Learn how to Migrate from Google Workspace to Microsoft 365

User Query: After the domain is migrated: Can users log into both Google and Microsoft via Outlook to view historical emails as well as new emails coming in?

This migration scenario is also discussed in the Microsoft Q&A discussion on moving from Google Workspace to Microsoft 365. Moreover, in this guide, we will see how to switch from Google Workspace to Microsoft 365 via the MacSonik Google Workspace Backup Tool. 

Why Move Google Workspace Migration to Microsoft 365?

Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 provide the same cloud productivity services. However, an organization may choose Microsoft 365 when they want an integration with Microsoft applications, centralized administration, or a broader Microsoft ecosystem.

The following are the various reasons users prefer Microsoft 365 over Google Workspace:

• Moving business email from Gmail to Exchange Online.
• Using Microsoft Teams for communication and collaboration.
• Migrating Google Drive files to OneDrive or SharePoint.
• Standardizing Microsoft Office applications.
• Consolidating business applications under Microsoft 365.
• Improving centralized user and security management.
• Also, moving after a merger or organizational change.

What Data You Can Migrate from Google Workspace to Microsoft 365?

Google Workspace	Microsoft 365 Destination
Gmail	Outlook
Google Drive	OneDrive/SharePoint
Google Calendar	Microsoft 365 calendar
Google Contacts	Microsoft 365 Contacts
Shared Drives	SharePoint (document library)/OneDrive (my drive), depending on the migration plan
Google Workspace Users	Microsoft 365 users

Pre-Migration Planning for Google Workspace

Before proceeding towards the Google Workspace to Office 365 migration, it is necessary to follow the steps given below:

Step 1. Audit Google Workspace Data

Identify active users, inactive accounts, shared drives, large files, mailbox sizes, and important business data.

Step 2. Create Microsoft 365 Users

Create the required Microsoft 365 accounts and assign appropriate licenses.

Step 3. Verify the Microsoft 365 Domain

Add and verify your organization’s domain in Microsoft 365 before changing mail flow.

Step 4. Map Source and Destination Accounts

Prepare a mapping between Google Workspace accounts and their corresponding Microsoft 365 users. For example:

Google Workspace	Microsoft 365
user1@company.com	user1@company.com
user2@company.com	user2@company.com
user3@company.com	user3@company.com

Step 5. Prepare Google Workspace

Ensure the required administrator permissions and migration settings are configured before transferring mailbox data.

Step 6. Plan the Migration Window

Choose a migration period that minimizes disruption, particularly if hundreds or thousands of users are involved.

Manually Migrate from Google Workspace to Microsoft 365 

Microsoft provides native migration options for organizations moving email data into Microsoft 365. For the official migration requirements and process, refer to the Microsoft 365 Google Workspace Migration Overview.

1. First of all, set up Microsoft 365 users and licenses.
2. Prepare the Google Workspace environment.
3. Configure the required migration settings.
4. Connect Google Workspace with Microsoft 365.
5. Then, create migration endpoints or batches.
6. After that, select the users and mailbox data.
7. Furthermore, start the migration process.
8. Monitor migration status and verify the transferred data.
9. Finally, update DNS and mail-flow settings when ready.

Limitations: Migrate Google Drive to Microsoft 365 Manually

• Loads of Users: Dealing with huge numbers of users is a real challenge when it comes to manual migrations.
• Multiple Sources of Data: Migrating data from assorted Google Workspace sources that’s a whole lot to keep track of.
• Complicated Folder Structures: Preserving all those intricate folder hierarchies during a migration is a tricky business.
• Selective Migration: You only want to move the important users, files, or data and that’s no easy task by hand.
• Duplicate Data: Trying to sort out duplicate data before the migration even starts is a must just to avoid chaos.
• Phased Migrations: Doing a migration in multiple phases or batches can be a bit of a headache.

Note: For smaller organisations it’s sometimes possible to get away with manual migration. For an enterprise migration, however, administrators often need more automation and control.

Migrate from Google Workspace to Microsoft 365 Using MacSonik

For organizations handling a large amount of Google Workspace data, MacSonik G Suite Backup Tool provides a centralized approach to moving mailbox and other supported Workspace data into Microsoft 365. It migrates the complete mailbox data with zero data loss and alteration.

Want to learn more? Read our reference guide on migrating Google Workspace to MBOX.

Step-by-Step Procedure for G Suite to Microsoft 365 Migration

1. Install and open the MacSonik Google Workspace Backup Tool.
2. Authenticate your source Google Workspace environment and provide the required permissions.
3. Select Microsoft 365 as the destination and authenticate the target tenant.
4. Choose the data you want to migrate, such as emails, contacts, calendars, and supported Drive content.
5. Afterwards, apply the available filters to migrate only the required data. 
6. Finally, review the selected settings and begin the migration process.

After migration, sign in to Microsoft 365 and verify emails, attachments, folders, calendars, contacts, and other migrated data.

For detailed migration steps, refer to the  MacSonik Google Workspace to Office 365 guide.

MacSonik: The Right Choice for Migration

MacSonik makes it easier for organisations switching from Google Workspace to Microsoft 365 by providing a single place to get everything sorted. No more messing about with multiple disconnected export and import processes, instead you can set up the source and destination, map your users, pick which data to include, choose how you want to do the migration, and watch as it all gets moved over from one place.

It’s especially useful for IT bods, MSPs, and folk responsible for big migrations it’s just so much easier than trying to move lots of individual mailboxes and files on your own.

Real-Life Scenario: Migrate Google Workspace to Microsoft 365  
A mid-sized consulting company with 350 employees decided to move from Google Workspace to Microsoft 365 to standardize email, file storage, and collaboration on the Microsoft ecosystem. The company had years of Gmail messages, Google Drive files, contacts, and calendars spread across employee accounts. The IT team initially considered migrating each user’s data manually, but the process required too much administrative effort and made it difficult to track completed and failed migrations. They decided to use a dedicated migration solution instead.

Using MacSonik G Suite Backup Tool, the IT team mapped Google Workspace accounts to Microsoft 365 users, selected the required mailbox and Drive data, applied migration filters, and migrated users in batches. After each batch, administrators verified emails, attachments, contacts, calendars, and files before moving to the next group.

The phased approach allowed the company to reduce user disruption, maintain better control over the migration, and verify data before retiring the Google Workspace environment.

If you want to explore more you can go through the MacSonik Google Workspace to Office 365 Migration Tool.

Conclusion

To conclude, migrating from Google Workspace to Microsoft 365 involves moving emails, attachments, contacts, calendars, and other business data. Start by auditing the source, preparing Microsoft 365 accounts, mapping users, and testing a pilot migration. For larger projects, Google Workspace Backup Tool simplifies the process to migrate from Google Workspace to Microsoft 365.

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