How IT Teams Successfully Migrate 1000+ Microsoft 365 Mailboxes to Google Workspace
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Written By
Aradhya Jain -
Approved By
Shivam Rathore -
Updated on
July 6th, 2026 - Read Time
7 minutes
User Query: We’re a 25-user remote B2B startup currently on Microsoft 365, but as a team without dedicated IT, managing SharePoint, Outlook, and tenant admin feels incredibly cumbersome. We’re seriously considering bucking the trend and migrating over to Google Workspace + Slack for better speed, agility, and ease of use. Has anyone done this successfully? What is the actual step-by-step process to migrate Office 365 to Google Workspace when you don’t have a dedicated sysadmin?
Introduction: The process to migrate from Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace is a highly effective cloud strategy. For agile companies looking to maximize real-time collaboration, reduce IT complexity, and streamline identity management. However, a migration of this scale modifies core infrastructure, including active mail flow, domain name system (DNS) records, cloud file paths, and centralized calendars. Without proper system mapping, a minor oversight can lead to delayed emails, dropped calendar invites, or orphaned file permissions. This guide explains the native manual paths alongside the specialized DRS Softech Microsoft 365 Backup Tool for a secure, hassle-free transition.
Microsoft 365 vs Google Workspace
- Microsoft 365 is a cloud-based productivity suite that includes Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, SharePoint, and Microsoft Teams. It is ideal for businesses that rely on desktop Office applications, advanced document editing, and enterprise-level features.
- Google Workspace is Google’s cloud-based productivity platform that includes Gmail, Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Calendar, and Google Meet. It is best for organizations that prefer browser-based applications, real-time collaboration, and easy file sharing.
- Which Platform Is Better? Both platforms are excellent, but the right choice depends on your business needs. Choose Microsoft 365 if you need powerful desktop applications and advanced business features. Choose Google Workspace if your team focuses on cloud collaboration, remote work, and simple administration.
Best Method to Migrate Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace
For businesses, MSPs, and IT administrators managing multiple users, the DRS Softech Office 365 Migration Tool offers a faster and more reliable migration experience. It enables you to migrate Microsoft 365 mailboxes directly to Google Workspace while preserving mailbox structure and data integrity.
The software supports bulk mailbox migration, OAuth authentication, date filters, incremental migration, and removal of duplicate emails. It also minimizes downtime, which makes it suitable for organizations migrating hundreds or even thousands of mailboxes. Option to migrate Office 365 to IMAP Server and other email clients.
How to Migrate from Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace?
- Download the DRS Softech Microsoft 365 Backup Tool. Choose Backup or Restore.
- Log in using Modern Authentication (Office 365 User ID) or Client Secret ID.
- Add users from a CSV file or automatically. Select Source Type (Primary, Archive, Public) and User ID. Click Next.
- Preview and select the emails, contacts, and calendars to backup. Press Next.
- Choose G Suite as the Saving Format from the list. Log in using a P12 file or JSON file.
- Apply advanced features and filters as per your needs. Click Next.
- Lastly, map the source user ID to the destination User ID. Press Backup.
Manual Method to Migrate Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace
- Firstly, set up and verify your Google Workspace domain.
- Create user accounts in Google Workspace.
- Then, sign in to the Google Admin Console.
- Open Data Migration and select Microsoft 365 as the source.
- Authenticate the Microsoft 365 account using OAuth.
- Select the data you want to migrate, such as emails, contacts, and calendars.
- Start the migration and monitor its progress.
- Update your MX records to route emails to Gmail after the migration is complete.
Limitations of Manual O365 to Google Workspace Migration
- It supports only limited data types.
- Large mailbox migrations can take a long time.
- Limited filtering and migration options.
- No advanced scheduling or incremental migration.
- Requires technical knowledge to configure correctly.
- Not ideal for organizations with hundreds or thousands of mailboxes.
DRS Softech vs. Cloudiway: Migration Tool Comparison
|
Features / Capabilities |
DRS Softech Office 365 Migration Tool |
Cloudiway Cloud Migration Platform |
|
Deployment Model |
Client-Based Software (Windows OS) / Local Execution |
Cloud-Native SaaS Platform (Hosted on Azure) |
|
Core Target Scaling |
Designed for Agile IT, SMBs, and Mid-Market Enterprises (up to 1000+ Mailboxes) |
Designed for Large-Scale Cross-Cloud Enterprise & Global Multi-Tenants |
|
Authentication Protocols |
Modern Authentication (OAuth 2.0), Client Secret ID, P12, & JSON Key Files |
Corporate Service Accounts, Enterprise App Registrations, & OAuth 2.0 |
|
Workload Scope |
Emails, Attachments, Contacts, and Calendars |
Emails, Drive Files, OneDrive, SharePoint Sites, Teams, and Google Groups |
|
Coexistence Features |
Focused on individual & batch data integrity with low downtime |
Advanced Coexistence (GALSync, FreeBusy Calendar Sharing, Dynamic Mail Routing) |
|
Incremental (Delta) Passes |
Natively supported via built-in system checks |
Fully integrated automated delta scanning across cloud endpoints |
Real-Life Scenario: Switch from Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace
When a 250-employee firm manually migrates from Microsoft to Google Workspace, the IT team must juggle separate, slow processes for emails, calendars, and files, leading to missing data. Switching to the DRS Softech Office 365 Migration Tool automates the entire move through one dashboard. Using secure OAuth, it transfers all mail, contacts, and drives concurrently while its incremental sync catches last-minute emails with zero downtime.
Conclusion
In this guide, we suggested two different methods to migrate Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace. While Google’s native migration service is suitable for small organizations, it has limitations when handling large mailboxes or multiple users. If you’re migrating hundreds or thousands of mailboxes, a professional DRS Softech Office 365 Migration Tool offers a faster and more reliable approach. With features such as bulk migration, OAuth authentication, date filters, incremental migration, and duplicate email removal, it helps ensure a secure migration with minimal downtime.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ans. You can migrate from Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace by using the manual method or a professional Microsoft 365 Backup Tool. For large-scale migrations, a dedicated tool simplifies the process and supports bulk mailbox migration with minimal downtime.
Ans. The migration time depends on the number of mailboxes, mailbox size, internet speed, and the migration method used. Small migrations may finish within a few hours, while large organizations with thousands of mailboxes may require several days.
Ans. Yes. The DRS Softech Office 365 Migration Tool supports Modern OAuth authentication, which allows you to connect Microsoft 365 and Google Workspace securely without using basic authentication.
Ans. Yes. The migration process transfers your mailbox data through secure authentication methods while preserving emails, folders, contacts, calendars, and attachments without modifying the original data.
Ans. No. The DRS Softech Office 365 Migration Tool does not store or retain your Microsoft 365 login credentials. Authentication is performed securely using Microsoft’s supported methods.
Ans. Yes. The software lets you migrate data within a selected date range, which helps you transfer only the emails you need and reduces migration time.
Ans. Emails that exceed Gmail’s supported attachment size may not be migrated as standard messages. It’s recommended to review oversized emails before migration or to store large files separately in Google Drive.
Ans. Yes. After the migration is complete, the software generates a detailed migration report that can be saved for auditing, verification, and compliance purposes.
Ans. Standard mailbox folders, emails, contacts, and calendars are migrated successfully. Outlook-specific categories may not appear the same in Gmail because Microsoft Outlook and Gmail use different labeling systems. However, the original mailbox structure and email data remain intact.
