By Akash Sengar · · 2 min read
Start with how you work
Both Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace give you business email, calendars, file storage, documents, video meetings and admin controls. Both can be run securely. The better choice is the one that fits how your team already works and the systems around it. We implement both and don't favour either.
Eight criteria
- Documents. Heavy use of desktop Excel models, Word templates or macros favours Microsoft 365. Live co-editing in the browser is native to Google Workspace.
- Devices. Mostly Windows laptops that need central management favours Microsoft 365 with Intune. Mostly Chromebooks or a browser-first mix suits Google Workspace.
- Clients and partners. If they send you Office files and Teams invites all day, matching them reduces friction.
- Identity. Existing Active Directory or Entra ID points to Microsoft 365. Google can also act as your identity provider.
- Business apps. Check which suite your CRM, HRMS, accounting and helpdesk tools integrate with best.
- Security features in your plan. Compare MFA enforcement, Conditional Access or context-aware access, data loss prevention and device management at the plan tier you will actually buy.
- Admin effort. Who will run it day to day, and which console do they know?
- Migration cost. Moving mail, files and calendars has a cost either way. Count it, along with retraining.
A quick decision path
Security either way
- Enforce MFA for everyone, and block legacy authentication.
- Review admin roles and apply least privilege.
- Restrict external sharing to what the business needs.
- Turn on audit logging, and set up SPF, DKIM and DMARC for your domain.
If you are switching
Plan the cutover for a quiet period, migrate mail, calendars and files in stages, and keep the old system read-only until users confirm everything arrived. Update DNS records (MX, SPF, DKIM) at cutover, then check your domain with our free email security check.
