You’re Paying for Microsoft 365.
Are You Getting Value From It?

Most organizations pay for Microsoft 365 but use only a fraction of what it includes. Default configurations leave security gaps — shared administrative access, no multi-factor authentication enforcement, unstructured SharePoint and OneDrive permissions, and no data retention policies. Inactive accounts often retain full access long after staff have left. ALPHA IT conducts a governance review to close these gaps, ensure licensing is optimized, and configure Microsoft 365 to actively protect your organization rather than simply host your email.

A Microsoft 365 migration moves your email, files, and collaboration tools from an on-premises server or another cloud platform to Microsoft 365. This includes migrating mailboxes, shared drives, and any on-premises Exchange or file server data. ALPHA IT plans migrations to minimize disruption — typically running in parallel with your existing system and cutting over during a maintenance window. For Vancouver Island organizations with remote staff or multiple locations, we ensure continuity across all sites throughout the process.

ALPHA IT applies a governance-first approach to Microsoft 365 security. This includes enforcing multi-factor authentication across all accounts, implementing role-based access controls so staff only access what their role requires, configuring data retention and loss prevention policies, structuring SharePoint and Teams environments with clear ownership, and establishing documented onboarding and offboarding processes. Security is reviewed regularly rather than configured once and left at default settings.

Microsoft Teams Calling turns Teams into a full cloud phone system — allowing staff to make and receive external calls directly in the Teams interface they already use for chat and video. For organizations already using Microsoft 365, it consolidates communication into one platform and eliminates separate phone system licensing costs. ALPHA IT deploys Teams Calling for Vancouver Island organizations as an alternative to traditional PBX systems, with full support for auto-attendants, call queues, and mobile use across locations.

SharePoint is Microsoft’s document management and intranet platform, included in most Microsoft 365 plans. Used well, it replaces shared network drives with a structured, searchable, permission-controlled document environment accessible from anywhere. For Vancouver Island organizations with remote staff, multiple offices, or field teams, SharePoint ensures everyone works from a single source of authoritative documents. ALPHA IT structures SharePoint environments to match how organizations actually work — with clear ownership, sensible permissions, and naming conventions that make content easy to find.

Microsoft 365 licensing is complex, with plans ranging from Business Basic to Business Premium and various add-ons including Copilot, Defender, and Intune. Many organizations are over-licensed in some areas and under-licensed in others. ALPHA IT conducts a license audit to confirm each staff member has the right plan for their role — ensuring compliance, removing waste, and identifying where upgraded licenses would unlock meaningful security or productivity improvements.

Microsoft 365 data residency depends on your tenant configuration and subscription type. Microsoft offers Canadian data residency for certain Microsoft 365 services, storing data in Canadian data centres. For organizations subject to FOIPPA or PIPEDA — including BC municipalities, First Nations organizations, and healthcare providers — data residency is an important consideration. ALPHA IT can review your current tenant configuration and help ensure your data storage location aligns with your privacy obligations.

Microsoft 365 migration pricing varies based on the number of users, the complexity of the existing environment, and whether data is being migrated from an on-premises server or another cloud platform. ALPHA IT provides a fixed-scope migration estimate after a brief assessment. For existing Microsoft 365 clients, governance and optimization work is typically included in the managed IT plan.