Here at Protected Trust, we love the Microsoft Surface. We use them ourselves as our primary work devices—and have come to enjoy them so much that we recommend them to our valuable customers for a broad array of applications. We even have a massive 84” Surface Hub in our office that we use for everything from collaborative company-wide projects to presentations.
With the introduction of Microsoft 365, Surface has grown from a nice-to-have solution to a powerful software/hardware combination. Did you know that Microsoft 365 is specifically designed to be used on a Surface device? This thoughtful pairing not only enhances business capabilities, but also saves time and money compared to traditional workstations with a managed IT solution.
We’re here to further explain how using Surface as a Service with Microsoft 365 is a valuable, comprehensive IT solution that can transform your business. Let’s get started.
The Power of the Subscription Model
When using Surface as a Service and Microsoft 365 together, there are no upfront software and hardware costs—just one low monthly fee per user. Subscription models ensure your Office software is always up to date with no additional expenses or the need to be aware that a new version exists in the first place, download it, and manually install it on your devices.
For example, when using a subscription-based software such as Microsoft 365 for Business on your Surface device, the newest security measures and creative features will be automatically updated and available to use as soon as they’re rolled out—minus any additional expenses or effort on your part.
Say Hello to a New Way of Doing IT
At Protected Trust, we often say we’re a cloud-first company, but it’s probably more accurate to say we’re cloud architects. Our goal is to move businesses into a cloud configured for their unique needs that makes it possible to untether from the physical world. We make businesses invincible. If you have a computer and an internet connection, you can access your individual user account and keep getting work done, no matter what happens.
Microsoft 365 (not to be confused with just Office 365) is Windows, Office, security, and workstation management all in one. Instead of buying all of these things separately and manually updating them occasionally, you simply pay a monthly fee and gain peace of mind that everything is always up to date (which is the most secure way to run your business). It allows you to not just keep your file server in the cloud, but each individual user’s workstation as well. When implemented properly (which we can also help with!), it can give even small businesses enterprise-grade device management.
Why Surface Versus all the Other Workstation Options?
Microsoft products work on practically any device you could imagine. However, the Surface is the only device actually made by Microsoft developed alongside Windows and Office 365. New features and updates will always work on your Surface—because they were made to.
To learn more about how valuable this pairing can be for your business, read about how using Microsoft 365 Enterprise on a Surface device can maximize your ROI compared to using 365 on a third-party device in our blog. Here are a few key takeaways:
- Employees more than doubled productivity when it comes to communication, information sharing, and business workflows when using Microsoft 365 Enterprise on a Surface device, compared to using the software on a different piece of hardware.
- Senior leadership was able to reach key business decisions 21% faster when using Microsoft 365 Enterprise with Microsoft Surface, compared to only 18% when using it on other devices.
- IT saved 2.5 hours per application provisioning request and over 25 minutes configuring each Surface device compared to other devices.
Now Imagine…
IT becoming something you can mostly do yourself. Imagine if bringing on a new hire was as easy as setting up a Microsoft 365 user for them, handing them a Surface device and their Microsoft login, and the employee being able to take it from there?
Say goodbye to downloading disk images and hello to all your business applications being automatically installed once the user logs in. Say goodbye to having to buy a new workstation or the most updated Office software license every couple of months or years, and hello to a low recurring monthly fee you can always plan for—and cancel when you no longer have any use for it (such as an employee leaving your company).
Surface as a Service is a new way to continually outfit your company with the latest hardware and software without large outlays of cash every few years. More than just financial convenience, always running the latest hardware and software defends from most cyberthreats (since every major cyber attack for years has exploited out of date hardware or software). It’s also critical to your business’ ability to stay competitive.
Surface as a Service and Microsoft 365 really is a complete IT solution for most businesses. If you want to learn how to implement this comprehensive solution in your own organization, reach out to one of the Protected Trust experts.
Or, watch Protected Trust team members Ingram and Steve discuss Surface as a Service and Microsoft 365 in one of our livestreams!
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