Microsoft 365

Yes. Westcom manages the full migration process, including email history, contacts, calendars, and files, so nothing gets left behind in the transition. The process is planned carefully before anything moves to keep disruptions to a minimum and make sure data lands where it should in the new environment. Staff typically notice very little interruption to their day while the migration is underway.

With proper planning the disruption is minimal, and Westcom has handled migrations from Google Workspace before. Email history, Drive files, and calendar data all come across as part of the process. The bigger adjustment is usually staff getting comfortable with a different interface, which is why Westcom makes sure the team knows how to use the tools before the cutover happens rather than leaving them to work it out after.

Business Basic gives your team web and mobile versions of the Office apps, business email through Outlook, Teams, and OneDrive storage. Business Standard adds the full desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook that install directly on computers. Business Premium includes everything in Standard plus enterprise-grade security features, device management, and advanced threat protection, making it the right fit for businesses that handle sensitive data or have stricter compliance requirements. Westcom helps businesses choose the right tier based on how their team actually works rather than defaulting to the most expensive option.

Yes. Microsoft 365 includes Exchange Online, which is Microsoft's cloud-hosted email platform, and it replaces the need for an on-premises email server entirely. Your business email runs through Microsoft's infrastructure, which means no server hardware to maintain, no software updates to manage, and built-in redundancy so email keeps working even if something goes wrong locally. For most small to mid-sized businesses on Vancouver Island, moving email to Exchange Online is one of the clearest immediate benefits of the switch.

Teams becomes the central hub for day-to-day communication once it is set up properly. Chat, video calls, meetings, and file sharing all happen in one place rather than across separate tools, which reduces the back-and-forth of managing email threads alongside messaging apps alongside shared drives. Westcom configures Teams to match how your business actually communicates and runs a walkthrough with staff so they are comfortable using it from the start rather than avoiding it because it feels unfamiliar.

Yes, and it is one of the practical strengths of the platform. Because Microsoft 365 runs in the cloud, staff across different locations access the same email, files, and Teams environment without needing a shared on-premises server connecting them. Westcom handles the setup across all locations and makes sure permissions, shared resources, and device configurations are consistent so there are no gaps between sites.

Microsoft 365 does not provide a true independent backup by default. The platform has built-in redundancy to keep the service running and some limited recovery options for recently deleted items, but that is not a substitute for a dedicated backup solution. Westcom sets up proper Microsoft 365 backup for clients using trusted tools including Acronis and Datto, which provide point-in-time recovery for email, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Teams data. That matters most when something goes wrong at scale, such as a ransomware attack or an admin error that affects multiple users at once.

Security in Microsoft 365 does not stop at the initial setup. Westcom configures multi-factor authentication, manages user access and permissions, monitors for suspicious activity, and keeps security policies updated as threats evolve. License tier also plays a role since Business Premium includes advanced threat protection and device management that Basic and Standard do not, and Westcom factors that into the plan from the start rather than bolting security on later.

OneDrive is personal cloud storage for each individual user, the place where someone saves their own working files and accesses them from any device. SharePoint is built for shared content across a team or the whole organization, things like department folders, internal documents, and resources everyone needs to access. Most businesses use both and Westcom sets up and structures them as part of the standard Microsoft 365 deployment in a way that matches how your team actually works.

Yes. Getting the software working is only half of it, and Westcom knows from experience that a smooth migration followed by a confused team still creates problems. Staff who are not familiar with Teams, Outlook, or OneDrive get a walkthrough as part of the setup process, and ongoing support is available when questions come up after the fact. The goal is that your team feels confident using the tools, not just that the tools are technically running.

Buying directly from Microsoft gives you the software and access to Microsoft's general support channels, which are designed for large volumes of users rather than individual small business problems. Working with a certified Microsoft Partner like Westcom means you have a local team who knows your specific setup, handles configuration and migration on your behalf, and is your first call when something stops working rather than a support queue. Partners also have access to licensing options and administrative tools that simplify management in ways that are not available through self-serve purchasing.

Westcom is the first call, not Microsoft's general support line. Because Westcom manages the environment and already knows how it is configured, issues like Outlook failing to sync, Teams not connecting, or OneDrive permissions breaking get diagnosed and resolved faster than starting from scratch with a support ticket. Day-to-day issues are exactly what the ongoing support relationship is designed for, and most common problems get sorted without significant disruption to the rest of the team.

Not necessarily. Microsoft 365 Business Basic runs entirely through a web browser, so older machines can access email, Teams, and files without any software installation. Business Standard and Premium include desktop applications that install on computers, and those do have minimum system requirements, but most computers running Windows 10 or later handle them without issue. Westcom checks device compatibility as part of the assessment so there are no surprises mid-migration.

The right plan comes down to how your team works and what your business actually needs from the platform. Westcom looks at the number of users, what devices they are working from, whether desktop applications are needed, and what level of security the business requires. From there the recommendation is based on fit rather than upselling the most expensive tier, and license optimization continues as part of the ongoing service so you are not paying for seats or features that are not being used.