Google Workspace

Google Workspace was our go-to-choice when moving away from a Microsoft environment. It allows us, like no other of its competitors to:

1) collaborate with ease
As we work together on documents all the time, it is really easy to have Google's suite of tools at our disposal with a generous amount of data.

2) setup & onboard new users without hassle
Adding new users, even temporary account for students is really easy. Sharing previous docs, an onboarding map and the likes is done with almost no effort.

3) manage rights & permissions
Managing users and adding them to subsidiaries or managing individual rights is straightforward.

At first, the 100% webbased solution, was not fully trusted for users when going offline. But Google has come a long way improving towards a solution that works perfectly on and offline.

Chromebooks that enter the domain are treated automatically as 'managed' by the organisation, which limits some functionalities even when this is not intended. It is a minor downside however and actually makes sense to do it this way.

Well, A complete google package is suitable for any business. Premium google adds on packages are bonuses. Storage is a very excellent buy for literally anything. There is no need for any special training for employees. Anyone can easily use it. No hassle to train employees. Very organized and fully cloud-based. Gmail, drive, Voice are great development.

Apart from good features there are few things that people don't like about this product. This is entirely webbased and many of us don't like this. Very average/poor support system comparing to their competitors. Collaboration tools are not great as their competitors offer. Pricing should be even more better.

One of the key advantages of Google Workspace is its comprehensive suite of applications that cover a wide range of productivity and collaboration needs. It includes popular apps such as Gmail, Google Drive, Google Calendar, Google Docs, and Google Meet, among others. These apps integrate seamlessly with each other, allowing users to work efficiently and collaboratively in one platform.Another advantage is the cloud-based nature of Google Workspace, which means that users can access their work from any device with an internet connection, including desktops, laptops, smartphones, and tablets. This allows for flexibility and remote work options, which have become increasingly important in today's fast-paced and dynamic business environment.Lastly, Google Workspace offers various advanced features and tools, such as real-time collaboration, machine learning capabilities, and security features to protect user data. These features help users work more effectively and securely, ultimately improving productivity and success in their work.

One possible downside of Google Workspace is the learning curve associated with adopting new tools and workflows. For users who are used to working with different software, the transition to Google Workspace may take some time and effort to get used to.Another potential issue is the pricing structure of Google Workspace, which may be a consideration for small businesses or individuals who may find the subscription costs to be high.Finally, some users may have concerns about the privacy and security of their data when using cloud-based services like Google Workspace. While Google has implemented strong security measures to protect user data, there is always a risk of data breaches or other security incidents, which may lead to the exposure of sensitive information.

G Suite, a powerful collection of Googles Utilities wrapped up in a business-centric manageable cloud (for in our case, Education).

There is a large amount of customization available based upon users by OU, which can trickle down into Chromebook management, and more.

Quick alias support for name changes.
Extra Routing steps for email if you wish (route through your own filters, or a second route for internal archiving).
Enable / Disable GSuite apps based upon OU. And configurations based upon such.
Password Syncs with Active Directory (requires an install on a password management server).
User Sync with Active Directry (requires another install on a directory server).

G Suite is excellent. But G Suite does suffer some flaws.

The management interface is SLOW. I cannot underscore this enough. Antique "Active Directory Users and Computers" is like lightning compared to using the management interface.

The mangaement inferface tends to forget your log-ins mid stream, it doesn't remember where you were, and your attempted setting change wasn't set. Don't forget.

Some interfaces hide the save button (seemingly...). Other settings are saved on click (lack of consistency).
New features are often bleeding edge, but also sometimes completely excluded because "it's not for business customers"?
Restrict "Hangouts" for some users? No... you cannot, you have to use "Hangouts Chat" because that's the business client, but that doesn't integrate into email.

One of the most appealing aspects of Google Workspace is the way it streamlines collaboration and communication. Its cloud-based tools allow users to easily share documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and other files with team members, regardless of their location.

1. One of the potential drawbacks of Google Workspace is the subscription-based pricing model. 2. Google has implemented several security measures and regularly updates its security protocols, some time it feel uncomfortable storing sensitive information on a cloud-based platform.