Which Cloud Service

Comparison

Microsoft vs Google

Two strong platforms — different strengths. Here’s a straight comparison to help you find the right path for your day-to-day, security, and budget.

Overview

Microsoft (Microsoft 365 + Azure)

USPs / Strengths
  • Seamless Windows integration: Entra ID (formerly Azure AD), Intune, Defender, Group Policy — everything plays nicely with Windows/AD and on-prem.
  • Productivity & collaboration in the Office format: Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams — the standard in many industries.
  • Broad security: EDR/XDR (Defender), DLP, MAM/MDM via Intune, eDiscovery — strong in regulated environments.
  • Hybrid support: Azure Arc, Site-to-Site VPN, AD Connect — good for mixed on-prem/cloud.
  • Ecosystem: Many Swedish partners are “Azure-first”, making it easy to find ops/outsourcing.
Weaknesses / Trade-offs
  • Complex licensing: Many SKUs and add-ons (E1/E3/E5, P1/P2, etc.).
  • Administration takes time: Security/compliance requires configuration and ongoing management.
  • Teams/SharePoint can sprawl: Governance is needed to avoid messiness.
Especially a good fit when
  • You’re Windows/AD-heavy and need advanced endpoint management and compliance.
  • You rely heavily on Excel/Office (macros, VBA, pivot tables) and live in Outlook.
  • You want hybrid and a gradual cloud journey.

Google (Google Workspace + Google Cloud)

USPs / Strengths
  • Simplicity & fast start: Admin console and licensing are simpler; less friction.
  • Real-time collaboration: Docs/Sheets/Slides and Drive — best-in-class simultaneous editing.
  • Web- and device-agnostic: Works equally well on Mac/Chromebook/mobile; less client dependency.
  • AI-first in everyday work: Gemini in Gmail, Docs, Meet; strong search/summarization.
  • Predictable costs: Suits pure cloud/SaaS without a large Windows fleet.
Weaknesses / Trade-offs
  • Excel-heavy workflows are painful: Advanced Excel/VBA works poorly in Sheets.
  • Messy admin interface: The admin UI is often perceived as cluttered and hard to navigate.
  • Weaker Windows/AD integration: SSO/SCIM/third-party exist — but not as “native”.
  • Less hybrid focus: Fewer “enterprise” on-prem/hybrid features.
Especially a good fit when
  • You want a simple, cloud-native day-to-day without heavy Windows management.
  • Teams work mostly in the browser and value real-time collaboration.
  • You run Mac/Chromebooks or BYOD and want to minimize client management.

Quick decision guide

Choose Microsoft if…

  • You have requirements around AD/Intune/Defender and deep endpoint control.
  • Office compatibility with customers/suppliers is critical.
  • You need hybrid and/or strong compliance (eDiscovery, deep DLP).

Choose Google if…

  • You prioritize simplicity, fast onboarding, and low maintenance.
  • Real-time collaboration matters more than advanced Office macros.
  • You’re on mixed platforms (Mac/ChromeOS/mobile) and want to reduce Windows dependence.

Security & management (SMB perspective)

Identity & SSO

Microsoft

Entra ID + Conditional Access — very mature with lots of granularity.

Google

Built-in SSO, passkeys — less complex but often “good enough”.

Device management

Microsoft

Intune provides deep control over Windows, strong MDM/MAM.

Google

Endpoint Management works well for browsers/mobile/Chromebooks.

Email protection

Microsoft

Defender for Office 365 — lots of granularity and policy depth.

Google

Advanced spam/phishing protection; easier to get started.

DLP & eDiscovery

Microsoft

The E5 suite is powerful but requires ongoing management.

Google

Simpler DLP that covers many SMB needs.

Cost & licensing (high level)

Microsoft

Multiple bundles (Business Basic/Standard/Premium, E3/E5). Premium/E5 is often needed for “everything”. Easy to start cheap, but add-ons can tick up.

Google

Fewer bundles (Business Starter/Standard/Plus, Enterprise). Often simpler to grasp; can be cheaper for a purely web-based day-to-day.

Migration & lock-in

Microsoft → Google

Email/calendar/Drive can be moved. Excel/VBA workflows often require adjustment/rewrites.

Google → Microsoft

Smooth for email/Drive. Plan your Teams/SharePoint structure and governance in advance.

Kisel’s lessons

Microsoft

Often cheaper in the long run because customers “force” you to use Microsoft in collaborations — which means you end up needing to buy quite a bit of Microsoft anyway.
Microsoft Business Premium basically includes everything an organization needs and adds advanced security features and central management.
If you have a lot of data, Microsoft gets pricey since extra storage beyond what’s included by default is expensive.

Google

A good option for startups and smaller companies because it’s easy to get going and pricing is reasonable for Google Business Standard. Many people use Gmail privately, so the environment feels familiar.
Unfortunately, Google often becomes expensive if you add security features like Conditional Access and other controls many customers currently require.
Google is generous with data storage. Very few customers need to purchase more space than what’s included by default.

Contact us