by | May 1, 2024 | News
What's changing
Getting started
Rollout pace
Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on April 25, 2024. We anticipate rollout to take around six weeks to complete.
Availability
Available to all Google Workspace customers with Google Meet hardware devices
by | May 1, 2024 | News
What's changing
Launching first to beta, we're introducing data loss prevention rules for Gmail. Data protection rules help admins and security experts build a stronger framework around sensitive data to prevent personal or proprietary information from ending up in the wrong hands. This functionality is already available in Google Chat and Google Drive, and in Gmail you'll be able to create, implement, and investigate rules in the same manner.
Admins can create data protection rules to flag sensitive information from using your organisation. These rules are applied to outgoing messages sent internally or externally and admins can choose whether all content (including attached files and images), the body of the email, email headers, or subject lines should be scanned. You can configure your rules to look for sensitive text strings, custom detectors, or select predefined detectors. If a message violates a rule, admins can choose to:
Block message - the sender will receive a notification about message delivery failure and more information about the policy they violated.Quarantine message - the message will require review and approval by an admin before delivery. If the message is rejected by an admin, the user may receive a notification about it.Audit only - the message is delivered, but it is captured in
rule log events for further analysis. This is particularly advantageous because it allows admins to assess the impact of rules before introducing them to your end users.
Data loss prevention for Gmail are available for select Google Workspace customers (see the "Availability" section below) - no additional sign-up is required to use the feature.
Create data protection policies for Gmail alongside Drive and Chat
Build flexible conditions with selection of predefined and custom detectors of sensitive information
Set up a rule with Audit Only action applied to messages sent outside of organisation. The severity level for event logging is set up to 'Medium' and alerting via Alert Centre is turned on
Detailed information about the event in the Alert Centre
Overview of DLP incidents in the Security Dashboard with further option to investigate audit logs in detail
Who's impacted
Admins and end users
Why it's important
In addition to detecting sensitive content, DLP in Gmail offers additional benefits such as:
Simplified deployment and data protection policies management with rules for Gmail, Drive and Google Chat unified into the same area and workflow.Advanced detection policies with flexible conditions, wide selection of predefined detectors for global and regional information types, custom detectors (Regular Expressions and word lists), targeting on specific parts of a message (header, subject, body). Granular configuration of policies scope, defining sender audiences (at domain, OU, and group levels) and recipient audiences (internal, external, both).Actions with various levels of restriction such as block delivery of message (Block), quarantine message for review (Quarantine), and log event for future audit (Audit only).Tools for incident management and investigation such as the Alert Centre, Security Dashboard and Security Investigation Tool.
Additional details
How does DLP in Gmail compare to Content Compliance rules?
Content compliance in Gmail does offer similar functionality in that you can create rules to prevent messages that contain specific content from being sent. However, unlike DLP in Gmail, admins have no way to preview the impact of these rules before deploying them broadly.
Further, content compliance offers a variety of features that are better suited for filtering content. For example, you can:
Set up a metadata match on a range of IP addresses, and quarantine messages from IP addresses outside of the range.Route messages with content that matches specific text strings or patterns to a specific department, suited the best to process information.
Getting started
Admins: Data loss prevention rules can be configured at the domain, OU, or group level. DLP rules can be enabled in Gmail in the Admin console under Security > Access and data control > Data protection. Visit the Help Centre to learn more about
controlling sensitive data shared in GmailNote that you can modify existing DLP rules for Drive and Chat to also apply to Gmail. DLP events can be reviewed in the
Security Investigation Tool or Security > Alert Centre, if alerts are configured in rules.
We recommend selecting "Audit only" when you're setting up a rule. When selected, messages that match the conditions of a rule will be delivered with the detection being logged. This allows you to rest new rules and monitor their performance, or to passively monitor the environment without interrupting email flow for your users.
Note on asynchronous and synchronous scanning: With DLP for Gmail, data protection rules are scanned asynchronously, which means that the message is blocked or quarantined after it leaves the sender's mailbox and before being dispatched to the recipient. We're working on the ability to scan data protection rules synchronously when a user hits "Send" in order to notify users about sensitive content before the message leaves their mailbox.
Please share your feedback on this feature with us - this will help us continue to improve the experience as we move through beta and towards general availability. You can share your feedback by selecting the "Send feedback" button located in the bottom left corner of your screen of any data protection related page in the Admin console.
End users: When configured by your admins, you'll be notified if your message contains information that violates a DLP rule
Rollout pace
Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on April 26, 2024
Availability
Available to Google Workspace:
Enterprise Standard, Enterprise PlusEducation Fundamentals, Standard, Plus, and the Teaching & Learning UpgradeFrontline StandardCloud Identity Premium customers
by | May 1, 2024 | News
3 New updates
Unless otherwise indicated, the features below are available to all Google Workspace customers, and are fully launched or in the process of rolling out. Rollouts should take no more than 15 business days to complete if launching to both Rapid and Scheduled Release at the same time. If not, each stage of rollout should take no more than 15 business days to complete.
Customisable Home tab for Google Chat apps
Create Looker Studio reports from Google Sheets
Looker Studio enables users to quickly build interactive reports and dashboards, and starting today they can now be created directly from Google Sheets. More specifically, users can:
Pick which sheet or cell range to use in the generated report on Looker Studio. Transform the data in Sheets to an automatically generated Looker Studio report in a single click, and save and share the report with an individual or a team. The Looker Studio report remains connected to the Sheet, and can be refreshed to reflect data updates. | Rolling out to
Rapid Release domains and Scheduled Release domains now. | Available to all Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. | Learn
how to create a Looker Studio report from Google Sheets.
Export Gemini data for users in your organisation
Previous announcements
The announcements below were published on the Workspace Updates blog earlier this week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.
External participants can now join Google Meet client-side encrypted calls
We're enhancing the experience for client-side encrypted Google Meet calls to include support for inviting external participants, including users without a Google account. | Learn more about
external participants joining CSE Meet calls. Client-side encryption can now be selected as a data loss prevention condition
You can now use client-side encryption as a condition for a data loss prevention (DLP) rule. | Learn more about the
DLP rule. Seamlessly transfer between devices during a Google Meet call
Import data from Slack to Google Chat using CloudFuze
With the CloudFuze integration, you can move messages and memberships from Slack channels into Chat spaces. CloudFuze also imports data while maintaining historical timestamps to ensure users can start using spaces right where they left off. | Learn more about
Google Chat and CloudFuze.Get notified about application load failures for your Google Meet Hardware devices
Workspace Data Protection rules are now available for Gmail in Beta
Launching first to beta, we're introducing data loss prevention rules for Gmail. Data protection rules help admins and security experts build a stronger framework around sensitive data to prevent personal or proprietary information from ending up in the wrong hands. | Learn more about
Data protection rules.
Rapid Release Domains:
Scheduled Release Domains:
Rapid and Scheduled Release Domains:
For a recap of announcements in the past six months, check out What's new in Google Workspace (recent releases).
by | May 1, 2024 | News
What's changing
Google Drive is designed to work with keyboards, screen readers, braille devices, screen magnification, and more. Today, we're excited to improve the accessibility of Google Drive by enabling first-letters navigation.
First-letters navigation enables users to quickly and easily navigate a list of items in Drive via keypress. Users can move focus within a file list in Drive by pressing the first letter(s) of the file's name. Pressing the same letter again will navigate to the next item starting with that letter.
In order to support first-letters navigation on Drive, we are migrating the existing single-letter shortcuts on Drive to multi-key shortcuts.
Additional details
Starting today, you can begin opting into the new shortcuts immediately through a banner notification in Drive or by going to Drive > Settings > Keyboard shortcuts > Update now. On August 1, 2024, Drive keyboard shortcuts will be automatically updated to first-letters navigation for all users. Once shortcuts are updated, you will also be able to see shortcuts where applicable in menus and on hover in toolbars in Drive.
Getting started
Rollout pace
Availability
Available to all Google Workspace customers, Google Workspace Individual subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts
Resources
by | May 10, 2024 | News
1 New update
Unless otherwise indicated, the features below are available to all Google Workspace customers, and are fully launched or in the process of rolling out. Rollouts should take no more than 15 business days to complete if launching to both Rapid and Scheduled Release at the same time. If not, each stage of rollout should take no more than 15 business days to complete.
Expanding Slides recordings to Microsoft Edge
Last year, we introduced slide recordings, a Google Slides feature that lets you easily record yourself presenting, and then share the presentation with others to view when it works for them. This week, we're excited to announce you can now create recordings in Microsoft Edge, in addition to Google Chrome on your desktop. | Rolling out to
Rapid Release domains now; launch to
Scheduled Release domains planned for May 22, 2024. | Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Essentials Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus and Education Plus. | Learn more about
using slide recording in Google Slides.
Previous announcements
The announcements below were published on the Workspace Updates blog earlier this week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.
A simplified experience for Workspace users to add 2-Step Verification (2SV) methods
We're simplifying how users turn on 2-Step Verification (2SV), which will streamline the process, and make it easier for admins to enforce 2SV policies in their organisations. | Learn more about
adding 2-Step Verification (2SV) methods. Block compromised mobile devices using context-aware access
Using context-aware access, you now have the option to automatically block access to Google Workspace data from compromised Android and iOS devices. A device may be counted as compromised if certain unusual events are detected, including devices that are jailbroken, bypassing of security controls, modification of restricted settings, and more. | Learn more about
compromised mobile devices. Improving suspension alerting for Google Meet hardware devices
To ensure customers with Google Meet hardware devices have sufficient notice about cancelled or expired device subscriptions, we're adding notifications in the Admin console. | Learn more about
suspension alerts in Meet hardware. Easily convert data to dropdown chips in Google Sheets
We're adding a new feature that helps you quickly convert ranges of data into dropdown chips in bulk. If you have a column of data that includes a variety of data values (e.g., different project statuses like on track, paused, completed), Sheets will show a "Convert to dropdown chips" suggestion when you click into your data range. | Learn more about
dropdown chips in Sheets. New ways to quickly format and organise data with tables in Google Sheets
We're excited to announce tables in Google Sheets, which helps you simplify and accelerate spreadsheet building by bringing format and structure to unorganised ranges. | Learn more about
tables in sheets. Breakout room information is now included in Google Meet attendance reports
We're now including breakout room attendance as part of attendance reporting in Google Meet. Attendance reports help meeting organisers keep track of who attended their meetings and for how long, which can be challenging during larger meetings or while presenting. | Learn more about
breakout room information. Set the default camera framing option for Google Meet hardware devices, and other framing updates
We're introducing several updates around framing controls for Google Meet hardware devices: 1) an admin setting which will allow admins to choose a default framing option for their meeting spaces, 2) framing support on whiteboards (Series One Desk 27 and Board 65) and remote controlled only Google Meet hardware devices, 3) a few small adjustments to how camera framing settings appear on hardware devices. | Learn more about
framing updates for Meet hardware devices. Get notifications for all messages in a Google Chat space
For conversations that require a higher level of attention, we're introducing a new "notify all" functionality for in-line threaded spaces. If this option is selected, you will be notified of all new messages in the space. This includes receiving notifications for all @ mentions, threads followed, and even threads that you do not follow, allowing you to stay on top of everything happening in a conversation. | Learn more about
notifications in Google Chat.
Rapid Release Domains:
Scheduled Release Domains:
Rapid and Scheduled Release Domains:
For a recap of announcements in the past six months, check out What's new in Google Workspace (recent releases).
by | May 2, 2024 | News
What's changing
For Google Workspace editions that support 100,000 viewers, we're increasing the availability of the Google Meet ultra-low latency viewing experience for live streamed meetings from the first 10,000 viewers to the first 25,000 viewers. All additional viewers will have the
standard live streaming experience. This update is available for live streams within your organisation on web and mobile.
With the ultra-low latency viewing experience, you'll notice improvements such as a virtually lag-free streaming experience, significantly increased speaker video resolution, improved automatic camera cuts that focus on the most relevant speakers and content, and more. For more information about the ultra-low latency viewing experience, check out our
original announcement as well as a recent announcement with more information about
improvements.
Getting started
Admins: Visit our Help Centre for more information
turning live streaming on or off for Meet.End users: When enabled by your admin, use the Help Centre to learn more about live
streaming a video meeting. Viewers: You can join streams as before. Reactions, polls and live Q&A work just as they do in a regular Meet video meeting. Visit the Help Centre to learn more about
viewing a live streamLive stream hosts: Live streams are
scheduled and managed just like before. Reactions, polls and live Q&A are integrated with the Meet call and managed like usual. Automatic camera cuts are triggered by speaker activity without any host action required.
Rollout pace
Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: Available now.
Availability
Live streaming is available for Google Workspace:Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus Enterprise Essentials Plus Education Plus and the Teaching and Learning Upgrade
Live streamed meetings can be viewed by Google Workspace:Business Starter, Standard, and PlusEnterprise Starter, Standard, and Plus Education Fundamentals, Standard, Plus, and the Teaching and Learning UpgradeEssentials Starter and Essentials users.
Not available to users with personal Google accounts.
Note: For some customers, these changes may roll out at a slower rate and they may not receive this update for several months.
by | May 2, 2024 | News
What's changing
We're making it easier to manage your AppSheet users with the introduction of AppSheet Organisations. An AppSheet organisation creates organisation administrators with a centralised tool to manage all of the teams in the organisation and delegate team management responsibilities to team administrators.
This chart shows the hierarchical relationship between an organisation, and its teams and members.
An organisation is based on a Workspace organisation and is tied to your
primary domain. One organisation can contain multiple teams based on
Google groups and Workspace organisations.
Who's impacted
Admins
Why you'd use it
AppSheet organisations significantly simplify the management of users and policies across all their AppSheet teams. Admins can:
Access self-serve tools to make changes that formerly required manual Support team intervention.Create and manage organisation-level policies that apply to all teams and manage individual team policies.Create new teams with distinct admins, users and policies as needed. Admins can also independently assign or remove team, root, or organisation administrator roles of any user.
Additional details
Support for non-Google authenticated users
For new and existing customers with AppSheet Organizations, any user from your verified primary or secondary domains that does not authenticate through Google will be shown in your domain-based teams alongside any group-based teams that have been created. These users will be subject to the same policies and team settings that apply to your users that authenticate through Google.
Rollout pace
Availability
Resources
by | May 10, 2024 | News
What's changing
In the last year, we've made numerous improvements to Google Chat that help you stay on top of the busy flow of communication and make it easier to prioritise and find the conversations that are most important to you. However, there are some conversations where you always need to be notified, like spaces dealing with customer support or operational issues.
For conversations that require a higher level of attention, we're introducing a new "notify all" functionality for in-line threaded spaces. If this option is selected, you will be notified of all new messages in the space. This includes receiving notifications for all
@ mentions,
threads followed, and even threads that you don't follow, allowing you to stay on top of everything happening in a conversation.
The options within notification settings are being updated to: "All", "Main conversations", "For you", and "None" so that you can better tailor your notifications preferences for in-line threaded spaces.
Getting started
Admins: There is no admin control for this feature. End users: To update your notification settings in a space, click the three dots (more options) next to the space name > Notification settings > select an option for notifications. Or you can click the space header > Notifications > select an option for notifications. Visit the Help Centre to learn more about
customising notifications for a space with in-line threading. Rollout pace
Web:
Rapid Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on May 10, 2024
Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on June 4, 2024 Android:
Available to all Google Workspace customers and Workspace Individual Subscribers
Resources
by | May 9, 2024 | News
What's changing
We're introducing several updates around framing controls for Google Meet hardware devices:
First, we're introducing an admin setting which will allow admins to choose a default framing option for their meeting spaces, ensuring every meeting begins with an optimally configured view. This will help your users jump right into their meetings without having to re-adjust camera settings from the previous meeting. This can be set individually for each device or via the bulk updates across your fleet.
Setting the default camera framing option in the Admin console
Next, we're adding framing support on whiteboards (Series One Desk 27 and Board 65) and remote controlled only Google Meet hardware devices, which will help ensure optimal camera framing on these devices.
Remote control framing user interfaceWhiteboard framing user interface
Finally, we're making a few small adjustments to how camera framing settings appear on hardware devices. For Meet on Android, we're removing the "Continuous framing" toggles and replacing them with a "Framing by" toggle. Depending on the third-party devices you're using, you'll see "Framing by Logitech","Framing by Huddly" or "Framing by Poly", for example. We're also changing the "Home" button to "Reset to default".
Updated camera framing settings on Meet hardware devices
Getting started
Admins: You can configure default camera framing options for individual Google Meet hardware devices by going to Devices > Google Meet hardware > [Device Name] > Device Settings > Default camera framing. Or you can
set the default camera framing option for multiple devices at once. End users: Visit the Help Centre to learn more about using device-based framing and using the Meet the touchscreen to control audio and video.
Rollout pace
Whiteboard and remote control device supportRapid and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on May 14, 2024
Admin control:Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on May 21, 2024
Availability
Available to all Google Workspace customers
Resources
by | May 9, 2024 | News
What's changing
We're now including breakout room attendance as part of attendance reporting in Google Meet. Attendance reports help meeting organisers keep track of who attended their meetings and for how long, which can be challenging during larger meetings or while presenting. This becomes more complicated when using breakout rooms to divide meeting participants into smaller groups. Adding breakout room attendance makes for a more comprehensive report and reduces the burden on meeting hosts to track breakout room attendance manually.
Getting started
Admins: Visit the Help Centre to learn more about
letting organisers get reports on meeting attendance.End users: When enabled by your admin, attendance reports will automatically be sent to the meeting host. Attendance reports for breakout rooms will be in their own tab in the spreadsheet. Visit the Help Centre to learn more about
attendance tracking.
Rollout pace
Availability
Available to Google Workspace
EssentialsBusiness PlusEnterprise Starter, Essentials, Standard, and PlusEducation Plus and the Teaching and Learning Upgrade
Resources
