Google Workspace Updates

Stronger protection for sensitive Google Workspace account actions

Tuesday, August 9, 2022

What’s changing We’re introducing stronger safeguards for sensitive actions taken in your Google Workspace account. These apply to actions that, when done by hijackers, can have far reaching consequences for the account owner or the organization it belongs to.

Google will evaluate the session attempting the action, and if it’s deemed risky, it will be challenged with a “Verify it’s You” prompt. Through a second and trusted factor, such as a 2-step verification code, users can confirm the validity of the action. For example, if a malicious actor gains access to your account and attempts to change the name on your account, the action will be blocked until the true account owner can verify that this was intentional.

Note that this feature only supports users that use Google as their identity provider and actions taken within Google products. SAML users are not supported at this time. See below for more information.

Who’s impacted Admins and end users

Why it matters This added layer of security helps to intercept bad actors who have gained access to a user's account, further protecting their data and your organization's sensitive information. Additionally, these challenge attempts will be logged as an audit event allowing for further admin investigation.
Additional details In the Admin console under Users > “UserName” > Security, admins can toggle login challenges OFF for ten minutes if a user gets stuck behind a "verify it's you prompt". We strongly recommend only using this option if contact with the user is credibly established, such as via a video call.
Getting started

Admins: Visit the Help Center to learn more about Admin log events, verifying a users identity, and temporarily turning off the login challenges.
End users: There is no end user setting for this feature, you'll see "Verify you" challenges if an account action is deemed risky.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now.

Availability

Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers

Resources

Google Workspace Admin Help: SAML-based SSO: technical overview
Google Workspace Admin Help: Admin log events
Google Workspace Admin Help: Protect Google Workspace accounts with security challenges
Google Workspace Admin Help: Manage a user's security settings

Improving data privacy with Client-side encryption for Google Meet

Tuesday, August 9, 2022

What’s changing We are adding Workspace Client-side encryption to Google Meet, giving customers increased control over their data. Meet already encrypts all of your data at rest and in transit between our facilities — client-side encryption gives users direct control of their encryption keys and the identity service that they choose to authenticate for those keys. Additionally, this guarantees that Google cannot access audio and video content under any circumstances and helps you meet regulatory compliance in many regions.

Bringing Client-side encryption to Meet is another significant milestone in Google Workspace’s industry-leading encryption work, offering our users the highest degree of protection and control over their data.

Workspace Client-side encryption for Meet will be available first on the web, with support for meeting rooms and mobile devices coming later.

Important note: At this stage, only participants within your Workspace organization can be invited to client-side encrypted calls — guest access will be introduced in the future.

Why it’s important Client-side encryption uses keys supplied by the customer to add another layer of encryption to video and audio, in addition to using the default encryption that Google Meet provides. This is used for calls that need an extra level of confidentiality and makes the media indecipherable even to Google. Those could be calls regarding sensitive intellectual property or when required for compliance in highly regulated industries.

Additional details Notes about using client-side encryption:

The organizer needs to join for the call to start when client-side encryption is turned on. If participants join early, they will need to wait for the organizer to join before communicating with others.
Some functions that require server-side processing or parsing of call media will not work, e.g. cloud-based noise cancellation or closed captions.
Client-side encryption does not support dialing-in/out

Getting started

Admins: An administrator needs to configure how Meet connects to a key service and identity provider before turning on client-side encryption for users. Learn more about configuring Client-side encryption here.
End users:

Organizing calls:

In a calendar event with Meet video conferencing, navigate to Settings (cog-wheel icon) > Security and select “Add encryption”.
Note: All participants must be invited to the call, either via the Calendar event or within the meeting.

Participating in calls:

Client-side encrypted meetings will start once the meeting organizer arrives — there are no other restrictions or changes for meeting participants.

Rollout pace

Users on supported Google Workspace editions can create Client-side encrypted calls.

Availability

Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus, Education Standard, and Education Plus customers hosting client-side encrypted calls
Not available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Education Fundamentals, The Teaching and Learning Upgrade, Frontline, and Nonprofits, as well as legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers

Resources

Roadmap

This feature was listed as an upcoming release.

Office Building support for Working Locations

Monday, August 8, 2022

What’s changingIn 2021, we launched a feature allowing you to indicate if you are working from home or the office directly on your Calendar.

Now you’re able to select a specific office building as your working location. The office building is taken into account for meeting room suggestions, and helps colleagues better understand where you plan to work from on a given day.

Who’s impacted Admins and end users

Why you’d use it Whether you’re suggesting a meeting room to your colleagues or want to know where someone might be working for the day, we hope this update makes planning in-person collaboration easier.

Additional details With this new feature, those who manage the calendars of others, such as Executive assistants, will also be able to update the working location of that calendar as long as they have access to make changes and manage sharing.

Getting started

Admins: Working Location must be enabled for your organization in order to access this feature. Additionally, structured office buildings must be set in the admin console. Visit the Help Center to learn more about turning working location on or off for your organization.
End users: If enabled by your admin, you can select a structured building by choosing one of the following options:
- Click on your Calendar schedule right under the date, navigate to the “Working location” tab > “Choose a location” > click the "+" icon > "Another office" > select your office building.
- Go to "Working hours & location" in your Calendar settings. Under the working location dropdown > click "Another office" > select your office building.
- Visit the Help Center to learn more about setting your working hours & location.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Extended rollout (potentially longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on August 8, 2022

Availability

Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Plus, and Nonprofits, as well as legacy G Suite Business customers
Not available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Enterprise Essentials, Frontline customers as well as legacy G Suite Basic customers
Not available to users with personal Google Accounts

Resources

Google Workspace Admin Help: Turn working location on or off for users
Google Help: Set your work location
Google Workspace Updates Blog: Improved user interface for sharing your working location in Google Calendar

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - August 5, 2022

Friday, August 5, 2022

New updates

Unless otherwise indicated, the features below are fully launched or in the process of rolling out (rollouts should take no more than 15 business days to complete), 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), and available to all Google Workspace and G Suite customers.

Extending grammar features to German We’ve expanded our grammar features in Gmail and Docs to include German. This highlights possible grammar errors in your text to help you correct them if German is set as your default language. | Rolling out to Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains now at a Gradual pace (up to 15 days for feature visibility) | Learn more here and here.

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.

Seamlessly access popular Education Technology tools directly in Google Classroom We’ve made it easier for educators to access popular EdTech tools that work best for their class directly in Google Classroom with a new seamless integration of single sign-on, assigning, and grading. | Available to the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, and Google Workspace for Education Plus customers only. | Learn more.
Choose to grade with Canvas SpeedGrader or Google Assignments There is now an option to grade with either Google Assignments or Canvas SpeedGrader within Google Assignments for Canvas. | Available to Google Workspace Education Fundamentals, Education Plus, Education Standard, and the Teaching and Learning Upgrade customers only. | Learn more.

For a recap of announcements in the past six months, check out What’s new in Google Workspace (recent releases).

Choose to grade with Canvas SpeedGrader or Google Assignments

Thursday, August 4, 2022

What’s changingStarting today, within Google Assignments for Canvas, there is now an option to grade with either Google Assignments or Canvas SpeedGrader.
These tool allows educators to continue using features they already enjoy with Google Assignments, such as assigning personalized files to students, seeing students’ in-progress work, and using originality reports. If educators choose to grade with Canvas SpeedGrader, they can also utilize annotations and audio and video comments as they grade. Select SpeedGrader to grade an assignment

Who’s impacted Admins and end users

Why you’d use it This highly requested feature gives Canvas users a choice when deciding which grader interface works best for them.

Getting started

Admins: Google Assignments (LTI 1.3) must be enabled to use SpeedGrader. Visit the Help Center to learn more about setting up Assignments in Canvas.
End users: Visit the Help Center to learn more about using Canvas SpeedGrader.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on August 4, 2022

Availability

Available to Google Workspace Education Fundamentals, Education Plus, Education Standard, and the Teaching and Learning Upgrade customers
Not available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Frontline, Nonprofits, and legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers
Not available to users with personal Google Accounts

Resources

Seamlessly access popular Education Technology tools directly in Google Classroom

Monday, August 1, 2022

What’s changing With a new seamless integration of single sign-on, assigning, and grading, we’re making it easier for educators to access popular EdTech tools that work best for their class directly in Google Classroom.

Who’s impacted

Admins, end users, and developers

Why you’d use it

This feature enables educators to browse, assign, and grade compelling content for their classes and allows both educators and students to access their EdTech tools without having to go through various login steps, such as remembering numerous usernames and passwords, or having to navigate to external websites and apps.

In addition to saving educators and students time, this provides a more streamlined experience when using technology to make an impact on learning.

Additional details

We partnered with 15+ EdTech companies to build custom add-ons, including Kahoot!, Pear Deck, IXL, and Nearpod.

Getting started

Admins:

District admins must enable access to add-ons in order for educators to use these features. Visit the Help Center to learn more about installation instructions for setting up the add-ons feature and individual add-ons for a domain, OU, or group.
Once you’ve set up add-ons, your district can use this professional development kit, which includes a presentation and lesson plan, to train educators on how to get started with add-ons. Add-ons partner, Genially, also created an interactive genially version of the professional development training.

Educators:

Once enabled by your admin, you will see an “add-ons” module within the Assignment and Stream screens. From there, you will find the list of available add-ons for your district. Visit the Help Center to learn more about using add-ons in Classroom.

EdTech Tools & Developers: If you are interested in creating a Classroom add-on, express interest here.

Rollout pace

This feature is available now.

Availability

Available to the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, and Google Workspace for Education Plus customers
Not available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Education Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Frontline, and Nonprofits, as well as legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers
Not available to users with personal Google Accounts

Resources

Roadmap

This feature was listed as an upcoming release.

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - July 29, 2022

Friday, July 29, 2022

New updates

Unless otherwise indicated, the features below are fully launched or in the process of rolling out (rollouts should take no more than 15 business days to complete), 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), and available to all Google Workspace and G Suite customers.

Support for two simultaneous calls now available on Google Voice

As part of our efforts to further improve our core calling features, Google Voice now offers the ability to place or receive a second call when you are on an ongoing call. You can quickly decide if you would like to take the second incoming call by placing the current call on hold or by hanging up the current call. You can also reject the second incoming call if you would rather not be interrupted right now.The feature is currently rolling out on Web and will roll out on Android and iOS in the coming weeks. | Available to Voice Starter, Standard, and Premier customers and all Voice users. | Learn more.

The new integrated view is now the standard experience for Gmail

At the beginning of 2022, we announced a new integrated view for Gmail, bringing critical applications like Gmail, Chat, and Meet in one unified location. By August 5th, users who have not opted-in will begin seeing the new experience by default, but can revert to classic Gmail via settings. Within the next two months, this will become the default experience with no option to revert back. We will share an update on the Workspace Updates Blog at that time. | 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 legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers only. | Visit the Help Center and The Keyword to learn more.

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.

Improving the Google Workspace experience on large screen Android devices

We’ve added several new features and functionality to products like Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Keep on Android devices as part of our mission to provide a top-class user experience on large screen devices. | Learn more.

Migrate unmanaged accounts to your domain using new “UserInvitation” API functionality

We’ve introduced new API functionality that allows you to automate the process of finding conflicting accounts and inviting them to join your organization. | Available to Google Workspace Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise, Cloud Identity Premium and Cloud Identity Free customers only. | Learn more.

Working Location enabled by default

You are now able to set your working location without having to first enable this feature in your Calendar settings. | Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, Education Plus, the Teaching and Learning Upgrade, and Nonprofits, as well as legacy G Suite Business customers only. | Learn more.

Use the Cloud Search Query API to set Suggest Filters to enhance Cloud Search results

We’ve introduced Suggest Filters for Cloud Search. Using the Cloud Search Query API, admins can specify a filter condition that will be pre-applied to keyword suggestions as user types a query. This will surface more relevant suggestions, helping reduce the time users spend searching. | Available to Google Cloud Search customers only. | Learn more.

Assignments audit data now available in the Admin console

Google Workspace for Education admins can now view Assignments data in their audit logs. Using this data, admins can find and act on Assignments related events such as who removed a student from a video call, when assignment files were created or submitted, and more. | Available to Google Workspace Education Fundamentals, Education Plus, Education Standard, and the Teaching and Learning upgrade customers only. | Learn more.

Better search and suggestion options in Gmail

Gmail has more accurate and circumstantial search suggestions with better customization as a result of our new machine learning models. | Available to Google Workspace Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Plus, Frontline, and Nonprofits customers only. | Learn more.

New integrated email marketing tools for Gmail

We’ve added two new features in Gmail that you can use to easily send professional-looking emails to large audiences: layouts and multi-send. | Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Standard, Education Plus, Nonprofits, Workspace Individual, and legacy G Suite Basic customers only. | Learn more.

For a recap of announcements in the past six months, check out What’s new in Google Workspace (recent releases).

New integrated email marketing tools for Gmail

Thursday, July 28, 2022

What’s changingFor select Google Workspace editions, we’re adding two new features in Gmail which you can use to easily send professional-looking emails to large audiences:

Layouts: You can select from a predefined set of email templates, which feature images, text elements, and buttons. You can further customize these templates with your own color schemes, logos, images, footer text, and links. Layouts: You can select from a predefined set of email templates, which feature images, text elements, and buttons. You can further customize these templates with your own color schemes, logos, images, footer text, and links.
Multi-send: This feature allows you to send mass emails without the need to BCC all recipients. By default, multi-send emails include an unsubscribe link unique to each recipient — anyone who unsubscribes is automatically excluded from future multi-send emails from you.

Additionally, we are introducing an Admin setting to control whether these features are on or off for your users. The admin settings are rolling out now, allowing time to configure availability for their end users in advance. See below for more information.

These features are only available for Gmail on the web at this time.

Who’s impacted Admins and end users

Why you’d use them We hope these features allow you to quickly and easily create announcements, newsletters, and other mass-email scenarios. Additionally, your recipients will have the ability to unsubscribe from future multi-send emails.

Getting started Admins:

Layouts: This feature is ON by default and at the domain level. You can turn layouts on or off for specific domains, OUs, or groups.
Multi-Send:

For Google Workspace Enterprise Starter and above, as well as Google Workspace for Education customers, this feature is restricted to internal recipients by default.
For Google Workspace Business and Nonprofit customers, multi-send is available by default for external recipients.
For all Google Workspace editions, you can turn multi-send ON for external recipients at the OU or Group level

Note:

These feature launches do not impact the existing send quotas for users.
If your organization has disabled Google Drive, Gmail layouts are turned off automatically.

Visit the Help Center to learn more about managing Gmail settings for your users, customizing access policies for different organizational units or groups.

End users: If enabled by your admin, visit the Help Center to learn more about using layouts and multi-send in Gmail.

Rollout pace Admin Controls

Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on July 28, 2022

End user functionality

Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on August 8, 2022
Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on August 22, 2022

Availability

Available to Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Starter, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Standard, Education Plus and Workspace Individual customers
Not available to Google Workspace Essentials, Education Fundamentals, Education Teaching & Learning, Business Starter, Enterprise Essentials and Frontline customers

Resources

Better search and suggestion options in Gmail

Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Quick summary Over the years, we’ve made advancements to the search capabilities and suggestions in Gmail through search filters, search operators, search chips, and more.

Starting today, Gmail has more accurate and circumstantial search suggestions with better customization as a result of our new machine learning models. When searching for a conversation, file, or a colleague’s contact information in the Gmail Search Box, you will notice:

Better and more contextual contact suggestions with intent matching for names and email addresses. For example, suggestions are reordered to more likely match contact queries with first names or email addresses rather than last names.
Personalized suggestions based on historical exchanges, such as how often you interact with a colleague via Gmail.

Getting started

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on July 27, 2022

Availability

Available to Google Workspace Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Plus, Frontline, and Nonprofits customers
Available to users with personal Google Accounts
Not available to Google Workspace Essentials, Enterprise Essentials customers, and legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers

Resources

Roadmap

This feature was listed as an upcoming release.

Assignments audit data now available in the Admin console

Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Quick summary Google Workspace for Education admins can now view Assignments data in their audit logs. Using this data, admins can find and act on Assignments related events such as who removed a student from a video call, when assignment files were created or submitted, and more.

Getting started

Admins: Audit logs can be found in the Admin console under Reporting > Audit > Investigation > Admin log events. Visit the Help Center to learn more about Admin log events.
End users: There is no end user impact

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Available now.

Availability

Available to Google Workspace Education Fundamentals, Education Plus, Education Standard, and the Teaching and Learning upgrade.
Not available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Frontline, and Nonprofits, as well as legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers.

Resources

Google Workspace Admin Help: Admin log events

Useful Links

Join the official community for Google Workspace administrators

In the Google Cloud Community, connect with Googlers and other Google Workspace admins like yourself. Participate in product discussions, check out the Community Articles, and learn tips and tricks that will make your work and life easier. Be the first to know what's happening with Google Workspace.

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Learn about more Google Workspace launches

On the “What’s new in Google Workspace?” Help Center page, learn about new products and features launching in Google Workspace, including smaller changes that haven’t been announced on the Google Workspace Updates blog.

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Updates

Stronger protection for sensitive Google Workspace account actions

Improving data privacy with Client-side encryption for Google Meet

Office Building support for Working Locations

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - August 5, 2022

Choose to grade with Canvas SpeedGrader or Google Assignments

Seamlessly access popular Education Technology tools directly in Google Classroom

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - July 29, 2022

New integrated email marketing tools for Gmail

Better search and suggestion options in Gmail

Assignments audit data now available in the Admin console

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Useful Links

Join the official community for Google Workspace administrators

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