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The Google EDU Update

Google Admin Weekly: Are your organizational units working for you?

Published 6 months ago • 1 min read

Hi Reader,

Organizational units (OUs) are the foundation of your Google Workspace domain. You can think of your OUs as folders that organize your users and devices into different groups.

At a minimum, you need “folders” for STUDENTS and STAFF.

When it comes to setting up your OUs, there are two extremes you want to avoid:

  • Not enough OUs: this makes it difficult to give everyone the policies they need
  • Too many OUs: this becomes a tangled web of complex policies

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Google Admin Bootcamp

Join me for a five session deep dive into the Google Admin Console! We'll cover OUs, groups, Google Vault, security settings and more!

  • Dates: October 16-30, 2024 (Tues / Thurs)
  • Time: 1-2:30 PM EST
  • Where: LIVE via Google Meet (sessions are recorded for on-demand viewing if you are unable to attend live)
  • Cost: $249/person (CC and purchase orders accepted)

Finding the right balance takes time and experience. If you haven’t reviewed your organizational units for a while, you might consider an OU review with your team or department.

You can view my sample OU structure to start the conversation. The video below will give you some additional strategies to consider.

If you are struggling with your setup and would appreciate some expert advice, schedule a free call to learn about a Google Admin audit for your domain.

Additional resources:

video preview​

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Regards,

John R. Sowash

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John Sowash is a former teacher and an "accidental" Google Administrator. For more than a decade John has been helping schools use technology in meaningful ways. John lives in Michigan with his wife and five kids.

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