Government Computer News has a review of the Google Apps for Government suite that enables federal workers to collaborate online through a variety of tools. The ramped-up version of Google's popular free application suite caters exclusively to government users, is more secure than what the public uses and offers more tools to government agencies, GCN reports.
GCN rates the tool as easy to implement with no hardware required, although the cost of approximately $46 per government user is a little steep, particularly for larger agencies. Still, the tool can be valuable, particularly as agencies face new requirements for telework. "Whether that means online group communications or simply keeping document versions straight, a collaboration platform is essential to any smooth operation," the article states.
Have you used Google Apps for Government in your agency? Is collaboration easier as a result, or are workers still turning to traditional methods of communication, such as e-mail and phone?
Brittany Ballenstedt
Brittany Ballenstedt writes Nextgov's Wired Workplace blog, which delves into the issues facing employees who work in the federal information technology sector. Before joining Nextgov, Brittany covered federal pay and benefits issues as a staff correspondent for Government Executive and served as an associate editor for National Journal's Technology Daily. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Mansfield University and originally hails from Pennsylvania. She currently lives near Travis Air Force Base, Calif., where her husband is stationed.
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