---
title: What's all the Hype? A Quick Glance at Microsoft Teams
description: Microsoft Teams is a chat-based collaboration app. A workspace that allows you to chat, meet, have a video call, share files and utilize Office 365 apps.
---

[IT, Cybersecurity and Compliance Solutions in Washington and Oregon ](https://blog.teknologize.com)

# [What's all the Hype? A Quick Glance at Microsoft Teams](https://blog.teknologize.com/microsoft-teams)

 Written by [Byron Martin](https://blog.teknologize.com/author/byron-martin) | Dec 15, 2020

Curious about what all the hype is around Microsoft Teams? [**Microsoft Teams**](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/microsoft-teams/group-chat-software) is the ultimate chat-based collaboration app for your organization.

 

A workspace that allows you to chat, meet, have an audio or video call, share files, and utilize Office 365 apps with everyone you work with all in one place. No matter where you are.

 

## **Microsoft Teams Basics**

 

To get started, here are the basics of your shared workspace.

 

**Chats**

- Chats can be private 1:1, group chats, or you can have conversations within a Team Channel. The conversations are saved and easily searchable. The use of **@mentions** tags specific team member(s) in the chat.

**Teams and Channels**

- Users can create Teams, where you can add members for specific work, projects, or interest groups. Each Team has subsections called Channels organized by topic or department. Within the Channels is where you have conversations, share files, have meetings, and add Office 365 apps. At the top of each channel, you’ll find Tabs that will filter via conversations, shared files, apps, etc. For example, you can create a “Marketing” Team and then have Channels such as “Blog Posts”, “Email Campaigns”, “Social Media”, etc. When there is a new chat or activity the Channel will show as **bold**.

 

**Calendar**

- In Calendar, you can see what you have planned for the day and week or schedule a meeting. This calendar syncs with your outlook calendar. To get to an online teams meeting, select join from the calendar.

 

**Video or Audio Conferencing and Screen Sharing**

- In today’s hybrid workforce a face-to-face meeting isn’t always feasible. Make meetings more personal and increase your productivity by collaborating in real-time all through video.
- In a Meeting, you can share your screen to show content from your device. You can also record the meeting or presentation to share with others.

 

**File Sharing**

- Co-author files in real-time. Securely store, access, share, and collaborate on files from anywhere.

 

**Activity**

- Go to Activity for a view of all your @mentions, unread messages, replies, and more.

*View of Microsoft Teams – Image Courtesy of [Teknologize](https://www.teknologize.com/)*

 

 

### **Additional Microsoft Teams Features**

 

Check out these additional features in Microsoft Teams.

 

**Custom Backgrounds**

- Create the perfect virtual setting by choosing, uploading, or blurring your background.

 

**Together Mode**

- During your video meeting, change your setting to Together Mode to digitally sit in a shared background, making it feel like you’re in the same room with everyone else.
  
   

*View of Together Mode – Image Courtesy of [Microsoft](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/microsoft-teams/group-chat-software)*

 

 

**Breakout Rooms**

- Breakout rooms make it easy to divide your meetings into sub-groups to facilitate smaller discussions.
- Organizers can jump in between meetings on their own, deliver announcements to all breakout rooms at once, and bring everyone back to the main meeting at any time.

 

**Apps **

- Organize tasks and critical business processes by utilizing apps.
- Apps make it easier to not have to leave Teams to get your work done. Hundreds of apps and services are available, including Office apps, apps for productivity, project management, sales, and even social and fun apps.

 

**Command Box**

- Use the Command Box to search for specific items, people, or apps. For example, type in @weather, enter location or zip code, and the forecast for the day will be displayed.

 

**Help**

- The Help feature in teams allows you to search for topics or choose from the most popular, access video training, as well as see what’s new in Microsoft Teams.

[**Get Started with Microsoft Teams Today!**](https://www.teknologize.com/contact-us)

 

 

**[About Teknologize](https://www.teknologize.com/)**

Teknologize is a **[SOC 2 Type II accredited](https://blog.teknologize.com/why-soc-2-certification-is-valuable) Managed IT and Cybersecurity provider** serving small to mid-sized businesses across Washington and Oregon. We deliver full-service [Managed IT Support](https://www.teknologize.com/managed-it/), [Co-Managed IT Support](https://www.teknologize.com/co-managed-it/), advanced [Cybersecurity Solutions](https://www.teknologize.com/cybersecurity/), and [IT Compliance Services](https://www.teknologize.com/regulatory-compliance/) for regulated industries, including [Healthcare](https://www.teknologize.com/it-support-healthcare/), [Financial Institutions,](https://www.teknologize.com/it-support-banks-and-credit/) [the Utilities Sector](https://www.teknologize.com/it-support-utilities/), [Manufacturing,](https://www.teknologize.com/it-support-manufacturing/) and [Professional Services](https://www.teknologize.com/it-support-businesses/).

👉 [Book a Discovery Call](https://info.teknologize.com/discovery-call) to see how Teknologize can support your business.

**Our Offices**

**Tri-Cities, Washington** – 509.396.6640 | **Yakima, Washington** – 509.396.6640

**Bend, Oregon** – 541.848.6072 | **Seattle, Washington** – 206.743.0981

Questions about your IT or Cybersecurity? Give us a call today!

 

[View full post](https://blog.teknologize.com/microsoft-teams)

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