Using Apps Online — Really? Here Are the FAQs
When folks switch to G Suite, if they're used to working with programs installed on their PCs, then the idea of using apps that somehow work online is the stuff of science fiction. It doesn't help that the G Suite apps look just like their PC-installed counterparts. (Check out Figures 1-1, 1-2, and 1-3 to see what I mean). How is any of this possible, and does it actually work? Those are great questions, and I'll try to answer them by walking you through a long list of frequently asked questions (FAQs) from people just like you who are new to G Suite:
Won't everyone on the Internet see my stuff? Nope. Your company's G Suite administrator will have provided you with a G Suite account. This means the only way to see your stuff is to sign in using your G Suite email address and account password. The only way other people can see your stuff is if you choose to show it to them by using G Suite's extensive collaboration-and-sharing features. (See the chapters in Part 3.)
Okay, but can't tech-savvy snoops somehow “tap in” to my data as it goes back and forth between my computer and wherever this “cloud” is located? Dang, but that's a good question! The bad news is that, yes, it's technically possible for someone to “eavesdrop” on your data, a practice called packet-sniffing. The good news is that your data is scrambled (encrypted, in security-speak) as it travels between the cloud and your computer, so all that theoretical packet-sniffer will sniff is gobbledygook.
Okay, but won't my account get hacked? Sheesh, you just won't let up, will you? The short answer is “Probably not.” Yes, I know, that probably isn't very reassuring. Let me say two things about this:First, know that the Google servers that are home to your G Suite apps and data are among the most secure in the world. No system is hackerproof, but Google's systems are as close as you can get.Second, it's axiomatic (taken for granted, in other words) in security circles that the virtual chains that secure online systems are only as strong as their weakest link. What's the weakest link in the G Suite security chain? I'm afraid the answer is you. No offense intended, but even with an online service that has state-of-the-art security, that protection means nothing if attackers get their mitts on your sign-in data. So keep your password to yourself and be sure to carefully read all the good stuff in Chapter 19.
Is my data safe? Definitely. G Suite keeps multiple copies of your data in different locations in the cloud, and it also regularly backs up your data.
But won't there be big problems if the power goes out? Nope. The G Suite apps save your documents and data as you work, so even if your power goes down for the count, your data remains safe and sound on the G Suite servers, waiting patiently for you to return.
Can I work when I'm offline? I'm afraid not. G Suite's apps are all online-only, so you need an Internet connection to access and work with any G Suite app.
G Suite has so many apps! Do I need to keep them all updated whenever new versions come out? No, and this is one of the key benefits of using online apps. You'll never — I repeat, never — have to install or update any of the G Suite apps! All that malarkey is handled behind the scenes by Google, so every time you access, say, Gmail, you can rest assured that you're using the very latest version of the app.
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