G Suite Q & A

Common G Suite Questions and Answers

1. What is G Suite for Education?

G Suite for Education is an integrated, cloud-based communication, collaboration and creation tool. It includes a collection of applications that work together seamlessly in a cloud-based environment, allowing users to share and access files anywhere, anytime and on any device over the internet.

Users within the Nova Scotia public education system domain (gnspes) have approval to use the following core applications within G Suite for Education:

  • Gmail

  • Drive (docs, sheets, slides, forms, drawings)

  • Sites

  • Calendar

  • Contacts

  • Groups

  • Classroom

  • Hangouts

For a more detailed list of approved applications and tools within the gnspes domain, go to the GNSPES support page.

2. Why G Suite for Education?

After a year-long evaluation, a committee with representation from all regional school boards and the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development recommended G Suite for Education as the best cloud based solution for teachers and students within a P-12 environment. Many factors contributed to this decision including, but not limited to:

      • real-time collaboration

      • user friendliness

      • ease of sharing capabilities

      • unlimited storage

      • platform neutrality (android, iOS, Windows)

      • less technical support and administration required

      • confidence in Google's long history of providing cloud application services

      • support and sharing from a large online community of educational users

G Suite for Education was seen as providing the best overall user experience and a simplistic approach that will help keep the focus on learning outcomes rather than technology tools.

3. Who can receive a G Suite for Education account in the gnspes domain?

G Suite for Education is being implemented provincially. Teachers, students, and staff in all regional centers for education and CSAP, as well as staff at the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development can receive an account in the gnspes domain for educational purposes.

A G Suite management committee, with representation from all regional centers for education and CSAP, the Department of Education and Early Childhood Development meet regularly to discuss matters concerning management of the service. The committee considers global decisions to be made about the domain, short and long range plans and needs of RCEs/CSAP and users.

4. Am I required to switch to Gmail to access G Suite for Education?

Not necessarily, however you will need to have a Gmail address to access your G Suite for Education account. Your account will be created within the provincial domain (gnspes) and your Gmail address (xxxx@gnspes.ca) will be required to log in, share and collaborate within G Suite for Education.

5. I have my own Gmail account already, can I just use it instead?

No. G Suite for Education is different from a personal G Suite account. There are privacy and security differences, the Nova Scotia public education system has its own domain (gnspes) which will allow for proper management of users, and RCEs/CSAP only have permission from a privacy perspective to use GSuite for Education for educational purposes. There is also no advertising within G Suite for Education.

6. How do students get set up with a gnspes account?

Students can access their account by using the following instructions. If you have difficulty accessing your account contact your G Suite for Education Administrator.

7. What's the difference between using Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Edge and Safari as my browser for G Suite for Education?

While G Suite for Education does not require Chrome, some services and features do rely on it to function, an up to date version of Chrome or Firefox will yield the best results. For a list of supported browsers, go here.

8. Does G Suite for Education replace Ourcloud?

OurCloud remains an excellent second option for storage of files.

9. Is my information safe in G Suite for Education?

Google uses industry-standard technologies and processes to safeguard user information, and maintains several third-party certifications with respect to security and privacy. Some of the security features Google has in place include:

      • spam and virus filtering

      • constantly developing new security-related features for its services

      • conducting significant independent audits and certifications of their security practices

      • data replicated in multiple data centers for redundancy and consistency availability

Based on the completed privacy impact assessment, user data can be expected to be at least as secure as it would be in any well-managed data centre. For more information about Google's Security practices check out their Security and Privacy site and review the Google for Work Security and Compliance Whitepaper.