Microsoft cloud, collaboration, and security: A decade of progress
The way we work—and where—has changed a lot in the last 10 years. Microsoft technology has
continually evolved to meet the changing needs of a modern workforce, adopting AI technology,
advanced security tools, and always-on connectivity that lets
people work together anywhere, on any device.
Click each product to see what‘s changed
2009
“Office 2010 and SharePoint 2010 define the future of productivity,” said Stephen Elop, President,
Microsoft
Business Division. “Organizations will save, innovate, and grow as their people benefit from working across
PC, phone, and browser.”
Windows 7 Professional
Windows gained new security capabilities for business users, like:
BitLocker device encryption
Secure bootup
Windows Firewall
Evolved Remote Desktop
Exchange Server 2010
This was the first version of Exchange that could be deployed on-premises, in the cloud, or
as a hybrid solution. Features included:
Security updates, with legal hold and retention policies
Database availability groups and failovers
Voicemail transcription
Role-based access control
2010
SharePoint 2010
SharePoint 2010 helped people find and share information more easily with solutions like:
Basic file-sharing tools
Up to 5,000 available site collections
Maximum file size up to 2 GB
Office 2010
Users gained cloud-based web versions of productivity apps like Word and Excel. Capabilities included:
Most recently used files displayed
Backstage menu
Protected view and trusted documents
Sparklines in Excel
2011
Office 365
Office 365 launched with perpetual updates and availability across platforms. New benefits included:
Cloud-connected, accessible anywhere
No surges in investment
2012
Exchange Server 2013
Exchange Server 2013 brought new tools for communication and collaboration, like:
Smart search for people and files
eDiscovery and Litigation Hold
Data Loss Prevention
2013
Microsoft launched its new Surface devices in 2012, making 2013 the year of devices. Applications were optimized for touch on phones and tablets, while other new advancements paved the way for enhanced collaboration and hybrid integration between SharePoint, Exchange Server, and Lync.
Office 2013
Microsoft introduced new productivity features to enhance collaboration, including:
Templates and Presentation mode in PowerPoint
Quick Analysis and Flash Fill in Excel
SharePoint 2013
SharePoint 2013 delivered even more productivity functionalities to users, such as:
Mobile experience with channels
Integration between SharePoint 2013 and SharePoint Online
Windows 8 Professional
This solution evolved to include new security and virtualization features, with capabilities like:
Windows Defender antivirus
Touch screen and mobile device optimizations
Windows Store and account integration
2014
2015
Windows 10 Professional
This offering gained powerful new security features, including:
Perpetual updates
Windows Information Protection and secure bootup
Windows Autopilot, Auto VPN, Windows Analytics
Voice control with Cortana for Work
Exchange Server 2016
Exchange Server 2016 made it easier than ever to stay connected and secure with features like:
Cloud-focused architecture
Enhanced hybrid capabilities
New Outlook on the Web client
Office 2016
Microsoft introduced Office 365 groups to help users collaborate by voice or video, and also offered:
Tell Me search
Smart Lookup in Word
One-click forecasting in Excel
2016
This year saw plenty of new capabilities and a major shift to the cloud. Windows 10 received perpetual updates, Microsoft focused on Software as a Service (SaaS) with Office 365, and both Windows 10 and Office 365 gained voice with Cortana. Plus, security got stronger with new features like Multifactor Authentication and Data Loss Prevention.
SharePoint 2016
SharePoint gained a renewed focus on security and information protection, with features like:
Max file size increase to 10 GB, and databases to 1 TB
Support for special characters, durable links, and Open Document Format
Fast site collection and creation
Search for sensitive content
Improved sharing and enhanced media previews
2017
Microsoft Teams
Teams launched, helping users collaborate and connect via:
Centralized file sharing, chat, and videoconferencing
Threaded chat communication
Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 brought together the latest collaboration and advanced security features, like:
Windows 7 Pro upgrade rights and advanced security tools
Office apps with Teams
Secure Score
2018
Exchange Server 2019
This version of Exchange Server offered enhanced collaboration and security functions, like:
Rebuilt search infrastructure
Faster, more reliable failovers
Calendar: do-not-forward and improved out-of-office
Compliance search
Office 2019
Office 2019 introduced several key functionalities for its apps, including:
Focused Inbox and Accessibility Checker in Outlook
Morph and Zoom in PowerPoint
New Excel functions like Funnel Charts
SharePoint 2019
SharePoint 2019 offered these simple-but-powerful updates to help users get things done:
Max file size increase to 15 GB
Dynamic search experience
Modern team sites and experiences for lists and libraries
2019
2019 saw a strong shift to Microsoft 365 and the cloud, with a focus on incorporating AI-driven tools. Microsoft 365 also gained perpetually updated versions of Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, and Office apps, plus advanced security and flexibility.
Microsoft 365
Microsoft introduced Compliance Center and eDiscovery to help organizations meet new GDPR compliance regulations, with:
Data governance solutions
Privacy tools
2020
Microsoft 365
Microsoft introduced more solutions to help modernize the workplace and empower users to work together from anywhere, including:
To Do List, Task, and Reminder app
Events, whiteboarding, meetings for up to 20,000 users in Teams
New transcription and voice commands in Azure Cognitive Services
Do your customers need to modernize?
If your customers haven’t already migrated to the latest software, they risk major security
issues—and
falling behind their peers. And with many essential products like Exchange Server, SharePoint Server,
and
Windows 10 reaching end of support, now’s the time to help your customers modernize with
the latest software
with Microsoft 365. Watch our webinar series to get started.
