Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace are two popular cloud-based solutions that offer productivity apps, email, file storage, communication, and collaboration tools for businesses of all sizes. But how do they compare in terms of features, pricing, and security? Here is a brief overview of some of the main differences between them.
Before delving into the comparison, are you thinking about switching from one platform to another? If so, you might be particularly interested in the process of migrating from Google Workplace to Microsoft 365. If you’re pondering over making this transition, you’ll find many helpful guides and tutorials online to assist you.
Differences between Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace
File/Cloud Storage
One of the most noticeable differences between Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace is the amount of storage they provide per user. Microsoft 365’s Business Basic plan offers 1 TB of file storage per user, while Google Workspace’s Business Starter plan only offers 30 GB of combined file and email storage per user. However, Google Workspace’s higher-tier plans offer more storage than Microsoft 365’s equivalent plans: 2 TB or 5 TB per user for Business Standard or Business Plus plans respectively, compared to 1 TB per user for Business Standard or Business Premium plans.
It’s essential to note how each platform manages its storage differs too. Take Microsoft 365; it teams up with OneDrive to offer cloud storage and ensure your files are synchronized across different devices for effortless access and sharing. Microsoft 365 has robust file versioning and backup capabilities so that your data is never lost.
On the other hand, Google Workspace leverages Google Drive, celebrated for its intuitive interface and smooth tie-in with the rest of Google’s app ecosystem. Google Drive supports real-time collaboration, meaning multiple team members can work on the same document simultaneously. This flexibility could benefit teams working together closely, regardless of geographical location. Nonetheless, the two can be put together to benefit your company’s productivity.
Email
Both Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace use their own email clients: Outlook for Microsoft 365 and Gmail for Google Workspace. Outlook has more advanced features such as scheduling assistant, shared calendars, task management, and offline access. Gmail has a simpler interface and integrates well with other Google apps such as Calendar, Meet, and Chat. Both email clients offer spam filtering, encryption, archiving, and data loss prevention.
In addition to the mentioned features, Outlook and Gmail have unique advantages.
Outlook’s integration with Microsoft tools like Teams and OneDrive facilitates collaboration and scheduling, which is ideal for a corporate environment. Gmail, meanwhile, excels in search and sorting features, thanks to Google’s search technology. It offers features like ‘nudges’ for email follow-ups, intelligent replies, and a ‘priority inbox’ that helps manage emails by learning user habits.
Ultimately, the choice between the two platforms hinges on individual preferences and business needs.
Productivity Apps
Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace both offer a suite of productivity apps that include word processing, spreadsheet, presentation, note-taking, and form creation tools. The Microsoft 365 apps are Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Forms; Google Workspace’s apps are Docs, Sheets, Slides, Keep, and Forms. Microsoft 365’s apps have more functionality and formatting options than Google Workspace’s apps, but they also require more bandwidth and processing power to run smoothly. Google Workspace’s apps are cloud-native and can run on any device with a web browser. Both suites allow real-time collaboration, version history, and offline access.
Communication and Collaboration
Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace both offer communication and collaboration tools that include video conferencing, instant messaging, team chat, and project management. Microsoft 365’s tools are Teams, Skype, Yammer, and Planner; Google Workspace’s tools are Meet, Chat, Groups, and Currents. Teams has more features than Meet such as breakout rooms, polls, whiteboard, and live captions, but Meet has a simpler interface and can accommodate up to 250 participants per call compared to Teams’ limit of 100 participants. Chat and Yammer are similar in functionality to team chat platforms that integrate with other apps; Groups and Currents are similar in functionality to social networking platforms that allow users to create communities and share content.
Security
Both Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace have strong security measures in place to protect their users’ data from unauthorized access or loss. They both use encryption at rest and in transit; they both offer multi-factor authentication; they both comply with various industry standards such as GDPR; HIPAA; ISO; etc.. However; there are some differences in how they handle security updates; backups; recovery; etc. For example; Microsoft 365 allows users to control when they receive security updates; while Google Workspace applies them automatically without user intervention. Microsoft 365 also provides more granular backup options such as item-level restore; while Google Workspace relies on its version history feature for restoring files.
Conclusion
Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace are both powerful cloud-based solutions that can help businesses improve their productivity; efficiency; and collaboration. However; they have different strengths and weaknesses depending on the needs and preferences of each business. Therefore; it is important to compare them carefully before choosing one over the other.
Google is hosting the second edition of its Google for Africa event from October 5th to 7th 2022. Where Google leaders will highlight new global products and updates specific to Africa, and share updates on its multi-billion investments across the continent. It will also host masterclasses including a session targeting tech and non-tech talent looking to work at Google.
The Google for Africa 2022 event will be an online-only event and kick-off at the following times across the region: 9 AM GMT, 10 AM WAT, 11 AM CAT, 12 PM EAT, and 11 AM SAT. We are not sure if the company will still go ahead and hold the usual country-specific mini-events later on.
This is how the Google for Africa 2022 event invite reads.
“Join us for the second virtual Google for Africa event as we share how we are delivering on [our] commitment and how we are building the future together. Join us to learn how Google is invested in Africa’s digital transformation“.
As is the norm at Google Africa events it will have two parts, a keynote and masterclass sessions. A forty-five-minute keynote session on the 5th of October 2022 led by Google and Alphabet CEO, Sundar Pichai. Then 13 masterclass sessions on the 6th and 7th of October, targeted at YouTube creators, business founders, NGOs, IT pros, and developers.
This year the company introduces a career path to Google session for tech and non-tech talent looking to work at Google. Masterclasses will cover areas like SMB growth, digital advertising, nonprofit management, YouTube Shorts, AI, and Google cloud.
Last year Google announced plans to invest $1 billion over five years to support initiatives including startups and connectivity. It launched an African Investment Fund to invest $50 million in startups and provide $10 million in low-interest loans to small businesses and entrepreneurs in Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa through the non-profit Kiva. Google also announced plans to scale a program started in Kenya in partnership with Safaricom that allows customers to pay for 4G-enabled phones in installments across the continent with partners such as Airtel, M-KOPA, MTN, Orange, Transsion Holdings, and Vodacom. It also launched Plus Codes for streets without addresses and YouTube Shorts for creators.
MCGH will follow the event and will bring you updates from the Google for Africa 2022 virtual event. Missed the previous event? Watch the keynote highlights below.
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Here is how to watch the first-ever virtual Google for Africa event on October 6. Google is hosting its annual Africa event online this year. This is different from the previous country-specific events held in only Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa. It will for the first time have participants from across the continent join the event. The live stream will start at the following times 9 AM GMT, 10 AM WAT, 11 AM CAT, 12 PM EAT and 11 AM SAT.
Although Google is hosting the event online the format hasn’t changed. There will be a keynote session where the company will introduce new ecosystem products and share more on its investments in Africa. Then there will be masterclasses that take registered participants through introductory and hands-on product sessions. Nigerian musician Tiwa Savage will give a special closing performance to cap the event. Click the link to get more details, register and participate in the virtual event.
Google will stream the event on the Google Africa YouTube page. We are embedding the live stream here so you can bookmark this page and visit it when the event goes live. You can also use the remind me feature on the scheduled YouTube event to set a reminder and get a notification when it starts.
Watch Google for Africa 2021 event live
https://youtu.be/GJw_gOAnAtE
Google will be announcing new collaborations and what it is working on with partners to increase connectivity in the region. It will also showcase new Africa centric updates in products like maps and search at the event. We might get to hear more about what Google plans to do with YouTube creators in Africa.
Join us to watch and tell us what you are looking forward to. Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
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Check out other stories making the news in the technology ecosystem in Africa and the Middle East.
Google is hosting a special Africa event on October 6th. It will kick off at the following times across the region 10 AM WAT, 11 AM CAT, 12 PM EAT, 9 AM GMT, and 11 AM SAT. The Google for Africa 2021 event will be an online-only event and not in-person this year. Due to the global pandemic, we will not have the usual country-specific mini-events. Google’s invite reads “Google leaders will share updates of the work we’re doing to support Africa’s digital transformation”. We expect the company to highlight new products, product updates specific to Africa and investments across the continent.
As is the norm at Google Africa events it will have two parts, a keynote and masterclass sessions. A forty-five-minute keynote session led by Google and Alphabet CEO, Sundar Pichai. And 7 masterclass sessions that will hold across two days and cover topics related to creators, businesses and developers.
Other Google leaders speaking at the event are Juliet Ehimuan, Director West Africa, Mariam Abdullahi, Director Platforms and Ecosystem, and Ruth Porat Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, Alphabet and Google.
We will be sharing some updates on the work that we are doing to make Google more helpful to people in Africa at our inaugural Google for Africa event on Wednesday, October 6. We will be hosting 5 masterclasses covering areas like SMB growth, digital advertising, nonprofit management, YouTube Shorts, and intro to machine learning for developers.
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Check out other stories making the news in the technology ecosystem in Africa and the Middle East.
Google announces fund to support online safety in Africa.
Marking World Safer Internet Day Google though its philanthropy arm is launching a one million USD pan-African fund. To help in promoting online safety and keeping children safe online. To achieve this, google will empower social enterprises and non profits with project ideas focused on digital literacy and online safety.
Google also launched a children online literacy program, Be Internet Awesome initiative in Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa. It will work with partners to teach kids how to be safe, confident explorers of the online world.
The company announced this in a statement on its Africa social media page.
“Today we are launching Be Internet Awesome in Nigeria, Kenya, South Africa. We will be working with our partners across the region to teach kids how to be safe, confident explorers of the online world. To help in promoting online safety, @Googleorg will be launching a $1M fund. Will be open to nonprofits to work on project that is focused on keeping children safe online.“
Google notes the core of its Be Internet Awesome initiative is working as a unit with parents, children and educators. On the ground rules that keep them safe online.
“Be Internet Awesome” is designed to help children practice smart tactics for analyzing and evaluating information, sharing media with caution, protecting and securing private data, and handling cyberbullying, for example.
Google is currently receiving an expression of interest from organizations who will like to access in the grant.
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