Tag: Workspace

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Google Workspace rolling out client-side encryption support

Google Workspace, the search giant’s suite of services and tools for business, is about to get more secure thanks to client-side encryption.

Google started testing client-side encryption for Workspace last year. With the company’s latest announcement, client-side encryption is out of beta and available across several Workspace services and file formats. That includes productivity tools like Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides, as well as file formats like PDFs and Office files.

Additionally, Google plans for client-side encryption in Meet to leave beta and become widely available starting in May.

If you’re wondering why Google’s adding client-side encryption when the company already encrypts Workspace data, it’s because client-side will keep Google from being able to see that data. Current Workspace data encryption happens on Google’s servers, which means technically, the company could access files and data.

However, with client-side encryption, data and files get encrypted on users’ devices instead of on Google’s servers. That should prevent anyone from getting in and viewing files unless they have the encryption key. Moreover, this should protect your data even if someone accesses your Google account and downloads all your files — they’d still need the encryption key to unlock them.

It’s worth noting, however, that client-side encryption is optional and disabled by default. Those at choose to enable it will need to also pick a ‘key access service partner’ from a list of six that Google says work with its specifications. That includes Flowcrypt, Fortanix, Futurex, Stormshield, Thales, and Virtru. Alternatively, you can build your own key service using Google’s API specifications.

The feature started rolling out to Workspace users on March 31st, but it may take up to 15 days for the feature to appear. It will be available to Enterprise Plus and Education Plus customers, but not Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Education Fundamentals, Frontline, Nonprofits, G Suite Basic, or G Suite Business customers.

Source: Google Via: Android Police

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Mobile Syrup

Google to start rolling out new Gmail design for Workspace users in February

Starting in February, Google will finally start moving people over to a new Gmail layout featuring a subtle redesign and easier access to several of the company’s business-focused services like Chat, Spaces, and Meet.

The Gmail redesign has been a long time coming. Some of it was shown off alongside Google’s switch from G Suite to Workspace, although the final iteration appears to have leveraged some of the new Material You styling seen in the mobile Gmail app on Android. To be clear, it doesn’t appear that Gmail for desktop will change colours like Gmail on Android — just some of the design elements are present.

The biggest change is a new sidebar to the left of Gmail with several buttons for Compose, Mail, Chat, Spaces, and Meet. There also appears to be some profile pictures in the bottom-left corner, perhaps easy access to contacts you frequently message in Chat.

The new sidebar layout replaces the current Gmail sidebar, which is a messy combination of mail folders, Chat, and Spaces. I hate the current Gmail sidebar since I have an ever-growing list of folders I sort my mail into and opening Chat or Spaces just gets in the way. Although I’m looking forward to the new layout, many people may prefer the current layout since it lets you view all these services in one spot instead of having to cycle through different tabs in the new style.

Beyond new sidebar, there doesn’t seem to be much else that’s different aside from the light-grey backdrop around the inbox.

In a Workplace Updates post, Google said that users can opt-in to try the new layout on February 8th. Come April, Google will start enabling the new layout for users who haven’t opted-in, but an option to use the classic Gmail will be settings. However, Google will remove that option by the end of Q2 2022 and the new layout will become standard.

Finally, Google notes that the new layout will be available “to Google Workspace Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Plus, Frontline, and Nonprofits, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers.”

The Verge reported that the change won’t be available to Workspace Essentials customers “at the moment” and that a Google spokesperson said the change would only be available to the listed account types, indicating non-paying Gmail users won’t get the new update.

Source: Google Via: The Verge

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Mobile Syrup

Google will offer an account migration tool before free G Suite shutdown in July

Kitchener, Ontario, Canada – September 30, 2019: Google sign in the Google Canada Kitchener-Waterloo office.

After announcing last week that legacy free G Suite accounts would need to start paying, Google is backing off some of the more drastic changes. The search giant plans to offer a data migration tool, allowing these users to switch to regular consumer accounts.

As detailed by Ars Technica, these accounts were for Google Apps (which has in recent years been renamed to G Suite and ultimately Google Workspace). The accounts allow users to have a Google account with a custom domain (for example, instead of ‘@gmail.com,’ you can have ‘@mobilesyrup.com’).

Although typically used for businesses, the base G Suite tier was free from 2006 to 2012, and anyone could sign up for a Google account with a custom domain. It seems a lot of people did just that, and Google wasn’t aware of just how many people would be affected by its move to make free accounts start paying.

The search giant initially gave these users two options: pay the per-user monthly fee by July 2022 or lose your account. For many, that choice felt incredibly harsh, especially since the only way to get data out of the G Suite account was through Google’s ‘Takeout’ service. As Ars explains, Takeout only lets you download your account data to a local device, and it’s not easy to then re-upload that data into a new account. Moreover, it doesn’t include things like purchases, so if you bought anything digital through your Google account — such as apps on your Android phone, movies, etc. — you’d lose those too.

Google issues survey to gather info about free G Suite users

Following the outcry from users, Google quietly updated the support page for the impending free G Suite shutdown. The search giant also said it would send a survey out to get more information from users (if you have a free G Suite account, you’ll see a link to this survey targeting G-Suite admins with 10 users or less that use G Suite for “non-business” purposes). Google says those who fill out the survey will receive “updates on more options for [their] non-business legacy account in the coming months.”

Google also plans to “provide an option for you to move your non-Google Workspace paid content and most of your data to a no-cost option” in the coming months. Specifically, Google says users will be “able to evaluate this option prior to July 1, 2022” but notes it won’t include premium features like custom email or multi-account management.

While not totally clear, that option sounds like it covers apps, games and other digital purchases made through your Google account. That will likely be the ideal option for anyone with one of these legacy G Suite accounts who want to migrate to a regular consumer account.

Image credit: Shutterstock

Source: Google Via: Ars Technica