Overview
Google Workspace is the most common starting point for businesses considering open-source alternatives. The good news: the migration path is well-established, and modern open-source tools provide excellent feature parity.
What You're Replacing
- Gmail → Self-hosted email (Stalwart Mail Server)
- Google Drive → Nextcloud Files
- Google Docs/Sheets/Slides → Collabora Online (LibreOffice-based)
- Google Calendar → Nextcloud Calendar
- Google Meet → Jitsi Meet
- Google Chat → Element (Matrix protocol)
Phase 1: Assessment (Week 1)
Before touching any data, we audit your current usage:
- User inventory — How many active users? What roles and permissions?
- Storage audit — How much data in Drive? Shared drives?
- Email volume — Historical email that needs migration
- Integration mapping — What third-party apps connect to Workspace?
- Compliance requirements — Data residency, retention policies
Phase 2: Infrastructure (Week 2)
We provision your Federated Core — a private cloud infrastructure running all your open-source apps:
- Deploy Nextcloud with Collabora integration
- Configure mail server with DKIM/SPF/DMARC
- Set up Jitsi for video conferencing
- Deploy Element/Matrix for messaging
- Configure SSO (Authelia/LDAP)
Phase 3: Data Migration (Weeks 3–4)
The critical phase — we use proven tools and processes:
- Email: IMAP migration with full folder structure preservation
- Drive: Bulk transfer via rclone with permission mapping
- Documents: Format conversion where needed (most work natively)
- Calendar: CalDAV export/import
- Contacts: CardDAV export/import
Phase 4: Cutover & Training (Week 5)
The moment of truth — we switch DNS, verify everything, and train your team:
- DNS cutover for email (MX records)
- User training sessions (recorded for onboarding)
- Parallel running period (optional)
- Final verification and sign-off
Post-Migration Support
We don't just migrate and disappear. Every migration includes 90 days of priority support, health monitoring, and optimization.