by | Jul 22, 2024 | News
What's changing
Google Drive inventory reporting is now available in open beta, providing admins with enhanced visibility into the state of their data assets. By exporting this data into BigQuery, admins can gain a holistic view of how their data is classified, who can access it, and how it's being used. Analysing this data at scale helps admins address the challenge of understanding the full scope of their data assets, especially as it pertains to sensitive information and compliance with data policies.
Who's impacted
Admins
Why it's important
Compared to using APIs, Drive inventory reporting is a more efficient alternative to piecing together a full representation of Drive items from audit events and various other surfaces. The comprehensive view of the file corpus-including classifications, sizes, and locations-allows administrators to identify security risks, such as unauthorised access or oversharing. It also aids in ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements, like those for data retention and destruction.
Getting started
Admins: Eligible Admins can enable this feature in the Admin console by going to Reporting > Data Integrations and enabling Drive Inventory Export. Visit the Help Centre to
learn more about Drive inventory reporting. Admins interested in providing feedback to the product team during the open beta can
fill out this formEnd users: There is no end user impact or action required.
Rollout pace
This feature is available now for all eligible users.
Availability
Available for Google Workspace:
Enterprise Standard and PlusEducation Standard and PlusEnterprise Essentials PlusFrontline Standard
Resources
by | Jul 16, 2024 | News
What's changing
We're pleased to announce Google Workspace extensions for Gmail, Google Drive and Google Docs are available for Gemini (
gemini.google.com). When enabled, Gemini will be able to cross reference these apps as data sources to better inform its responses.
This feature is available in open beta for Google Workspace customers with the Gemini Business, Enterprise, Education, and Education Premium add-ons - no additional sign-up is required.
Who's impacted
Admins and end users
Why you'd use it
Google Workspace extensions enhance Gemini's capabilities by allowing it to access information from your Gmail, Docs, and Drive. This enables Gemini to locate, reference and incorporate this additional data, leading to even more informed and relevant responses. This deeper integration helps bring Gemini's capabilities more seamlessly into your daily workflows, helping to enhance productivity. For example, referencing a Doc that outlines your target audiences while performing customer research in Gemini (
gemini.google.com).
Additional details
During the open beta period, Context-Aware Access (CAA) for Gmail, Drive and Docs isn't supported with Google Workspace extensions. Context-Aware Access gives you control over which apps a user can access based on their context, such as whether their device complies with your IT policy. Learn more about
Context-Aware Access.Google Workspace extensions honours access control settings for files within Drive, meaning users can only access files that they own or have been shared with them (excluding files shared via Shared Drive).Google Workspace extensions is
not available to Google Workspace users accessing Gemini as an additional Google service.Note that Google Workspace personal content that Gemini Apps get from extensions is not reviewed by anyone to improve AI models, not used to train AI models, and not shared with other users or institutions. Visit the Help Centre for
more information.
Getting started
Admins: This feature will be OFF by default and can be enabled at the OU or Group level. During the open beta period, Drive, Gmail and Docs must be enabled to use Google Workspace extensions.
Visit the Help Centre to learn more about turning Google Workspace extensions on or off for your organisation.
End users: If enabled by your admin, connecting Google Workspace allows users to summarise, get quick answers, and find information from apps and services like Gmail, Docs, and Drive directly in Gemini. Visit the Help Centre to learn more about using Google Workspace extensions.
Rollout pace
Availability
Available for Google Workspace customers with the:
Gemini Business, Enterprise, Education, or Education Premium add-on
Resources
by | Jul 16, 2024 | News
What's changing
We recently introduced the ability to
import data, such as student rosters, co-teachers and grading categories, from your Student Information System (SIS) to Google Classroom.
In the coming weeks, we will be introducing a new feature that allows teachers to set up a Google Classroom class using information directly imported from an SIS, including co-teachers, student rosters and class lists, grading categories and grading periods. Please note this feature is only available with our
current SIS partners.
In preparation for the "full class" import feature, we advise admins to
connect Classroom to their Student Information System (SIS) as soon as possible. Once the admin establishes a connection between their district SIS and Google Classroom, teachers will be able to use the connection to import data from their SIS to set up new classes or update existing classes when the feature launches later this quarter.
Getting started
Full class import will be available in the coming weeks. We will provide an update on the Workspace Updates Blog when this feature becomes generally available.
Availability
Available for Google Workspace:
Education Plus and the Teaching & Learning Upgrade
Resources
by | Jul 16, 2024 | News
What's changing
Google Classroom teachers can now export and import select information via the new integration with
PowerSchool SIS, a third-party student information system (SIS) that provides innovative K-12 software and cloud-based solutions to improve educational outcomes and simplify school operations.
Once an admin establishes a connection between PowerSchool SIS and Classroom, teachers will be able to export grades from Classroom to PowerTeacher Pro Gradebook. Teachers can also import useful information, such as
student rosters,
co-teachers and grading categories, from PowerSchool SIS into Classroom.
Getting started
This feature is available now
Availability
Available for Google Workspace:
Education Plus and the Teaching & Learning Upgrade
Resources
by | Jul 17, 2024 | News
What's changing
In 2022Recently, we introduced expanded support for composing with Markdown in Google Docs on the web. Today, we're introducing highly-requested features that enhance Docs' interoperability with other Markdown supporting tools. These include the ability to:
Convert Markdown to Docs content on paste Copy Docs content as Markdown Export a Doc as Markdown (from File > Download) Import Markdown as a Doc (from File > Open or "Open with Google Docs" from Drive)
Who's impacted
End users and developers
Why you'd use it
This update is particularly useful for technical content writers as they can now convert Docs content to/from Markdown. For example, developers can collaborate on software documentation in Docs and then export it as Markdown for use in other Markdown supporting tools.
Getting started
Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. End users:
The import and export options are ON by default.
The "Copy as Markdown" and "Paste from "Markdown" options will be OFF by default and can be enabled in Docs by going to Tools > Preferences > Enable Markdown.
Visit the Help Centre to learn more about using
Markdown in Google Docs, Slides, & Drawings.
Rollout pace
Availability
Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts
Resources
by | Jul 9, 2024 | News
What's changing
In November 2023, we
announced the ability to purchase and distribute iOS apps to user-enrolled devices through Apple's Volume Purchase Programme. Beginning today, we're expanding this functionality to include device enrollment and
company-owned iOS devices.
Who's impacted
Admins and end users
Why you'd use it
Admins can use the Volume Purchasing Programme to efficiently curate a suite of work-related apps-both free and paid-for their team. This streamlined process not only simplifies the deployment of essential business apps but also ensures that employees have access to the right apps they need to be productive and efficient, all within the secure perimeter of our MDM platform. To further streamline the enrollment and app distribution process, we're automatically installing mandatory apps during enrollment for company-owned devices. This latest update makes it easier for admins to deploy apps across various device types in their organisation.
Additional details
The automatic installation of mandatory apps during onboarding applies to all enrollment types and devices that violate mandatory apps compliance will be immediately blocked until the required app(s) are installed.
Availability
Available to Google Workspace
Business PlusEnterprise Essentials and Enterprise Essentials PlusEnterprise Standard and PlusEducation Standard and Plus, and the Endpoint Education Upgrade add-onFrontline Starter and StandardCloud Identity Premium
by | Jul 11, 2024 | News
What's changing
We're introducing a new OAuth scope for the Drive API: drive.meet.readonly. The new scope grants app access to read and download files from a user's drive that were created or edited by Google Meet - this includes meeting transcripts, notes, recordings, and more. This granular level of authorisation helps ensure Drive access is not provisioned too broadly and only the necessary files can be accessed.
Rollout pace
Availability
by | Jul 10, 2024 | News
What's changing
We
recently announced several updates related to framing options on Google Hardware devices. This included the ability for admins to configure the default camera framing option for their hardware devices. After pausing rollout to optimise performance, we are pleased to announce that this feature is now fully available.
Getting started
Availability
Available to all Google Workspace customers with Google Meet hardware devices
Resources
by | Jul 9, 2024 | News
What's changing
We're expanding the interoperability between Google Meet and Zoom to include the ability to present content via a wired HDMI connection. This functionality will allow you:
Present HDMI content into your Zoom Meetings from Google Meet hardware devicesPresent HDMI content into Google Meet meetings from supported Zoom Rooms
This is designed to make it even easier for our customers and their users to connect and collaborate with people outside of the Meet ecosystem. To learn more about interoperability between Google Meet and Zoom, check out these previous announcements:
Rollout pace
Availability
Available to all Google Workspace customers with Google Meet hardware Chrome-based devices
by | Jul 9, 2024 | News
What's changing
Meeting hosts can now pre-configure meeting notes, meeting recordings, and meeting transcripts from the Calendar invite. This helps ensure that these specific artifacts are automatically captured, reducing the need for the meeting host to turn them on during the meeting, removing awkward pauses or the risk of forgetting to turn them all on together.
You can configure these artifacts from the Calendar invite by going to Settings > Meeting records and selecting which artifacts you want automatically applied
Rollout pace
Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1-3 days for feature visibility) starting on July 9, 2024
Availability
Available for Google Workspace*:
Business Standard and PlusEnterprise Starter, Standard, and PlusEducation Plus and the Teaching and Learning UpgradeEssentials and Enterprise Essentials,Workspace Individual SubscribersGoogle One subscribers with 2 TB or more storage space
*Note that your Google Workspace edition will determine which meeting features are available to you.
Resources
