Microsoft provides various features to facilitate teamwork. To cover specific entities within the framework of Microsoft that are built for working efficiently in a group are Microsoft groups and Microsoft Teams. Both work and operate in a different ways and provide distinct features to the users. However, the objective of both the blocks of Microsoft remains the same.
Microsoft Groups vs Microsoft Teams
The main difference between Microsoft Groups and Microsoft Teams is that Microsoft Groups works as a platform that allows Azure Active Directory users to share files and collaborate while Microsoft Teams works as a platform that allows the users to communicate in different ways and also helps in organizing the files that are shared.
Microsoft Groups has an outlook-like interface. The adding or removal of people from the group is very easy and simple like other group-based security objects. Most of the services provided aim to manage team membership and cater accessibility to a large group.
On the other hand, Microsoft Teams has a dedicated user interface and does not have an outlook-like interface. There is no allowance for external users. This provides overall security and minimizes threats and vulnerabilities.
Comparison Table Between Microsoft Groups and Microsoft Teams
| Parameters of Comparison | Microsoft Groups | Microsoft Teams |
| Function | Works as a platform that allows Azure Active Directory users to share files and collaborate | Works as a platform that allows the users to communicate in different ways and also helps in organizing the files that are shared |
| Interface | Microsoft Group has an outlook like interface | Microsoft Team has a dedicated user interface and does not have an outlook like interface |
| Invitations | Microsoft Groups allows other external users to join as guests through invitations | Microsoft Team does not have any invitation feature and does not allow external users to join as guests |
| Plans required | Microsoft Group needs exchange online plan with Microsoft 365, to access Microsoft group feature | Microsoft Team does not require any such plan with Microsoft 365, to access Microsoft Teams |
| Applications | Microsoft Groups only provides applications in mobile platforms | Microsoft Teams provides applications for desktop as well as mobile platforms |
What is Microsoft Groups?
Microsoft Groups is a part of Office 365. It provides a list of users of the Active Directory who have the access to a specific set of tools. These tools include OneNote, MS Planner, SharePoint, and others. The Active Directory users usually contain shared mailbox within the Office of Microsoft. They also share a calendar across the list.
The main job of Microsoft Groups is to create a group with a “back-end” action. This allows the user to connect to several different tools that can be accessed and used together. It provides a team of people who have the access to same files. The cross-application membership service provided by Microsoft in Microsoft Groups can be used from basic to advance level work.
Microsoft Groups acts as an object in the Azure Active Directory. The adding or removal of people from the group is very easy and simple like another group-based security object. Most of the services provided aim to manage team membership and cater accessibility to a large group. The admin of Microsoft Group can add or remove members easily and let the group access various resources.
All the added members in Microsoft Group can access the resources and there is no need of assigning permission manually. Microsoft Groups can be private or public depending upon the choice and need of the group. It can be created from different applications like a planner, teams, outlook SharePoint, outlook on the web, and several other applications.
What is Microsoft Teams?
Microsoft Teams is an infrastructure that provides collaborative communication among a team or a group of people. Microsoft Teams has an organized facility of video calls, voice calls, files and documents, teams chat, and several other features. Microsoft Teams is integrated with the Microsoft group.
The team created in Microsoft Groups can also be reflected in the section of Microsoft Team. Any change brought about in Microsoft Group usually takes about 12 to 24 hours to reflect in Microsoft Teams. Microsoft Team act as a platform for catering various services including the services which are available in Microsoft Groups. The interface of Microsoft Team is not outlook type.
Microsoft team does not provide any facility of allowing users from outside. Once the security of the group is decided, it performs according to the requirements. There is no allowance for external users. This provides overall security and minimizes threats and vulnerabilities. The data and resources are secured and there is no provision for entry of an outsider.
Microsoft Teams does not require the users to have an exchange online plan. Microsoft Teams is available on all mobile platforms like IOS, Android, or windows. It also provides all the desktop apps. The main job of Microsoft Teams is to help in organizing the files and provide various communication features among the group members.
Main Differences Between Microsoft Groups and Microsoft Teams
- Microsoft Groups does not provide communication features like calling while Microsoft Teams provides communication features like calling.
- Microsoft Groups allows users to upload new documents and hold meetings while Microsoft Teams allows users to hold meetings only about the documents that are uploaded in Microsoft group.
- Microsoft Groups has relatively less security as external users can join the group while Microsoft Teams has stronger security as there is no allowance for external users.
- Microsoft Groups cannot view planner tasks in Microsoft Team while Microsoft Team cannot access OneNote or planner of Microsoft group.
- Microsoft Groups can be linked With Microsoft Teams while Microsoft Teams are automatically connected when created.
Conclusion
Microsoft groups and teams is a one-stop solution for collaboration facilities in a group or a team. Both the services of Microsoft have various features integrated with them which are ideal for working among a group of people.
Both Microsoft groups and teams can link and integrate with external 3rd party applications. Both the services of Microsoft are popular. Microsoft Groups and Microsoft Teams are considered to co-exist and work simultaneously to provide the highest quality in group collaboration.
References
- https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9781315805986-21/creativity-groups-teams-paul-paulus-timothy-larey-mary-dzindolet
- https://janszgroup.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/S7026-What-Is-Microsoft-Teams-1.pdf