10 Microsoft 365 Features Small Businesses Should Be Using

There are many powerful Microsoft 365 features for small businesses that often go unused. When configured correctly, these tools can dramatically improve productivity and security.

Here are the 10 Microsoft 365 features that can immediately improve productivity, security, and day-to-day operations for your business.


Microsoft Defender for Office 365

Defender provides enterprise-level protection that most businesses don’t even realize they already have.

It blocks:

  • Phishing attacks
  • Malicious attachments
  • Unsafe external links
  • Suspicious login attempts

Small businesses see immediate security benefits when enabling Defender.


OneDrive File Version History

Accidentally delete or overwrite a file?
OneDrive stores previous versions so you can restore older edits with one click.

Teams rely on this feature daily.


SharePoint Document Libraries

SharePoint is more than storage — it’s a full business collaboration hub.

Benefits:

  • Department-based organization
  • Permission-controlled access
  • Real-time version control
  • Excellent for remote work

Companies often see dramatic improvements after transitioning from local file servers.


Microsoft Teams Channels and Tabs

Teams becomes infinitely more powerful with the right structure.

Add:

  • Project dashboards
  • Shared files
  • Internal SOPs
  • Planner task tabs
  • OneNote documentation

This reduces email overload and improves team communication.


Microsoft Planner

Planner gives your team an easy-to-use project board to stay organized.

Use it for:

  • Daily task assignments
  • Team accountability
  • Progress tracking
  • Project management

Teams see significant workflow improvements with Planner.


Microsoft Forms

Forms lets you create:

  • Customer intake forms
  • Employee surveys
  • Internal requests
  • Training assessments

All results sync automatically into Excel.


Conditional Access Policies

This is one of the most important features for businesses serious about security.

Conditional Access helps you:

  • Enforce MFA
  • Block risky or foreign logins
  • Restrict data access
  • Control session behavior

Businesses looking for microsoft 365 support often adopt Conditional Access to strengthen their security posture.


Outlook Rules and Quick Steps

Save hours every week by automating repetitive email tasks.

Automations include:

  • Sorting messages
  • Auto-tagging
  • Email routing
  • Turning emails into tasks

Teams see major productivity gains.


Microsoft Loop

Loop is Microsoft’s modern, interactive collaboration workspace.

Use it for:

  • Real-time shared notes
  • Task lists
  • Collaborative components
  • Project coordination

Data Loss Prevention (DLP)

DLP helps protect sensitive information such as:

  • HR files
  • Financial documents
  • Customer data
  • Credit card information

It prevents accidental sharing and strengthens compliance.


Unlock the Full Power of Microsoft 365

Most small businesses use less than 20% of Microsoft 365’s capabilities. Resurge Technology helps organizations take full advantage of the tools they’re already paying for.

We provide:

  • Microsoft 365 optimization
  • SharePoint & OneDrive structuring
  • Conditional Access + MFA setup
  • Teams governance and training
  • Migration to cloud environments

Ready to improve your business IT?

If you need fast help without long-term contracts, Resurge Technology provides on-demand business IT support, Microsoft 365 guidance, and security-focused solutions.

No long-term contracts required

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