As the recent outbreak of the Coronavirus/COVID-19 continues to affect us all – especially following updates in the UK Government guidance. Businesses are finding remote working a useful tool to lessen the blow to their workforce.
If not already operated within an organisation, in order to keep the business running – and more importantly an employee’s daily life, working from home is becoming a necessity.
This is why in an effort to ease any transition a company may need to undertake, many large IT companies – including Microsoft, are offering their online collaboration tools for free.
Microsoft Teams
Microsoft Teams is part of the Microsoft Office 365 suite, so if your organisation already has Office 365, you’ll have Teams. And this is easy to set up.
However, if you don’t, this collaboration tool allows you to chat, file share, voice call, video call, create calendar appointments and even set up online presentations in a few simple clicks.
To do this, Microsoft have provided the following to get you started.
Free for the first 6 months, Microsoft’s Jared Spataro, Corporate Vice President for Microsoft 365 was inspired by a quarantined friend and colleague in China, working from home.
Writing a letter to her regional customers, here’s what she said and why Teams is free.
So how will this affect you personally? Here are ways you can implement on an individual and professional level:
Individuals
If you want to get started with Teams, you can get up and running right away:
- If you have an email address through work or school, sign in using this link to Teams.
- If you’re using an email address like Gmail or Outlook, you can sign up for the freemium version of Teams.
IT professionals
For IT professionals who want to roll out Teams centrally, here’s what to do:
- If you work for a business that isn’t licensed for Teams, use the Office 365 E1 offer and contact TVision.
- If you work in education and would like to set up teachers, students and administrators. Use the Office 365 A1 offer.
With somewhat trying times ahead and a new way of working for many of us, rest assured TVision are here to help support you wherever possible. Please contact us for further advice.
