Google Workspace Migration That Lands Your Team Without Losing a Single Message
Google Workspace is the collaboration platform of choice for many growing businesses in BC and AB: Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Meet, and Calendar in one tightly integrated suite. Migrating from an existing platform - whether that is Microsoft 365, on-premises Exchange, or another provider - requires careful planning to avoid lost email, broken calendars, or confused staff. North Star handles the migration end-to-end so your team lands in Google Workspace on day one without missing a message.
Google Workspace, Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Meet, and Calendar, is the collaboration platform of choice for many growing businesses. But migrating to it from Microsoft 365, on-premises Exchange, or another hosted provider requires careful planning. Done carelessly, users lose email history, calendars break, shared drives do not transfer, and staff spend a week figuring out where their files went.
North Star IT, based in Prince George, BC, handles Google Workspace migrations for businesses across British Columbia, Alberta, and Yukon end-to-end, from tenant setup and security configuration through data migration, parallel running, cutover, and staff training. Your team lands in Google Workspace on day one without missing a message.
What Does a Google Workspace Migration Involve?
A Google Workspace migration starts before any data moves. North Star provisions your Google Workspace tenant, configures your domain DNS, sets up user accounts and organisational units, and applies security policies, including two-factor authentication, which we enforce by default, before migration begins.
Email, contacts, and calendar data are migrated using Google's migration tools or equivalent, with a period of parallel running where both platforms receive mail. During this period, your team continues using their existing platform while the new one is populated in the background. On cutover day, DNS is switched, old platform access is retired, and your team begins working in Google Workspace.
North Star also configures Google Vault for email archiving where required, sets up Shared Drives and access permissions, and delivers a training session covering the practical differences between Google Workspace and whatever your team used before. Most migrations complete in two to four weeks.
What North Star Delivers
Tenant Setup
Admin configuration, security policies, and domain verification. Your Google Workspace tenant configured with appropriate user accounts, organisational units, security defaults, and admin audit logging before any data is moved.
Email Migration
Full mailbox migration including folder structure, contacts, and calendar items. Historical email preserved. Migration validated before cutover, we do not flip the switch until data integrity is confirmed.
Parallel Running Period
Both platforms receive mail during the migration window so your team does not miss anything while data is being transferred. Parallel running continues until you are satisfied with the migration state.
Shared Drive Setup
Shared Drives created and permissions configured to match your existing file share structure. Staff can access shared content from day one.
Security Baseline
Two-factor authentication enforced, admin roles configured with least privilege, third-party app access reviewed and restricted, and audit logging enabled. You land in Google Workspace more securely than you left your previous platform.
Staff Training
A focused training session covering Gmail, Drive, Calendar, and Meet, with emphasis on the practical differences from Microsoft 365 or whatever your team used before. Written quick-start reference guide included.
Google Vault
Optional email archiving and legal hold configuration for organisations with compliance or retention requirements.
How It Works
Step 1, Plan
Tenant provisioned, accounts created, DNS staged, and security policies applied. Source environment assessed and migration scope documented.
Step 2, Migrate
Data migration runs in the background. Both platforms active and receiving mail. Progress monitored.
Step 3, Cut Over
DNS switched on an agreed schedule. Old platform access retired after a short grace period. North Star available throughout the cutover window.
Step 4, Train and Support
Staff training session delivered. Help-desk priority for two weeks post-cutover for any user issues.
Who This Is For
- Prince George, Northern BC, BC, Alberta, or Yukon businesses migrating from Microsoft 365, on-premises Exchange, or another hosted email provider
- Growing teams that prefer Google's collaboration tools and want an expert to handle the migration rather than doing it through the admin console
- Businesses that tried a DIY Google Workspace migration and ended up with a messy tenant they want properly set up
- Organisations with compliance or archiving requirements that need Google Vault configured correctly
Why North Star IT
North Star is a Prince George-based MSP with migration experience across all major platforms. We apply security baselines as part of every migration, MFA and admin controls are not optional extras. Post-migration support is included, not an additional engagement. And when your team has questions in the first two weeks, they reach a local team that knows the environment.
What buyers ask before they sign.
How long does a Google Workspace migration take?
For most SMBs with up to 50 users, a Google Workspace migration takes two to four weeks from kick-off to final cutover. Larger organisations or those with large mailboxes (50GB+) may need longer for data migration.
Will we lose any email during the migration?
No. North Star uses a parallel-running approach where both platforms receive email simultaneously during the migration window. Nothing is lost.
What does a Google Workspace migration cost?
Migration professional services for an SMB are typically $2,000 to $8,000 depending on user count, data volume, and source platform complexity. Google Workspace licensing is billed directly by Google at $7 to $18 USD per user per month depending on the edition.
Can we keep some users on Microsoft 365 and move others to Google Workspace?
Running both platforms long-term creates collaboration friction and higher costs. North Star generally recommends choosing one platform and migrating fully. However, if your situation genuinely requires a split, we can design a coexistence configuration.
Does North Star manage our Google Workspace tenant after migration?
Yes. North Star offers Google Workspace administration as part of a managed IT retainer, covering user provisioning, security policy management, licensing optimisation, and support.
Ready to migrate to Google Workspace?
Tell us about your environment and we will come back with a scoped proposal in two business days. No obligation, no pressure.
Start Your Free Assessment Back to CloudFrequently asked questions
How long does a Google Workspace migration typically take?
The timeline for Google Workspace migration services depends on the volume of data and the number of users involved. A small business with twenty users might complete a migration in a few days, whereas a mid-market firm with hundreds of employees may require several weeks of planning and execution. Northstar IT creates a detailed project roadmap to ensure timelines are met without disrupting your daily business operations in British Columbia or Alberta.
Will our business experience downtime during the migration?
Our goal is to achieve zero downtime for your team. By using advanced migration tools and performing the bulk of the data transfer in the background, we can ensure that your staff continues to work without interruption. The final cutover is typically scheduled during off-peak hours to ensure a smooth transition. We provide constant communication throughout the process so your team knows exactly what to expect when they log in.
Can you migrate data from Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace?
Yes, we frequently handle migrations from Microsoft 365 to Google Workspace. This process involves transferring emails, calendar invites, contacts, and files stored in OneDrive or SharePoint. Our experts ensure that folder structures are maintained and that permissions are correctly mapped in the new Google environment. We also provide training to help your staff adjust to the different interface and collaboration tools found within the Google ecosystem.
Is my data secure during a cloud migration?
Security is our highest priority at Northstar IT. We use encrypted channels for all data transfers and follow strict compliance protocols to protect sensitive information. Our team also configures your new Google Workspace environment with robust security settings, including multi-factor authentication and advanced phishing protection, to ensure your business is defended against modern cyber threats from the moment you go live.