The cloud can be a dubious space. We’ve not come out of the wild west era of the cloud as we’re still doing quite a bit of pioneering and establishing rules as we go. At the same time, much like the wild west, there are bandits aplenty, seeking and finding opportunities to steal, scam and generally loot the riches of the new frontier. Therefore, it’s very reasonable to be skeptical of placing your valuables, your data, in the cloud. When considering Microsoft Office 365, there are a few things to know.

First, Microsoft takes security and data privacy very seriously. Your privacy is a high priority, and they work hard, around the clock, to protect their information. For instance, with Office 365, they restrict physical data center access to just authorized personnel and have put multiple layers of security in place, like biometric readers, motion sensors, 24-hour secured access, video surveillance, and security breach alarms, at their data centers around the world. They host customers’ data in-region, and regularly back it up. They also make sure to not delete any data in your account at the end of their service term until you’ve had time to take advantage of the data portability that Office 365 offers.

Most important of all, though, is that they never EVER use your data for advertising purposes. They use customer data only to provide services. Otherwise, they don’t look in to your mailboxes or databases without their permission – EVER. This, of course, stands in stark contrast to companies that make their money primarily off selling ads based on your data, like Google.

No matter what industries you’re in, these messages are important to hear and to understand. When considering the best, and safest, way to go into the cloud that not only has the lowest learning curve for your staff but protects your data security and privacy, Microsoft Office 365 is a good place to land.