Office 365, Microsoft 365, and Windows 365 are three key offerings from Microsoft, each designed to serve different purposes. This article aims to highlight and explain the differences among these three offerings, which are important to understand for those preparing for the MS-900 Microsoft 365 Fundamentals examination. No specific coding knowledge is needed for this comparison. Instead, this topic requires a fundamental understanding of the various Microsoft services’ capabilities.
1. Office 365
Office 365 is a subscription-based service from Microsoft that offers access to various office applications like Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, and Teams. The service is entirely cloud-based, meaning that all your work gets saved and stored online. This feature allows you to access your work from anywhere at any time, giving you a high degree of flexibility.
Most Office 365 plans also include 1 TB of OneDrive storage and 60 Skype minutes per month. A table illustrating some of the key features of Office 365 is presented below:
| Key Features | Office 365 |
|---|---|
| Applications | Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher (PC only), Access (PC only) |
| Services | Teams, exchange, OneDrive, SharePoint |
| Device installs | Up to 5 per user |
| Cloud Storage | 1TB OneDrive storage |
| Skype | 60 mins per month |
2. Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 encompasses all capabilities of Office 365, but it also includes additional functionalities such as Windows 10, Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS), and advanced machine learning capabilities.
To put it simply, Microsoft 365 is a complete and integrated solution which includes the operating system, office applications, and advanced security and compliance features. Considering the wide array of functionalities it offers, Microsoft 365 is effectively an all-in-one solution for businesses.
| Key Features | Microsoft 365 |
|---|---|
| Applications | Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher (PC only), Access (PC only), Teams |
| Services | Exchange, OneDrive, SharePoint, Intune, Azure Information Protection |
| Device installs | Depends on the plan |
| OS | Windows 10 |
| Security | Enterprise Mobility + Security (EMS) |
| AI Capabilities | Yes |
3. Windows 365
The most recent addition to Microsoft’s product portfolio is Windows 365. It is a cloud service that introduces a new way to experience Windows 10 or Windows 11 (when it’s available later this year) for workers from all types of organizations. Windows 365 takes the operating system to the Microsoft cloud, streaming the full Windows experience — apps, data, and settings — to your personal or corporate devices.
| Key Features | Windows 365 |
|---|---|
| Applications | Depends on the plan |
| Services | Cloud PC |
| OS | Windows 10 or 11 |
| Security | MFA, Zero Trust |
| Cloud Experience | Yes |
Understanding the differences between Office 365, Microsoft 365, and Windows 365 is quite crucial for anyone preparing for the MS-900 Microsoft 365 Fundamentals examination. As you continue to prepare, remember that Office 365 offers access to online applications and cloud storage, Microsoft 365 adds in Windows 10 and EMS, and Windows 365 takes the whole operating system to the cloud. With this understanding, you should be better positioned to tackle any questions related to these offerings in the examination.
Practice Test
True/False: Microsoft 365 and Office 365 are the same product.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: While they may share some features, Office 365 is more about productivity services such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint, while Microsoft 365 is a bundle that includes Office 365, along with device management and advanced security services.
Which of the following is a part of Microsoft 365 but not Office 365?
- A. Word
- B. Excel
- C. PowerPoint
- D. Advanced security services
Answer: D. Advanced security services
Explanation: Microsoft 365 includes all of Office 365’s features but also adds advanced security services and device management, which are not included in Office
True/False: Windows 365 is a cloud service that lets users experience Windows 10 or 11 from anywhere.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Windows 365 is a new service from Microsoft that allows businesses to offer their employees the complete Windows experience from any location on any device.
What is the key difference between Office 365 and Windows 365?
- A. One is for productivity, the other for OS access anywhere
- B. One includes Excel, the other does not
- C. One has device management, the other does not
- D. One has email services, the other does not
Answer: A. One is for productivity, the other for OS access anywhere
Explanation: Office 365 is a productivity service suite including applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, while Windows 365 is a service allowing full Windows OS experience from anywhere.
Which of the following is only a part of Microsoft 365?
- A. OneDrive
- B. Microsoft Teams
- C. SharePoint
- D. Windows Autopilot
Answer: D. Windows Autopilot
Explanation: Windows Autopilot for device management is a part of Microsoft 365, not included in Office
True/False: Office 365 always includes Windows 10 OS licenses.
- True
- False
Answer: False
Explanation: Office 365 includes applications like Word, PowerPoint, Excel etc., but does not include a Windows 10 OS license.
What additional services does Microsoft 365 provide over Office 365?
- A. Skype
- B. Word
- C. Device management and Advanced security services
- D. Outlook
Answer: C. Device management and Advanced security services
Explanation: Microsoft 365 includes everything from Office 365, plus device management capabilities and advanced security services.
True/False: Users can access Windows 365 from Mac, iPad, Linux, and Android devices.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Explanation: Windows 365 allows users to access full Windows experience from anywhere, on any device including Mac, iPad, Linux, and Android.
What is the main purpose of Windows 365?
- A. To provide productivity apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- B. To provide an always-accessible cloud-based Windows experience
- C. To provide advanced security services and device management
- D. To provide email services
Answer: B. To provide an always-accessible cloud-based Windows experience
Explanation: Windows 365 aims to provide the Windows operating system’s full experience from the cloud, accessible from any device.
Which platform includes all productivity apps, advanced security services, device management, and Windows OS?
- A. Office 365
- B. Microsoft 365
- C. Windows 365
- D. SharePoint 365
Answer: B. Microsoft 365
Explanation: Microsoft 365 is a combination of Office 365, advanced security services, device management, and a Windows 10/11 license.
Interview Questions
What is the key difference between Microsoft 365 and Office 365?
Office 365 includes traditional Office applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for cloud-based and on-premise use. Microsoft 365 extends the capabilities of Office 365 by integrating it with Windows 10 and Enterprise Mobility + Security.
Does Windows 365 include Office 365 applications?
No, Windows 365 is a cloud service that provides a complete Windows experience from the cloud to any device, enabling users access to all their apps, tools, data, and settings. It does not include the Office 365 applications which are part of the Microsoft 365 package.
Is there a difference in management capabilities between Office 365 and Microsoft 365?
Yes, Microsoft 365 offers more advanced and integrated management capabilities than Office 365, including simplified IT, user and device management, and advanced security and compliance features.
Does Microsoft 365 include Windows operating system upgrades?
Yes, Microsoft 365 includes Windows 10 updates. Besides, it also includes comprehensive security, management, and productivity features.
Can you get Microsoft Teams with Office 365?
Yes, Microsoft Teams is included with Office 365, offering chat-based workplace collaboration, video meetings, and file storage.
What security features are exclusive to Microsoft 365 and not found in Office 365?
Microsoft 365 offers advanced security features such as threat protection, information protection, identity and access management, and security management, which are not available in Office 365.
Is Windows 10 included in Office 365 subscriptions?
No, Windows 10 is not included in Office 365 subscriptions. It is part of the Microsoft 365 package.
Can you explain the difference in licensing models for Office 365 and Microsoft 365?
Office 365 uses a per-user licensing model, while Microsoft 365 uses a per-device licensing model, which allows for multiple users for one device.
How does the deployment of Windows 365 differ from Office 365 or Microsoft 365?
Windows 365 deploys a full Windows experience to your device from the cloud, which enables accessibility from anywhere. Office 365 and Microsoft 365 are primarily software packages deployed either on-premise or via the cloud.
What is the primary goal of Microsoft 365?
The primary goal of Microsoft 365 is to integrate Office 365, Windows 10, and Enterprise Mobility + Security into a single solution, enhancing productivity and security.
Can you use Office 365 and Microsoft 365 on multiple devices?
Yes, both Office 365 and Microsoft 365 allow the use of their services across multiple devices, including laptops, tablets, and phones.
Can you distinguish Microsoft 365 and Windows 365 based on their functionality?
Microsoft 365 is a suite of productivity tools including Office apps, cloud services, device management, and advanced security. Windows 365, on the other hand, is a cloud-based service that offers a complete, personalized Windows experience from the cloud to any device.
Are there any collaboration tools that are exclusive to Microsoft 365?
While both Office 365 and Microsoft 365 include collaboration tools like Teams, Microsoft 365 offers additional integration with tools like SharePoint and OneDrive which enhance collaboration.
How does Windows 365 provide more flexibility compared to Microsoft 365 or Office 365?
Windows 365 provides more flexibility by allowing complete and secure access to your personalized Windows desktop, applications, tools, data, and settings from any device, anywhere, providing a more flexible working environment compared to the traditional deployment of Office 365 or Microsoft 365.
What differentiates Office 365 from Microsoft 365 in terms of updates?
Office 365 provides updates to its suite of productivity tools. However, Microsoft 365 goes a step further by also providing updates to Windows 10 and advanced security updates as well.
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