Preface

We have been working on SharePoint and related technologies since 2007, when Microsoft 365 wasn’t around, and we have seen it go through several transformations since then. One of the questions we have often been asked as consultants is “What is SharePoint?” We have, at times, struggled to answer that question because, unlike some other Microsoft products that focus on solving one problem, SharePoint is a platform that can be leveraged to help implement a multitude of business solutions.

The question is even harder to respond to when someone asks “What is Microsoft 365?” because it is even bigger than SharePoint. With this book, our goal is to answer those questions by providing practical guidance on and insights into how to carry out various tasks in all the different areas of Microsoft 365. While we have provided the necessary background and best practices where possible, we have deliberately stayed away from getting too technical to keep the recipes simple for those who are new to Microsoft 365.

Microsoft 365 is an ever-changing platform with frequent updates being made to it. As you can imagine, it is hard to write a book on such a rapidly changing platform. We have tried to keep the book as close to the latest updates as we can. However, you should expect to see some variations in the steps and images provided in this book. Having said that, the underlying concepts that guide these steps should remain the same.

This comprehensive guide encompasses all major applications within the Microsoft 365 suite, along with an exploration of Copilot, with the aim of providing you with a head start in adapting to Microsoft’s adoption of AI features on its platform. To achieve expert status, however, you will require additional study and lots and lots of hands-on practice.