New Year, New Modern Workplace
How to Maximise Productivity with Microsoft 365 in 2025
As we step into 2025, the modern workplace continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace. With businesses navigating economic pressures, emerging AI capabilities, and rising security threats, the way we work is being reshaped by technology like never before.
At Iomart, we understand that organisations need clarity in their digital transformation strategies. That’s why we kicked off the year with our latest webinar, “New Year, New Modern Workplace”, bringing together industry experts to discuss the biggest trends shaping productivity, security, and cost efficiency in 2025.
If you missed the live session, you can watch the full webinar on demand here. In the meantime, here are the key takeaways from our experts to help you build a more efficient, secure, and cost-effective modern workplace.
How Modern Work Drives Productivity in 2025
The way we work has undergone a fundamental shift. Employees expect flexibility, seamless collaboration, and the tools to work efficiently from anywhere. But with this shift comes new challenges – businesses need to ensure productivity without compromising on security, be able to manage costs effectively, and keep up with technological advancements.
AI: The Secret to Smarter Workflows
Generative AI is no longer just a futuristic concept – it’s already transforming how we work. Microsoft 365 Copilot is at the forefront of this change, embedding AI into everyday tasks to supercharge productivity.
What does this look like in practice?
- Faster Document Creation: Copilot can draft reports, presentations, and emails in seconds, freeing up time for higher-value tasks.
- Smarter Meetings: AI-powered meeting summaries in Teams ensure no key action points are lost.
- Intelligent Automation: From summarising lengthy email chains to generating insights from data, AI is making workflows more efficient.
Yet, despite the promise of AI, many businesses remain hesitant. Our panel emphasised that AI adoption needs to be intentional – it’s not just about having the technology but integrating it in ways that align with business goals.
Security in 2025: Are You Ready for the Threats Ahead?
Cybersecurity remains a growing concern for organisations, with 72.2% of webinar attendees identifying security threats as their biggest worry for 2025. The evolving threat landscape is being shaped by:
- AI-Powered Cyber Attacks: Threat actors are using generative AI to craft more sophisticated phishing attacks.
- Cloud-Based Security Risks: As businesses move more workloads to the cloud, protecting identities, endpoints, and data is more crucial than ever.
- The Need for Zero Trust: Traditional security models are no longer sufficient; Zero Trust ensures that every access request is verified, whether inside or outside the organisation.
What’s the solution?
Charlie Gough, Microsoft Security MVP and Head of Pre-Sales at Atech, highlighted the importance of cloud-native security and built-in Microsoft 365 capabilities such as:
- Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) to monitor and mitigate threats in real time.
- Identity Protection to ensure only the right people have access to sensitive data.
- Microsoft 365 Defender to unify security signals across email, identity, and devices for a proactive defence.
With cyber threats becoming increasingly sophisticated, businesses need a proactive, not reactive, approach to security.
Cost Optimisation: Are You Paying for More Than You Need?
The upcoming Microsoft 365 price increase on April 1st means that now is the perfect time to reassess your licensing. Many organisations are unknowingly overpaying for tools they don’t fully utilise.
Our webinar explored real-world examples of cost savings, such as:
- An insurance firm that eliminated redundant tools by switching from Zoom to Teams, cutting unnecessary costs.
- A manufacturing business that migrated from Google Apps to Microsoft 365, consolidating platforms and improving efficiency.
Jon McElwee, Cloud Specialist at Iomart, emphasised the importance of a licensing assessment to ensure:
- You’re only paying for the licenses you actually need.
- Your M365 package is aligned with your business goals.
- You’re taking advantage of available cost-saving opportunities.
By making strategic licensing decisions, businesses can save money without sacrificing functionality.
Why Your Microsoft Partner Matters
Selecting the right Microsoft partner is crucial to getting the most from your modern workplace strategy.
John outlined the key factors to consider:
- Proven expertise: Look for a Microsoft Solutions Partner with recognised specialisations.
- Strategic guidance: A great partner doesn’t just sell licenses – they help you optimise your entire M365 setup.
- Security-first approach: Ensure your provider has the capabilities to help you strengthen your security posture.
At Iomart, we provide a holistic approach to Microsoft 365 – helping businesses navigate licensing, improve security, and unlock the full potential of AI-powered productivity.
What’s Next for Your Business?
The future of work is here, and the organisations that embrace modern workplace strategies will be the ones that stay competitive, secure, and cost-efficient.
If your goals for 2025 include:
- Maximising productivity with AI
- Strengthening your security posture
- Optimising Microsoft 365 costs
…then now is the time to act.At Iomart, we help businesses work smarter, collaborate better, and stay secure – so you can focus on what really matters.