Fundamental Differences Between Google Workspace and Microsoft Tenant: A Migration Perspective – Part 2

<span id="hs_cos_wrapper_name" class="hs_cos_wrapper hs_cos_wrapper_meta_field hs_cos_wrapper_type_text" style="" data-hs-cos-general-type="meta_field" data-hs-cos-type="text" >Fundamental Differences Between Google Workspace and Microsoft Tenant: A Migration Perspective – Part 2</span>

Conrad Murray
23 March, 2026

Managing Google to Microsoft Migration with GAM7 and PowerShell

Migrating from Google Workspace to Microsoft 365 requires careful planning and execution. GAM7 (Google Apps Manager) is a powerful command-line tool that helps in extracting and managing data from Google Workspace, allowing administrators to migrate user data, emails, calendars, and contacts. PowerShell, on the other hand, is a versatile scripting language that automates tasks and configurations in Microsoft 365, such as user creation, licensing, and permissions management. Using both tools in conjunction can streamline the migration process and reduce manual effort.

Detailed Differences Between Email and Drive/SharePoint

Email: Gmail vs. Exchange Online

Feature	Gmail	Exchange Online
Organization	Uses labels instead of folders	Uses a traditional folder-based structure
Storage Model	Emails stored in Google’s distributed cloud	Stored in dedicated Exchange mailboxes
Integration	Works seamlessly with Google Chat, Meet	Deep integration with Teams, SharePoint, and Outlook
Security & Compliance	Advanced spam filtering, less granular policies	Comprehensive compliance policies, legal hold, retention tags
Archiving & Backup	Google Vault for archiving and retention	In-place archiving, litigation hold, and DLP features

File Storage: Google Drive vs. OneDrive & SharePoint

Feature	Google Drive	OneDrive & SharePoint
Storage Model	Individual storage, shared drives	Personal OneDrive storage, team SharePoint sites
File Types	Google-native formats (Docs, Sheets, Slides)	Office formats (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Collaboration	Real-time editing, simple permissions	Real-time co-authoring, advanced permissions with AD integration
Permissions	Link-based sharing with granular controls	Role-based access (Owner, Member, Visitor) in SharePoint
Versioning	Basic versioning for edits and history	Advanced versioning, document approval workflows
Compliance & Security	Google Vault for retention	Sensitivity labels, eDiscovery, DLP policies

Pitfalls When Migrating from Google to Microsoft

Data Loss During Migration: Migration tools may not handle every file type or metadata correctly, potentially leading to data loss or corruption.
- Solution: Test migration with a small subset of data first and carefully validate data integrity.
Email Formatting Issues: Gmail and Exchange Online have different formats for storing and displaying email messages, which may lead to formatting discrepancies.
- Solution: Use specialized email migration tools to preserve email formatting and structure.
File Compatibility: Files created in Google Drive may not easily convert to Office formats, particularly Google-native formats.
- Solution: Pre-convert files to compatible formats or leverage Microsoft’s tools for file conversion.
User Training and Adoption: Migrating to Microsoft 365 may require significant user training, especially if employees are accustomed to the simplicity of Google Workspace.
- Solution: Provide training and resources to help users transition smoothly to the Microsoft 365 environment.
Integration Challenges: Some third-party apps or integrations used in Google Workspace may not have equivalent solutions in Microsoft 365.
- Solution: Perform an audit of existing integrations and research available Microsoft 365 solutions or third-party apps.

Conrad Murray

Conrad Murray is a Microsoft Certified IT consultant working in IT for over 20 years specialising in the Messaging arena and in particular Office 365 and previously Microsoft Exchange On-Premises and IBM Domino. Working with like minded colleagues now delivering very large scale complex migrations from Office 365 to Office 365 (tenant to tenant), Lotus Notes and On-Premises Microsoft Exchange to Office 365.