workforce management systems and other tools with the availability of general APIs.

Microsoft 365 F1 streamlines IT management, minimizes cost, and extends security to all employees and endpoints. Azure Active Directory provides management of employee identity and access; Microsoft Intune helps secure devices; and new features in Windows 10 simplify the management of Firstline Workers’ experiences, supporting locked down single purpose devices with Windows Assigned Access and automated deployment with Windows AutoPilot.

Finally, we recognize the importance of providing Firstline Workers streamlined and secure devices that minimize total cost of ownership. Today, we’re announcing new commercial devices with Windows 10 S from our OEM partners HP, Lenovo, and Acer. Starting as low as $275, these devices benefit from cloud-based identity and management and are ideal for firstline environments.

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Attend an Immerision Workshop to explore how Microsoft products can help you change the way you do business

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Microsoft 365 Immersion Experience Workshop

The Microsoft 365 Immersion Experience offers an interactive environment designed to be engaging, informative, and fun. You will test-drive best-in-class technologies -- Microsoft Office 365, SharePoint, Skype for Business, Teams, Flow, Delve and more.
You'll go beyond the familiar MS Office suite and explore solutions to your business challenges. You will get expert advice on using your current technology to strengthen productivity.
The workshop is led by a Microsoft-Certified Facilitator and customized to let attendees explore at their own pace and focus on first-hand experience with tools that address their business needs.
INTERACTIVE LEARNING:

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Complete the form to schedule a workshop with a trained facilitator.

*All "in YOUR office" experiences are for 6-10 executives and funded by Microsoft to include breakfast or lunch for your team.

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WTG Announces its Strategic Partnership with Microsoft’s Top Provider

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WTG Announces its Strategic Partnership with Microsoft’s Top Provider

WTG Joins Forces with Managed Solution to Help Agent and VAR Partners Fully Embrace Managed Services

 

Malibu, CA, September 26, 2017 – WTG, a Connectivity Services Distributor and one of the top Master Agents in the U.S., announced today it has entered a strategic partnership with Managed Solution. Managed Solution is recognized as one of the Top 1% Cloud Solution Providers worldwide by Microsoft. In Microsoft's new One Commercial Partner Program, Managed Solution is an award-winning partner that differentiates themselves with their customized Microsoft solutions and automated portal experience. In 2016, WTG was one of only two Masters added to Microsoft’s Cloud Solution Provider program.
As one of Microsoft's top partners, Managed Solution is known throughout the industry as a partner friendly, full service Microsoft solution provider with expertise in Office 365, Enterprise Mobility & Security, Windows 10 Enterprise, Azure, Dynamics 365 and the new flagship Microsoft 365.
"We are seeing tremendous interest in Office 365, Azure and cloud technologies in general" said Vince Bradley, WTG, CEO. "Aligning with Managed Solution, who is well known for amazing IT services, automation, and portal excellence, allows us to build stronger relationships with our Agents and VAR Partners and provide them with the best cloud solutions support available to grow and develop their businesses."
In addition, Managed Solution’s automation offers both sales and service benefits to WTG’s Agent Partners making this a huge differentiator in the channel.
Sean Ferrel, Managed Solution, Chairman/Founder, stated, "Our partnership with WTG opens the door for agents to quote and sell Office 365 on-demand to customers through our portal and integrate professional and managed services to exceed customers’ expectations at every stage of their business cycle."
Managed Solution maintains over 100,000+ assets for hundreds of businesses.

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A commitment to security and transparency at Microsoft Inspire 2017

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A commitment to security and transparency at Microsoft Inspire 2017

As written on blogs.microsoft.com
Microsoft Inspire (formerly Worldwide Partner Conference) gathered 16,000 attendees from around the world last week in Washington DC. At the event, Microsoft reaffirmed its commitment to its partners and its mission to “empower people to be more productive”. To kick off an exciting week, CEO Satya Nadella made five major announcements during the first vision keynote, including the introduction of Microsoft 365.

Commitment to security and transparency

During the vision keynote on day two, President and Chief Legal Officer Brad Smith provided updates and affirmation of Microsoft’s commitment to security and privacy. Smith promised dedication to security, saying, “Technology for technology’s sake isn’t particularly valuable. Applying technology towards solving human problems is where you unlock the value”. Smith presented a four-part integrated approach to confront ever-evolving cybersecurity threats: Platform, Intelligence, Partners, and Policies. With the cloud being bigger than ever before, Smith says every business has a digital opportunity. Microsoft has committed “new energy, new focus, new resources” to responding to security threats faster and better than ever before. These cloud principles and improved security features in Microsoft 365 will give partners better end to end security management. Better security and transparency help Microsoft and its partners build trust, and “move technology forward without leaving people behind”.

Security focused product announcements

Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 is a new solution that combines software, management, and security options into a single subscription. Partners can choose from two solutions, Microsoft 365 Enterprise and Microsoft 365 Business. Both options provide productivity and security capabilities and a cohesive experience across applications and devices, while simplifying delivery and management for IT.
GDPR
Partners can play a vital role in General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR, by assessing customers’ readiness and helping them adapt to it.
Security Partner Playbook
Help your customers protect against breaches, detect breaches, and respond to breaches with a comprehensive security solution. This playbook focuses coverage on Microsoft products and services that play a critical role in securing this environment. Download the playbook here.
Microsoft Introduces the New Secure Productive Enterprise Offer
Microsoft recently announced its new hero offer called Secure Productive Enterprise (SPE). SPE provides the latest technology across Windows, Office 365, and Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS). Frankly, it couldn’t come at a better time as businesses and consumers are increasingly aware of cybersecurity concerns. Here’s what partners can expect in terms of security capabilities from the innovative Microsoft stack and how they can leverage those capabilities to serve customers.

Conclusion

Inspire was surely an inspiring week for the partners who attended. With continued advances in the cloud and a better way for partners to build a modern, cohesive, and secure work environment with Microsoft 365, it should also be an exciting year.

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Managed Solution is in the top 1% of Microsoft Cloud Service Providers worldwide, and a premier partner aligned with Microsoft’s mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.

Download our Cloud Comparison Calculator to receive access to the latest in cloud pricing aggregation, your all up cost of on premises vs. a cloud hosted solution

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Microsoft® Inspire Recap

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Last week, the Managed Solution team joined thousands of other Microsoft partners for Inspire – Microsoft’s annual world partner conference in Washington D.C. As a premier partner, Managed Solution is in the top 1% of Microsoft Cloud Service Providers worldwide and fully aligned with Microsoft’s mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more.
It is the one time of year when Microsoft invites partners from around the world to celebrate this past year’s successes, unveil changes with insights, and offer best practices with advice for how to empower customers and enhance end user experience in a digital world.
The week is composed of a daily keynote by a Microsoft executive, followed by hundreds of learning sessions. Several topics are discussed, such as: How do you bring out critical thinking and creativity in the workplace? How do we create dynamic teams that come together to service a customer in different ways?
Major announcements at Microsoft Inspire answered these questions with the launch of Microsoft 365 and enhanced resources to help customers address the new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR).

Microsoft 365

As a complete, secure, and intelligent solution to empower employees, Microsoft 365 now rolls together Office 365, Windows 10, and Enterprise Mobility + Security into a single secure package to help end users be more productive while increasing protection. 
With more than 100 million commercial monthly active users of Office 365, and more than 500 million Windows 10 devices in use, Microsoft is in a unique position to empower employees to be creative and work together, securely.  To address the commercial needs from the largest enterprise to the smallest business, Microsoft 365 Enterprise and Microsoft 365 Business were introduced.

General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)

Meeting the requirements of the European Union’s landmark General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) by May 25, 2018 is a pressing topic for many organizations worldwide. In Microsoft’s effort to provide customers with helpful GDPR compliance resources, they have been hosting webinars and discussions around how the Microsoft Cloud, including Office 365, Dynamics 365, Azure, and Azure data services, Enterprise Mobility + Security, and Windows 10 can help customers on their GDPR compliance journey. They have backed up their commitments through their contracts and by sharing their experience, as well as other partners’ experiences, with their audiences along the way.
Satya Nadella, CEO of Microsoft, discussed the advent of the intelligent cloud and intelligent edge. It is his belief that soon everything will become multi-device and AI will be intrinsic in every application built. Nadella spoke about the four main goals of digital transformation: the empowerment of employees, the engagement of customers, the optimization of operations, and the transformation of products.
“We’ve just skimmed the surface of how much support – sales tools, product training, case studies, sales teams, etc. – Microsoft has created to help its partners succeed. Today, MSPs around the globe are struggling with some of the same issues that we do. Addressing those issues is precisely why SNAP & Stratogator have such a bright future, not just in the U.S.” - Susan Kuruvilla, CEO, Managed Solution

Two New Tools to Optimize Cloud Spend & Operational Efficiency

With Microsoft's “all-in” strategy to help customers move to the cloud, the Microsoft Inspire conference was the perfect opportunity for Managed Solution to launch two new tools that empower MSPs to govern their cloud adoption, as we move towards digital transformation, and ensure their customers are receiving the best price for these cloud instances. Chairman and Founder of Managed Solution, Sean Ferrel, launched and demoed these tools at Booth #103 on the exhibit floor at the conference.
1. SNAP: Cloud Service Marketplace that evolves with the market and offers new services, bundles, and SKUs for your cloud sales organization. Customize and offer the selection of cloud services that your team needs to drive customer sales.
2. StratoGator/AzureGator: Cloud Service Brokerage Platform where aggregation of top tier cloud providers in the Infrastructure as a Service (IAAS) space will be compared against one another based on three pillars: cost, management, and reporting. Providing a user friendly centralized marketplace for Channel Partners allowing them to reduce overhead by 30-40%.
Ferrel also shared how these tools provide the customization MSPs need to support and sell to their customers both within and outside the cloud. These tools finally give the managed services provider the control they need and their customers want over their Microsoft products, streamlining their ability to align with the changes and vision of the tech giant.
“Microsoft is super-successful right now, yet still changing. That's an indication that they're future-focused and have a vision for where this is all headed. They're not complacent which inspires us to continue to innovate.” - Tina Rountree, Director of Sales, Managed Solution

Transformed Through Digital Technology

During Microsoft Inspire, partners shared stories around the ways that they are using Microsoft solutions to improve their communities as well as bring about positive change in the world. Working closely together allows us to build and go-to-market with innovative solutions for the long-term journey for our customers – as Nadella stated in his remarks, we create a strong local impact that ultimately has a profound global impact.
“With increasing digitization, where every part of our society and economy is being fundamentally transformed because of digital technology, the opportunity is greater than ever before," Nadella said, relating his vision back to his partner audience. "Being in this industry, being in this [Microsoft partner] ecosystem, the opportunity is tremendous.” -Satya Nadella, CEO, Microsoft

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