Google dominates the search engine market with a 92.47% market share and over 4.3 billion users worldwide. The term “google” has even become a transitive verb, meaning “to search for something online.” If you need an answer to a question, you Google it and if you need to send an email, you might join the 1.5 billion people who use Gmail. So, why are some people still apprehensive to use Google Workspace when it comes to composing a document, generating a list of statistics, creating a presentation, or hosting an online meeting?

Google Workspace is a productivity and collaboration suite that runs on the cloud. There are a host of applications available such as a Gmail, Drive, Calendar, Meet, Chat, Docs, Sheets, and Slides with advanced options available for a monthly fee.

Let’s take a look at some of the common myths about Workspace.

1. Confidentiality – Working online with all of your applications and documents stored in the cloud is less secure than working locally.

This is not true. Since Google operates in the cloud, it is aware of all the potential security risks associated with moving your company to the cloud. As a result, Google Workspace was created to adhere to strict privacy and security standards based on best practices in the industry. They will not disclose your information to anyone else, including individuals or third parties, unless ordered to do so by a court or law enforcement agency. Furthermore, there is no advertising in Google Workspace, and no data from Google Workspace services is ever collected or used for advertising purposes.

Google is so committed to data security that they provide product capabilities and contractual commitments to help customers comply with South Africa’s Protection of Personal Information (POPI) Act. They follow the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR), which are in accordance with EU law regarding data protection and privacy in the European Union and the European Economic Area. They are also committed to complying with the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA).

You are also protected from phishing messages, scams, and spam emails in Gmail, Google’s internet-based email service. It blocks 10 million spam and malicious emails every 60 seconds using Google’s state-of-the-art email classifier.

2. Work will be disrupted if everything is online and there are power outages or shaky internet connections.

Thankfully, not. If your system fails, Google Workspace allows you to continue working. Just turn on offline support in the settings in Google Chrome and you can view and edit documents and emails as usual. Any changes you make will be saved when your internet returns.

3. Anyone on my team can access to my files.

Incorrect. You have the ability to control what you share and with who. You can choose the type of access you want to grant by selecting viewer, commenter, or editor in the share settings, and even set an expiration date, and remove access whenever you want.

Even the reseller who assisted you in setting up your account does not have access to your files or data. They only have administrative access, which you can revoke at any time.

4. We won’t be able to retrieve our data from Google Workspace.

You can export your data from Google at any time. You can download documents as needed from the various programmes or folders, or you can download all of your data at once. In your Google Account settings, go to Data & Privacy, then scroll down to Download or Delete your data. You can export a copy of your Google Account’s data to backup or use with another service besides Google.

Note that if you choose to delete your account, Google will delete all of your data and content in that account, like emails, files, calendars, and photos.

5. Our work won’t be compatible with anyone using Microsoft Office

Workspace works on all computer platforms that have access to a web browser, including Mac, PC, ChromeOS, and even Linux.

There are no compatibility issues between the two formats. You can view and edit MS Office files in Workspace without installing Office. If necessary, you can download your presentations, sheets, or documents in Microsoft and other formats. Furthermore, with Google Workspace, you can co-edit documents in real time on any device, even if you don’t have a Google account.

6. Resellers charge a greater premium for Google Workspace than Google does.

There is no price difference between Google and a reseller. So, why would you go through a reseller? A reseller adds a personal touch. Someone who can assist you with migration, support, or training, as well as answer any issues you may have. A reseller, such as Chromesoft, determines their own pricing for the additional services they offer.

7. Google Workspace is free for businesses.

In 2012, Google stopped offering a free version for businesses. You can now take advantage of a 14-day free trial period before deciding which plan best meets your company’s needs. Despite their limited capabilities, the applications are free for personal use.

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Any size organisation can use Google Workspace to create, collaborate and be more productive in various locations. If you would like to get started on Google Workspace or if you would like to find out more information, contact us at Chromesoft.