At Wingman Solutions, we frequently find clients puzzled about the distinction between SharePoint and Office 365, with some calling it SharePoint 365 or Office SharePoint.
They most frequently ask us: Is SharePoint part of Office 365? And we understand why they are so confused. There are several solutions available in Microsoft with pretty similar names.
It is true that terminology can be complicated, so in this piece, I’d want to explain the differences between the two and answer any SharePoint vs Office 365 questions to help clarify the confusion.
Key Takeaways
SharePoint is an integral part of Office 365 offering powerful collaboration, content management, and workflow automation tools.
Office 365 provides a comprehensive suite of productivity tools and services, seamlessly integrating SharePoint with other applications like Teams and OneDrive.
SharePoint empowers organizations with scalable solutions for team collaboration, secure content management, and customizable workflows tailored to their specific needs.
With Office 365, users can access their tools and data from anywhere, fostering seamless collaboration and productivity across teams and locations.
Whether it’s enhancing content management practices or automating business processes, SharePoint within Office 365 offers versatile solutions to drive efficiency and effectiveness.
Integrated analytics in Office 365 provide valuable insights to optimize usage, collaboration, and decision-making processes.
What Is SharePoint?
For businesses and professionals seeking a centralized hub for managing files, creating team sites, and optimizing business processes, SharePoint is the ultimate solution.
SharePoint is a collaborative platform created by Microsoft, serving as a comprehensive hub for document management and enterprise content management.
It integrates with Office 365, providing users with access to productivity tools like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, along with other services such as Microsoft Teams, Microsoft Power Automate, and online storage.
SharePoint enables organizations to manage files, create team sites, and streamline business processes through document approval workflows and customizable Microsoft forms. Additionally, it offers regulatory compliance support and can be accessed from various devices with an internet connection.
So, who would benefit most from SharePoint? Any business or professional seeking to enhance collaboration, streamline document management, and optimize business processes. Whether you’re a small startup, a growing enterprise, or a seasoned professional, SharePoint offers the tools and capabilities to take your productivity to new heights.
SharePoint Products
SharePoint comes in different versions, including SharePoint Online, part of Office 365, and SharePoint Server, which can be deployed on-premises or with an Office 365 Enterprise subscription.
SharePoint Designer 2013 is a free program used for building workflow-enabled solutions, while OneDrive sync allows users to sync documents from SharePoint or OneDrive to their computers for offline use.
Office365 SharePoint
Office 365 SharePoint, also known as SharePoint Online, is a cloud-based service provided as part of the Office 365 suite. It offers organizations a versatile platform for collaboration, document management, and communication.
With SharePoint Online, users can create team sites, intranet portals, and communication sites to share and collaborate on documents, tasks, calendars, and other content. It integrates seamlessly with other Office 365 apps like Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, and Outlook.
SharePoint Server
SharePoint Server is an on-premises deployment option for SharePoint, offering similar features and capabilities to SharePoint Online but installed and managed within an organization’s own infrastructure. This provides organizations with more control over their SharePoint environment, allowing for greater customization and integration with existing systems.
SharePoint Server is suitable for organizations that require strict control over data residency, compliance, or specific customization needs that may not be feasible in a cloud environment. It offers flexibility in deployment options, including single-server installations for small businesses or highly scalable farm deployments for larger enterprises.
SharePoint Designer 2013
SharePoint Designer 2013 is a free desktop application provided by Microsoft for designing and customizing SharePoint sites and workflows. It offers a range of features for power users and developers to create custom solutions on SharePoint platforms.
With SharePoint Designer 2013, users can design and customize SharePoint sites, create workflows to automate business processes, and develop custom forms and applications. It provides advanced capabilities for building workflows using a visual designer, integrating with external data sources, and implementing complex business logic. SharePoint Designer 2013 is particularly useful for organizations looking to extend the functionality of their SharePoint environment beyond out-of-the-box features.
SharePoint Designer 2013 Latest Versions
The most recent update was a patch released in August 2016. It’s important to note that SharePoint Designer 2013 is the final version of the product, as Microsoft has shifted focus to other tools and platforms for SharePoint development.
Microsoft recommends Power Apps as the alternative to SharePoint Designer for designing rich interactive forms. Additionally, Power Automate (formerly known as Microsoft Flow) is suggested for automating workflows. These tools are part of the Office 365 suite and are more integrated with modern SharePoint development.
SharePoint OneDrive Sync
SharePoint OneDrive Sync, also known as OneDrive Sync for SharePoint, is a desktop application that allows users to synchronize files and folders between their local computer and SharePoint or OneDrive for Business libraries.
It provides seamless access to SharePoint and OneDrive content directly from Windows Explorer or macOS Finder, enabling users to work with files offline and synchronize changes automatically when online. OneDrive Sync enhances productivity by providing a consistent file access experience across devices and platforms.
For instance, it is especially important for those users, who need to work with SharePoint documents in offline mode or want to collaborate on files while away.
SharePoint Pricing Plans
SharePoint is usually presented within the Microsoft 365 (previously Office 365) services package. Microsoft 365 has several plans that are designed to cater to different business needs and sizes. Each plan comes with a different price and features.
SharePoint is included in majority of these plans, being those mostly business and enterprise oriented, rather than individual ones.
SharePoint subscription plans available on the official website may change according to parameters like the region and the current promotions. However, here are some common Microsoft 365 subscription plans that include SharePoint:
Microsoft 365 Business Basic
This plan typically includes essential Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.) and cloud services such as Exchange, OneDrive, and SharePoint. It is designed for small businesses and offers basic productivity tools and collaboration capabilities.
Microsoft 365 Business Standard
It usually includes everything in Business Basic, plus additional features such as desktop versions of Office apps, Exchange email hosting, and SharePoint for enhanced collaboration and document management.
Microsoft 365 Business Premium
This tier includes all the features of Business Standard, along with advanced security and device management capabilities. It is suitable for businesses that require enhanced security and compliance features in addition to productivity and collaboration tools.
Microsoft 365 Enterprise plans
These plans are designed for larger organizations with more complex needs. They typically include advanced features such as advanced security, compliance, and analytics capabilities, along with full access to Office apps and cloud services like SharePoint.
What is Office 365?
Office 365 is a suite of online productivity tools and services provided by Microsoft. It includes a range of applications and services such as Microsoft Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.), collaboration tools (SharePoint, Teams), communication services (Exchange Online), file storage (OneDrive), and more.
Office 365 is designed to enhance productivity and collaboration in both personal and professional settings, offering users access to their documents and tools from anywhere with an internet connection.
Is SharePoint Part of Office 365?
Yes, SharePoint is indeed part of Office 365. It is one of the core services included in many Office 365 subscription plans.
SharePoint Online, the cloud-based version of SharePoint, is integrated into the Office 365 ecosystem, allowing users to create, share, and collaborate on documents, intranet sites, team sites, and more within the Office 365 environment.
What is Included in an Office 365 Subscription?
An Office 365 subscription typically includes a suite of productivity tools, online services, and applications provided by Microsoft.
This may include Microsoft Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, etc.), cloud services such as Exchange Online (email hosting), OneDrive (file storage and sharing), SharePoint (document management and collaboration), Teams (chat, meetings, and collaboration), and more depending on the specific subscription plan.
Furthermore, the Office 365 subscriptions might include diverse options such as mobile applications, new updates and features, discussion boards, and professionals with expertise and different benefits to different users and organizational needs.
Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise
Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, formerly known as Office 365 ProPlus, is a subscription service that provides users with access to the latest versions of Office desktop applications for both Windows and Mac computers.
These apps include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access (Windows only), Publisher (Windows only), and OneNote. With a Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise subscription, users can install and use Office apps on multiple devices, including PCs, Macs, tablets, and mobile devices, and receive regular updates and new features as part of the subscription.
This subscription is typically included in Microsoft 365 plans designed for businesses and enterprises, offering additional services and features such as security, compliance, and management capabilities alongside the Office apps.
Advantages of SharePoint
Team Collaboration
SharePoint acts as a single site for teams to work on common documents, tasks, schedules, etc. A team member can have a shared document and they can work together on the shared content, thereby promoting collaboration and improving productivity.
Content Management
SharePoint provides content management functionalities that are advanced and enable organizations to store, organize, manage, and control documents, lists, and libraries within their systems. Its advanced search engine is a strong point of this tool; it allows users to find what they need in no time.
Customizable Workflows
Organizations use SharePoint to automatically run their business processes with configurable workflows. Users can build flows that automate their tasks, approvals, and rule enforcement, increasing productivity while avoiding manual errors.
Security and Compliance
SharePoint provides reliable security tools to prevent unauthorized access to private information and to stay within the frame of the legal requirements. The administrators can perform tasks such as access control, permission management, and auditing to protect the organizational information.
Scalability
SharePoint is a scalable platform that can adapt to your organization’s changing requirements. It can work with large data and users, making it handy for businesses of any size.
Microsoft Integration
Sharepoint is integrated with Microsoft tools and services, such as Office 365, teams, OneDrive, and Power Platform. It facilitates productivity improvement and allows them to utilize all the features of the Microsoft environment.
Advantages of Office 365
Comprehensive Productivity Suite
Office 365 is a set of easy to use productivity tools which include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams and SharePoint among others. The users have an opportunity of using a broadened spectrum of apps that helps in developing, collaboration and communication.
File-Based Storage
With Office 365, file-based storage is achieved with services such as OneDrive and SharePoint, storing, syncing, and sharing files securely in the cloud. It is this that makes it possible to access the files from any device without any limitation of space or location.
Seamless Collaboration
Office 365 brings about collaboration of users without interruption, i.e. real-time co-authoring, chat, video conferencing, and teamwork. Group members working together on documents, projects and tasks, can do it easily, irrespective of their location.
Scalability
Office 365 is scalable and can accommodate the needs of businesses of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises. Organizations can easily add or remove users, services, and features as their requirements evolve.
Access Anywhere
Office 365 allows users to access their tools and data from anywhere with an internet connection, whether they’re in the office, at home, or on the go. This enables flexible work arrangements and enhances productivity.
Integrated Analytics
Office 365 offers integrated analytics and reporting functionalities that organizations can use to obtain information about the usage habits, user behavior and collaboration trends. Such data-driven approach makes it possible to base the decisions on facts and allows for constant improvement.
Summing Up: Is SharePoint Part of Office 365?
In conclusion, SharePoint is indeed a vital component of Office 365, Microsoft’s comprehensive suite of productivity tools and services. While SharePoint offers powerful capabilities for team collaboration, content management, customizable workflows, security, scalability, and seamless integration with other Microsoft tools, it is deeply integrated into the broader Office 365 ecosystem.
This integration enhances productivity, facilitates seamless collaboration, and enables organizations to leverage the full potential of the Microsoft ecosystem for enhanced efficiency and effectiveness.
Whether you’re looking to streamline team collaboration, enhance content management practices, automate business processes, ensure security and compliance, or scale your operations, SharePoint within Office 365 offers a versatile solution to meet your needs. With its wide range of features and capabilities, SharePoint empowers organizations to work smarter, faster, and more collaboratively.
If you’re ready to unlock the full potential of SharePoint or Microsoft/Office 365 solutions for your organization, we’re here to help. Contact us today for expert guidance, training, and support tailored to your specific requirements.
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