While we have been examining many different types of remote work communication tools, we’ve focused on four in particular:
ZOOM
GOTOMEETING
GOOGLE HANGOUTS
MICROSOFT TEAMS
Each of these solutions has its own strengths and weaknesses that every business needs to consider before committing.
For example, Google does not make their security features for Hangouts readily available. This doesn’t mean that Google isn’t utilizing security features, but it does mean that you might not choose Hangouts if you need any sort of guarantee on the security of your remote work. “Security through obscurity,” as the saying goes.
Another example is that Microsoft Teams offers a comprehensive integration of the whole Office 365 suite of programs and applications. At the same time, unless your customers already utilize Office 365 and Microsoft Teams, this solution may not be applicable for working with your customers.
Zoom and GoToMeeting are some of the big names in the realm of video and audio conference calling. Both services offer easy-to-use solutions, and both offer robust feature sets included in the service. Zoom has an option that is completely free that lacks certain bells and whistles of a paid option (though the free features may be enough for many business types).
Let me show you some of the key features of these products and how they may differ from each other:
| FEATURE |  ZOOM |
 GOTOMEETING |
 HANGOUTS |
|---|---|---|---|
| # OF PARTICIPANTS | 100 | 150 | 15 |
| HD VIDEO |  |
|
|
| HD VOICE | |
|
|
| UNLIMITED MEETINGS | |
|
|
| MEETING TIME LIMITS | 40 | NONE | NONE |
| SCREEN SHARING | |
|
|
| APPLICATION/DESKTOP SHARING | |
NONE | |
| JOIN IN BY TELEPHONE CALL | |
|
|
| SSL ENCRYPTION | |
|
UNKNOWN |
| AES 256 BITS ENCRYPTION | |
|
UNKNOWN |
| SOC2 CERTIFIED DATA CENTERS | UNKNOWN | |
UNKNOWN |
| RISK BASED AUTHENTICATION | UNKNOWN | |
UNKNOWN |
| HIPAA COMPLIANT | UNKNOWN | |
UNKNOWN |
| OFFICE 365 OR OUTLOOK PLUGIN | |
|
|
| GOOGLE INTEGRATION OR PLUGIN | |
|
|
| MOBILE APP | |
|
|
| CALL/MEETING RECORDING | |
NONE | (THROUGH G-SUITE) |
| ADVANCED WEBINAR FEATURES | |
|
NONE |
| NO SIGN-UP FOR INVITED PARTY | |
REQUIRED | REQUIRED |
If your business requires HIPAA Compliance, GoToMeeting is your best bet. However, note that it will cost you some money after your free 14-day trial concludes.
MICROSOFT TEAMS:
TEAM CHAT
Free with Office 365
Microsoft Teams is a unique option for businesses who want to remain in consistent communication with their staff and partners. Additionally, business customers who use Teams can also take advantage of the service.
KEY FEATURES OF MICROSOFT TEAMS
- Security features: “Your data is encrypted while in transit and at rest. Teams and all other Office 365 services meet compliance standards including ISO 27001, HIPPA. SOC 2 and the EU Model Clauses.” (sherweb.com/blog/office-365/microsoft-teams/)
- Work sharing and collaboration: Team members can share, collaborate on, and instantly communicate on projects. As Teams is a Microsoft product, it enjoys built in integration with the full range of the Microsoft Office Suite (Office 365).
- Communication: Teams allows for text, audio, and video chat options for multiple participants simultaneously.
