Storage can be a stressful thing depending on how much data you have. Not to mention terms like cloud services and cloud computing throwing you off because of lack of understanding. If you’re an organization that is constantly using email to communicate and work, you may be stressed about data storage more than the average business. That’s why so many companies are migrating to the cloud.
The cloud is changing the way businesses operate. With cloud based platforms like Office 365 and G Suite team members are able to collaborate with each other in real time from different points on the globe. This increases productivity without risking network security.
Migrating your email data to the cloud through a Managed Service Provider (MSP) is easy and has a great number of benefits. They will make sure you’re always up-to-date and secure and that your email is flowing at all times. Migrating to the cloud also allows for a larger percentage of uptime because your servers and hardware aren't on location anymore.
You won't have to worry about your email going down for three days because of a flood and damaged equipment. Additionally, through cloud storage you save money on hardware you would have used on-site. Migrating is easy and most email providers will do it for you, or a Managed Service Provider can assist.
Platforms
Microsoft and Google are the two largest email cloud providers. Even though they provide similar services, the plans they offer are very different. Microsoft Office 365 might work great for one organization but not for another. Both platforms have pros and cons but ultimately, it’s your MSPs job to guide you in the correct direction based on your email needs.
Office 365
First, with Microsoft Office 365 suite the financial commitment must be made annually so there isn’t a ton of flexibility in that regard. Microsoft does get flexible when it comes to their mix and match plans though. They also recognize that every business is different and it’s important to use what you pay for. Storage is one of the main benefits of a cloud email platform.
The benefit of OneDrive through an Office 365 subscription is that it stores all your files locally, so you’ll always have secure access. Office 365 subscribers also have the added benefit of video conferencing.
Let’s not forget about Microsoft Teams either. It’s a great non-formal chat platform for your team to collaborate on. All you’ll need to access applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is a web browser and internet connection.
Depending on your plan the range of participants you can have is anywhere from 250 – 10,000. The Basic plans start with 1TB of storage. This is considered fairly generous for a base level plan but the storage doesn’t get much greater than that.
Even if you upgrade to the Business plan, there are many more features, and office apps but you’re still limited to 1TB of storage. For some organizations that limit just wouldn’t work.
Office also caps the end user limit at 300 which also wouldn’t work for some larger companies. Additionally, unlike other email cloud providers, Office 365 has a lot of advanced security features to benefit their suite customers. Some of these include advanced virus protection and mailbox rights and management.
G Suite
G Suite is another cloud platform that operates similarly to Office but sometimes works better with bigger businesses. One major difference is the flexibility in payment. Unlike Office, which requires yearly payment, G Suite allows for monthly commitments. Similarly to Office, G Suite has applications like hangouts meet and google docs for collaboration as well.
With G Suite, files aren’t downloaded to your device until you open them. If you’re using a computer, for example, the file might appear on your desktop but it’s actually still living in the cloud.
Unlike Office 365 there is no limit to the number of end users you can have on a plan. There is also no limit on the amount of storage. The Basic plan has a maximum of 30GB of storage, but the Business plan has unlimited.
This works great for companies who send and receive emails all day. Video calls are where the limitations come in. G Suite allows for 25 participants for the Basic plan, 50 for the Business level, and 100 for Enterprise.
As you can see, even if two platforms operate on the cloud, they can still be extremely different. Your data is important so making the right choice is crucial. A Managed Service Provider has the migration tools necessary and the proper understanding of how these platforms work. They have an awareness of which plans work for what businesses.
Contact Us at The TNS Group today for more information about migrating to the cloud and which platform might be right for you.
Categories: Managed Service Provider, MSP Blogs
