Most businesses subscribe to Microsoft 365 for three things: Outlook, Word, and Excel. And that’s fine — those are essential tools. But if that’s all you’re using, you’re paying for a Swiss Army knife and only using the blade.
Here are features already included in your Microsoft 365 subscription that can genuinely improve how your team works.
SharePoint: Your Company Intranet (That You Already Have)
Every Microsoft 365 business subscription includes SharePoint. What it does well:
- Document management with version history — no more “Final_v3_REAL_final.docx”
- Team sites for each department with organized libraries, news, and links
- Company-wide intranet for policies, HR documents, and announcements
- Permissions that actually make sense — share with specific people or groups
OneDrive: Not Just Another Dropbox
OneDrive is included with every M365 license (1 TB per user), but many businesses still pay separately for other cloud storage. Key features:
- Known Folder Move — automatically syncs Desktop, Documents, and Pictures to the cloud. If a laptop dies, nothing is lost.
- Files On-Demand — shows all your cloud files in File Explorer without downloading them.
- Real-time co-authoring — multiple people can edit the same file simultaneously.
Microsoft Bookings: Stop Playing Email Tag
If anyone on your team schedules meetings with external contacts, Bookings eliminates the back-and-forth. Share a booking link, the other person picks a time, and the meeting is automatically scheduled. It’s like Calendly, but included in your M365 subscription.
Power Automate: Simple Workflow Automation
Automate repetitive tasks without being a developer:
- New file uploaded to SharePoint → send a Teams notification
- Email from a specific sender → save attachment to OneDrive and flag it
- Form submitted → create a row in Excel and send a confirmation
Microsoft Forms: Quick Surveys and Data Collection
Surveys with branching logic, quizzes with automatic grading, and responses that automatically populate an Excel spreadsheet. Not as feature-rich as dedicated survey tools, but more than enough for internal use — and free with your license.
Security Features You Should Enable Today
- Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): The single most effective security measure. M365 includes it — it just needs to be turned on.
- Security Defaults: A one-click setting that enables baseline security recommended by Microsoft.
- Audit Logs: Track who accessed what, when, and from where. Invaluable during security incidents.
The Bottom Line
You’re already paying for Microsoft 365. Before adding another SaaS tool, check whether M365 already does what you need.
Need help getting more out of your subscription? Mavericks Office Solutions is a Microsoft partner. Contact us for a free M365 review — we’ll show you exactly what you’re leaving on the table.