We often come across objections being raised why organisations believe they cannot go Google. But these typically come about as a result of a lack of understanding of the Google platform, or a failure to appreciate the constraints imposed by their current service so here we try and dispel the myths about Google.
1. Worried about security?
Google operates one of the largest networks of distributed data centres in the world, and goes to great lengths to protect the data and intellectual property on these servers. These facilities are protected around the clock and have a dedicated security operations team who focuses specifically on maintaining the security of the environment. The controls, processes and policies that protect these data have successfully completed a SAS 70 Type II audit. There are three main components to our security practices:
Google operates one of the largest networks of distributed data centres in the world, and goes to great lengths to protect the data and intellectual property on these servers. These facilities are protected around the clock and have a dedicated security operations team who focuses specifically on maintaining the security of the environment. The controls, processes and policies that protect these data have successfully completed a SAS 70 Type II audit. There are three main components to our security practices:
- People – Google employs a full-time information security team including some of the world’s foremost experts in information, application, and network security. This team is responsible for the company’s perimeter defense systems, security review processes, and customized security infrastructure, as well as for developing, documenting, and implementing Google’s security policies and standards.
- Process – Security is part of the Google DNA. Each application is built from the ground up with security in mind. Google applications go through multiple security reviews as part of the Secure Code development process. The application development environment is closely restricted and carefully monitored to maximize security. External security audits are also regularly conducted to provide additional assurance.
- Technology – Google Apps data is fractured and obfuscated across multiple servers and disks, making it human-unreadable. Data is replicated in multiple data centers for redundancy and consistent availability. To reduce exploit risks, each Google server is custom-built with only the necessary software components, and the homogeneous server architecture enables rapid updates and configuration changes across the entire network when necessary.
2. Where is data held?
Data is held in the "Cloud". In other words, your data is held in centrally managed secure servers by Google and you are only using the server capacity you need, without the worries of security and maintenance and not paying for wasted space. Where it is geographically doesn't matter, because it is only held in shards, in meaningless chunks that only make sense when brought together. So nobody in any individual data centre has access to any of your data in any meaningful form.
3. What about down time?
Check out the SLA for Google Apps to see that they guarantee 99.9% uptime within any calendar month - pretty impressive. Their status dashboard shows how good the picture is.
3. What about down time?
Check out the SLA for Google Apps to see that they guarantee 99.9% uptime within any calendar month - pretty impressive. Their status dashboard shows how good the picture is.
4. No support
Google is supported primarily via focused online help centres. The powerful search function enables you to bring up all relevant entries associated with your search term and typically leads you to the answer! They have a knowledgeable and responsive team of support staff who will correspond with you online to resolve your issue. With so many users around the globe there's nearly always someone who has asked the question before! However we know that if you are a corporate user you want more than this. Netinfo has a team of Google trained specialists to help you through the process and to bring you enterprise level support going forward.
Google is supported primarily via focused online help centres. The powerful search function enables you to bring up all relevant entries associated with your search term and typically leads you to the answer! They have a knowledgeable and responsive team of support staff who will correspond with you online to resolve your issue. With so many users around the globe there's nearly always someone who has asked the question before! However we know that if you are a corporate user you want more than this. Netinfo has a team of Google trained specialists to help you through the process and to bring you enterprise level support going forward.
5. Doesn't deal with levels of security permissions
Google Apps comes with a fixed two levels of security - Administrator and User. That doesn't work well for corporate users, so Netinfo has built a Domain Management Studio to provide further levels of security control for administrators of Google Apps. With a simple and intuitive interface, it allows you the right level of granularity for setting user permissions.
Google Apps comes with a fixed two levels of security - Administrator and User. That doesn't work well for corporate users, so Netinfo has built a Domain Management Studio to provide further levels of security control for administrators of Google Apps. With a simple and intuitive interface, it allows you the right level of granularity for setting user permissions.
6. Restricted integration with mobile devices e.g. Blackberries
Email and IM are easily accessible on the iPhone, BlackBerry, or other smart phones through client applications or web interfaces optimized to run on mobile browsers so no need to worry about that!
7. What about existing Office documents?
You probably won't want to give up Microsoft OfficeTM straightaway, but when you do you can migrate your documents straight into Google Docs with a few clicks and also email them. There's also the facility to bulk upload, saving you lots of time.
8. Won't it be slow?
The performance of the applications will be dependent on your internet connection. But as long as you're well connected, you're good to go.
9. We won't be able to work offline
GApps is now set up to allow offline working so your users can carry on working even when away from connectivity.
10. It's not really an option for business is it?
Actually, it really is a completely viable option right now. Every day, businesses of all sizes are moving to Google Apps. Most are so impressed with the experience that they are more than willing to add their testimonials to the Google site. Check out the customer stories and prepare to be surprised at the results.
Email and IM are easily accessible on the iPhone, BlackBerry, or other smart phones through client applications or web interfaces optimized to run on mobile browsers so no need to worry about that!
7. What about existing Office documents?
You probably won't want to give up Microsoft OfficeTM straightaway, but when you do you can migrate your documents straight into Google Docs with a few clicks and also email them. There's also the facility to bulk upload, saving you lots of time.
8. Won't it be slow?
The performance of the applications will be dependent on your internet connection. But as long as you're well connected, you're good to go.
9. We won't be able to work offline
GApps is now set up to allow offline working so your users can carry on working even when away from connectivity.
10. It's not really an option for business is it?
Actually, it really is a completely viable option right now. Every day, businesses of all sizes are moving to Google Apps. Most are so impressed with the experience that they are more than willing to add their testimonials to the Google site. Check out the customer stories and prepare to be surprised at the results.