Google Workspace vs Microsoft 365 for Academic Researcher on Mac - Seeking Advice

I'll try and answer from the perspective of "Big U" and mostly the MS side, as my current job is in higher-ed with larger departments. \- We've had no issues working with both Workspaces and 365, but we're moving towards becoming a Microsoft/Linux shop and thus will transition - as many institutions are - to the 365/Azure/Intune wonderland. The Apple ecosystem here is "ehhhh" but my daily driver is a Mac, and I haven't had much trouble. \- The general question I have is: what other resources are you working with now which may link into the larger Google or MS ecosystems? If the researcher is already committed to 365 through a site license, I don't see any need to deviate unless there's specific project requirements you anticipate. This is especially true if you plan on using Microsoft's GCC/GSP services for stuff which may qualify as "sensitive" or related to your region's laws. \- No real compatibility issues between the two e.g. colleagues from one institution can glom onto resources for the other, although it's not that they really "sync" together so much as you kludge in e.g. MX or domain records or pre-existing file-sharing services, or you end up dual-wielding their portal platforms to handle user or email boxes. Again, it's a question of what you really want to do, and probably not things you need to sweat for just one person. \- Client programs on Macs work fine. Nothing stopping you from just using a Google Drive account if that's all he needs/doesn't require sensitive protection under e.g. an IRB. If so, Microsoft has options, albeit at cost. \- Academic database management? A-ok on either. Microsoft does have some more notes which you can check here, assuming you anticipate something larger than just one person: [https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office365/servicedescriptions/office-365-platform-service-description/office-365-education](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office365/servicedescriptions/office-365-platform-service-description/office-365-education) . I still hate SharePoint, but the web version isn't bad, and multiple research groups in our units use them to swap notes/small files. \- Data privacy? I can't speak to Google Workspaces much, other than we have had legal agreements in the past to hash out what can/can't be stored, and MS features are available to restrict access over many different platforms e.g. Exchange or OneDrive, but I'd highly suggest talking with someone who explicitly does legal or has worked with software platforms in the past covering IRBs or grant contracts. This can go all over the place, and is not something I'd one to do on my lonesome. At the very least, protect yourself from scope creep or the coverage of something like "data stewardship" as an IT member, e.g. with GDPR. I hope that helps? Let me know if you have something more specific in mind.