What's the difference between Microsoft Azure and Office 365? (2024)

FAQs

What is the difference between Microsoft Office 365 and Microsoft Azure? ›

In summary, Azure is a cloud computing platform for businesses with more complex needs, while Microsoft 365 is a suite of productivity and collaboration tools for businesses of all sizes. Whether you choose Azure or Microsoft 365, partnering with a Microsoft expert like ACUTEC can help ensure your success.

Microsoft 365 (en-us) refers to a local installation of Office, tied to a subscription. This is in contrast to, say, Office 2021 which would represent a perpetual (one-time payment) license. If you have a local installation of Office (a full version), you do not need the dashboard app.

Office 365 is a suite of cloud-based productivity applications such as Microsoft Office, SharePoint, Teams, OneDrive, Yammer, OneNote, etc. Microsoft 365, however, is a combination of services that blends together Office 365, Windows 10 OS, and Enterprise Mobility + Security.

The Bottom Line. Microsoft 365 is the best set of productivity apps for serious office work, seamlessly blending the power, speed, and security of desktop-based apps with the convenience of online and mobile platforms.

While Azure can be a standalone subscription, it is a part of an Office 365 subscription. In other words, if you have a paid Office 365 subscription, you are using Azure services. Office 365 users are using the Azure Active Directory (Azure AD) services to manage identities.

Azure Virtual Desktop supports all current versions of Windows, including Windows 10 Enterprise (single session), EVD (multi-session) and Server 2012/2016/2019. Windows 365 cloud PCs only support Windows 10 Enterprise (single session) since they are dedicated, non-multi-user desktops.

Microsoft Office Professional 2021

This suite is mature, rich with features, and so widely used that you never have to even think about compatibility. Free versions of mainstay apps, like Word and Excel, are available online.

Not at all. If you don't need the full version of Microsoft 365, you can just buy Microsoft Word on its own without going for a complete subscription. And if you do decide you want the rest of the software, you can pick that up later on.

All you need is to sign up for a Microsoft account with a new or existing email address. Use Word, Excel, PowerPoint and more for free on the web.

Is Microsoft 365 now free? ›

Even on the free tier you're able to use real-time collaboration to get work done with colleagues and peers. You don't have to be on a PC or Mac to use those web-based apps, either – free users can also enjoy the mobile versions of these tools on Android and iOS.

Yes. Unless you have specifically bought a computer where you have options to add that in it will not have a working Microsoft Office installed on it. The files for Office are pre-installed on most all computers but then you have to purchase and activate it.

The good news is if you don't need the full suite of Microsoft 365 tools, you can access a number of its apps online for free, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, Outlook, Calendar, My Content, Skype, Designer and Clipchamp. Here's how to get them: 1.

You can work anywhere, anytime

One of the biggest benefits of Microsoft 365 is its flexibility. It allows you to work from anywhere on earth. All you need is an internet connection. You can access your email, files and essential programs like Word and Excel from any location and on any device.

In summary, Azure is a comprehensive cloud computing platform, while Microsoft 365 is a suite of productivity tools and services. They can be used together, with businesses leveraging Azure for their infrastructure needs and Microsoft 365 for productivity and collaboration tools.

What is Azure? At its core, Azure is a public cloud computing platform—with solutions including Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS) that can be used for services such as analytics, virtual computing, storage, networking, and much more.

Azure is the only consistent hybrid cloud, delivers unparalleled developer productivity, provides comprehensive, multilayered security, including the largest compliance coverage of any cloud provider, and you'll pay less for Azure as AWS is five times more expensive than Azure for Windows Server and SQL Server.

Microsoft Azure is a cloud computing platform designed to help organizations run virtual desktops and applications in the... OneDrive is a secure access, sharing & file storage solution which enables users to store & share photos, videos, documents,...