This document debunks common myths about SharePoint and Office 365. It addresses myths such as SharePoint installation being complete once installed, security issues with the cloud, lack of data ownership in the cloud, offline access limitations, lack of cross-device and platform support, cost effectiveness, the death of SharePoint, SharePoint just being a file share, rigid look and feel, death of InfoPath, lack of customization options, the app model being required for all customizations, SharePoint performance issues, lack of backups in Office 365, and the need for dedicated SQL servers. For each myth, it provides facts to show why the myth is not accurate.

1. S
Debunking Common
SharePoint / Office 365 Myths
Dennis Bottjer
@dbottjer
#TTF2015

2. About Dennis
Dennis Bottjer is the solution architect for Microsoft
Silver Partner, ThriveFast LLC, which provides
SharePoint consulting services across the central
southwest region. Mr. Bottjer brings several years of
FORTUNE 100 Financial Sector enterprise
development and architecture experience to
ThriveFast. He has over 14 years of experience in
the IT industry and holds MCP and MCTS
certifications. Mr. Bottjer is currently the president
of the Tulsa SharePoint Interest Group and the
former president of the Jacksonville Developers
User Group. He routinely speaks at users groups
and SharePoint Saturday events.
@dbottjer
www.DennisBottjer.com
www.thrivefast.com

3. S
Myth: Once SharePoint is
installed you’re done!

4. Facts
S Configuration:
S Site Structure
S Content Databases
S Search Tuning (Crawl Schedules)
S Security
S Feature / Functionality Rollout

5. S
Myth: The cloud is insecure!

6. Facts
S 24-hour monitoring of data centers.
S Multi-factor authentication, including biometric scanning for data
center access.
S Faulty drives and hardware are demagnetized and destroyed.
S Encryption in transit with SSL/TLS and Encryption at rest
S Threat management, security monitoring, and file/data integrity
S Lock box
S http://bit.ly/1ISg1zk

7. S
Myth: You don’t own your
data!

8. Facts
S Customers own the data and the rights associated with the
data.
S At anytime, download your data from Microsoft and return
it to its original resting place.
S Access for 90 days to export all of your data after canceling

9. S
Myth: Data is only available
when online!

10. Facts
S Office 365 includes desktop office apps
S OneDrive caches documents locally and syncs with cloud
when connectivity allows
S Office Mobile Apps available for popular platforms such as
iOS and Android
S OneNote and Outlook have disconnected stories

11. S
Myth: SharePoint and O365
aren’t cross device or cross
platform!

12. Facts
S Desktop Office available for Mac and PC
S Mobile versions available for Windows, iOS and Android
S OneNote is cross platform
S SharePoint / SharePoint Online support IE, Firefox,
Chrome and Safari.
S http://bit.ly/1Duxyxj

13. S
Myth: Office 365 isn’t cost
effective

14. Facts
S OPEX VS CAPEX
S No upgrade fees
S Daily maintenance included

15. S
Myth: SharePoint is Dead

16. Facts
S Microsoft announced SharePoint 2016 as the next On-Prem
version.
S SharePoint 2016 has a greater hybrid story (cloud
integration)

17. S
Myth: SharePoint is just a
fancy file share

18. Facts
S Some truth
S But Fancy means:
S Workflow
S Check-in / Checkout
S Versioning
S Search

19. S
Myth: SharePoint always has
to look like SharePoint

20. Facts
S Branding used to be very difficult
S SharePoint supports themes and custom branding
S Design Manager simplifies the branding process
S Standards compliant HTML5 and CSS

21. S
Myth: InfoPath is Dead

22. Facts
S One does not simply kill InfoPath
S Forms Services will be included in SharePoint 2016
S Forms Services is still supported in O365
S Support through 2023
S http://bit.ly/1JQLeUh

23. S
Myth: SharePoint can’t be
customized

24. Facts
Approach O365 On Premises
Custom Web Parts X
Full Trust Solutions X
App Model X X
JavaScript X X
Branding X X
3rd Party Apps X X
InfoPath X X

25. S
Myth: The app model is
required to develop and
deploy customizations to
SharePoint

26. Fact
S There are many choices and approaches for customizing
SharePoint
S The App Model should be evaluated but it’s not the only
game in town

27. S
Myth: SharePoint is slow

28. Facts
S SharePoint is resource hungry and needs feeding
S SharePoint needs to be configured and tuned
S Don’t ignore the database

29. S
Myth: Office 365 cannot be
backed up

30. Facts
S Requires 3rd Party
S Metalogix provides backup and governance
S Email still recoverable 30 days after deleted

31. S
Myth: Requires dedicated
SQL

32. Facts
S SQL can be shared
S Does not require enterprise
S Do not use SQL Express!

33. S
Thank You!