Why More Businesses Are Moving From Google Workspace To Microsoft 365?

By Author: Xanthe Clay
Total Articles: 2
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Google Workspace and Office 365 are both collaboration platforms known for their suite of productivity apps. Even though both of the platforms provide almost similar benefits and tools, businesses are moving to Office 365. It is due to the advanced threat protection and data security policies supported by M365.

This article provides you with clear reasons explaining why businesses are moving from Google Workspace to Office 365. We will also explore the challenges that can disrupt the migration. Let’s get started!

Why are businesses migrating to Office 365?

Let’s explore to find the in-depth reasons leading to this migration:

Familiarity with the platform
Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint have been in existence for more than a decade. These apps are utilized almost in every sphere, be it school, college, corporate, or government offices. Due to this, adopting Microsoft 365 within the organizations seems to be comparatively easier with minimal user training.

Centralized platform
Microsoft 365 acts as a centralized platform that provides access to a suite of applications, ...
... such as Exchange, OneDrive, SharePoint, Power Automate, Teams, etc. You do not need to switch platforms or download any application to access these components. This helps in boosting productivity and improving collaboration among team members.

Microsoft also allows easy integration with solutions, such as Power BI, Dynamics 365, Purview, and Azure.

High-end security and compliance
Office 365 is known widely for its enterprise-grade security features, such as data loss prevention (DLP), advanced threat protection, eDiscovery, multi-factor authentication, etc. Implementing these features, organizations protect their sensitive business data against malware, ransomware, phishing, and other cyberattacks.

Additionally, the Office 365 admin can apply Role-Based Access Control to manage access levels and user permissions. It will help you make sure that only the authorized individuals get access to the data.

Effective communication
With Microsoft 365 components, such as Teams and SharePoint, users can easily collaborate and communicate without any hassles. It provides real-time chat, video conferencing, document collaboration, and more within a single platform. There is no need to switch between multiple apps or browser tabs.

Versatile pricing and plans
One of the major benefits of using Office 365 is the flexible subscriptions and pricing options. While Google Workspace provide three pricing plans, there are a variety of plans available with Microsoft to allow businesses easily find one according to their requirements. Moreover, these plans are flexible enough to effortlessly upgrade or downgrade the plans according to the changing business needs.

What are the common challenges during Google Workspace to Microsoft 365 migration?

When planning Google workspace to Microsoft 365 migration, you need to be aware of the possible challenges you might face during the process. Some of those include:

Metadata preservation
Preserving timestamps, multiple file versions, file path, and other metadata is one of the major challenges Office 365 admins face during migration.

User adoption
Successful migration not just includes data transfer, but it is way beyond that. It also involves smooth user adoption. Set up training plans and provide learning material to help with easy onboarding.

Permissions and accesses
Another issue which is majorly experienced by the users is the transfer of users and group permissions. Improper user mapping during the process often results in accessibility issue to the users.

Data corruption
One challenge that causes inconvenience to users after migration is data loss and corruption. When this happens in the destination environment, all the efforts you put into the migration process go to waste.

Using manual methods for G Suite to Office 365 migration often results in errors and inaccessibility after the process completion. Due to this, you might experience business downtime, resulting in low productivity and efficiency. To avoid this, analyze the source environment, take a detailed backup, and get a professional migration solution that simplifies the data transfer without modifying permissions, versions, metadata, or data integrity.

Conclusion

There are many compelling reasons for migrating from Google Workspace to Office 365. Microsoft’s advanced features, enterprise-grade security, and flexible plans make it the preferred choice for businesses of all sizes. However, the process is not always simple. Challenges like metadata preservation, permission mapping, and user adoption can make migration overwhelming without the right strategy.

To ensure a smooth transition, businesses should rely on a professional solution instead of manual methods. Tools like Kernel Google Workspace to Office 365 Migration simplify the entire process by securely transferring emails, contacts, calendars, attachments, and more. The tool maintains folder hierarchy, metadata, and permissions while eliminating risks of downtime or data corruption. It also supports selective migration, scheduling, and batch transfers, making it suitable for enterprises. By adopting a reliable migration solution, organizations can unlock the full potential of Microsoft 365 and experience secure, seamless collaboration without disruption.

Q1. How long does a Google Workspace to Office 365 migration take?
The duration of a Google Workspace to Office 365 migration depends on data size, internet speed, and the migration tool used. Small businesses may complete it in days, while enterprises may take weeks.

Q2. Will my emails and attachments remain intact after migration?
Yes. Using a professional migration tool ensures that emails, attachments, contacts, calendars, and metadata remain intact during Google Workspace to Office 365 migration.

Q3. Can users continue working during the migration process?
Yes. With the right SharePoint migration tool or Microsoft 365 migration solution, downtime is minimal. Users can keep working while the data moves in the background.

Q4. Why should I use a third-party migration tool instead of manual methods?
Manual migration often risks data loss, broken permissions, and errors. A professional tool ensures accurate, secure, and fast Google Workspace to Office 365 migration without disrupting business operations.

Q5. How do I preserve permissions and file versions during migration?
Preserving permissions, file versions, and metadata can be difficult with manual methods. A professional Google Workspace to Office 365 migration tool helps maintain them accurately.

Q6. Is it possible to migrate Google Drive files to SharePoint Online?
Yes. Many businesses migrate Google Drive files directly to SharePoint Online. Using a reliable SharePoint migration tool ensures data security and preserves folder structure during migration.