Businesses across the world have had to quickly rollout remote working solutions to ensure employees can work remotely when needed. There are plenty of platforms out there to provide your employees with the ability to seamlessly communicate and collaborate whilst working remotely. The top three solutions that have taken the market by storm are Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Hangouts. Whilst they all have similar features at a glance, there are some key differences that you should consider before investing. In this guide we compare the three solutions, so you can see which is best suited to support your business needs.

At a glance…

There are free versions available of all three platforms, but for this blog post, we are comparing the paid-for licenses.

You can see from the surface there isn’t much difference between the platforms. But once we dig deeper we will unveil the real differences between the products.

Microsoft Teams

Microsoft Teams is a unified communication and collaboration platform made up of an instant messenger, video conferencing, file storage and application integration. There are now 44 million daily Microsoft Teams users, making this Microsoft’s fastest-growing product. Microsoft Teams is more than just a communication tool – it empowers your employees to collaborate even whilst working remotely. Microsoft Teams will allow you to fully integrate with Office 365, meaning all calendar invites, files and chats will simultaneously sync with the rest of your modern office.

Communication

Some of the key communication features of Microsoft Teams include:

• Internal and external video conferencing with the ability to blur backgrounds – minimising any distractions.
• Audio conferencing with the ability to enable in-line transcriptions of your calls.
• A seamless file and screen sharing experience which others can take control of.
• Instant messaging between other employees. Either one-to-one or in groups.
• The ability to record any video or audio call – allowing you to share it or relate to it later.

Collaboration

But it doesn’t stop there. Microsoft Teams is not just a powerful communication platform, but also a place for employees to collaborate effectively. Some of the key Teams collaboration features are:

• Share any files with teams or individuals and edit them in real-time.
• Access Microsoft Teams from any device – allowing employees to work from any location, anytime.
• There are endless bots and integrations to improve
• Seamlessly integrate with your email, allowing you to access contacts, emails and shared calendars.

Security

Microsoft invests over $1 billion every year to improve the security of their products. Microsoft Teams is built on the security and compliance capabilities of Office 365 – so you can be reassured your business will stay protected whilst communicating through Teams. You’ll reap all the security benefits of Office 365, such as advanced threat protection and data loss prevention. But it doesn’t stop there. Microsoft Teams meets the compliance obligations of over 42 national, regional and industry-specific regulations.
And if that doesn’t demonstrate how secure Microsoft Teams is, internationally renowned computer security expert Professor Alan Woodward from the University of Surrey, recently said that “where I have taken part in government briefings where it is for the participants’ ears only we have used Microsoft Teams”.

Did you know, Microsoft has created a Zoom for Teams add-on, allowing you to join external Zoom calls within Microsoft Teams.

Zoom

Zoom is a cloud-based audio and video communication platform, allowing people to communicate across different devices. If you’re looking for a platform where you can confidently communicate with others, then Zoom may be right up your street. In 2020, Zoom has received 2.22 million new users, most of which are people wanting to stay in contact with their friends and family during COVID-19.

Communication

Some of the key communication features are as follows:

• Full HD video and audio.
• Ability to record and transcribe any session.
• Share your screen with other participants.
• Can support up to 1,000 participants.
• The option to upload images as backgrounds.

Collaboration

• Integrates with Outlook and Gmail.
• Screen sharing and co-annotation.
• Chat within a group you’re in.
• Have the ability to share any files with other participants.

Security

Zoom prides itself on its end-to-end encryption. However, Patrick Wardle, a former NSA hacker and now principal security researcher at Jamf, has recently identified two bugs within Zoom that he shared with TechCrunch. One of the bugs allows an attacker to take control of someone’s computer, allowing them to install malware or spyware. The second bug exploits a flaw in how Zoom handles the webcam and microphone on Macs. Zoom, like any app that needs the webcam and microphone, first requires consent from the user.

Google Hangouts

Hangouts is Google’s communication platform. It started as part of Google+ before becoming its standalone product in 2013. It’s safe to say it sits between Zoom and Microsoft Teams in terms of functionality. Again, Google Hangouts has become increasingly popular amongst friends and families to communicate during COVID-19. But here’s how it could support your business:

Communication

Google Hangouts provides employees with the basics when it comes to a communication platform.

• You’ll have an instant messaging feature at your disposal.
• All audio and video calls will be in HD.
• Have the ability to use Hangouts across multiple devices.

Collaboration

Similar to Microsoft Teams, Hangouts will integrate with the rest of your G-Suite products. But how good is Hangouts for collaboration?

• Share your screen with other participants.
• Have full integration with your G-Suite.

Google also pride themselves with end-to-end encryption within Hangouts. Meaning if you did want to use it as your business communication tool, you could.

What’s the right communication platform for me?

So, there we have it. If at this point, you’re still unsure on what platform to use, fear not. If you’re just looking for a simple audio and video conferencing tool, then Zoom or Google Hangouts might be the platforms for you… depending on how security conscious your business is of course. But if you’re looking more comprehensive collaboration tool, Microsoft Teams is your answer. Unified communication and collaboration platform which seamlessly integrates with your existing Microsoft applications to empower your employees.

For us, there’s a clear winner. And that’s Microsoft Teams. But it’s not just us who thinks that. 91% of the Fortune 500 already use it.

Want to find out more about Microsoft Teams? Our experts can help. Simply get in contact today to discover how you can harness the power of Microsoft Teams.