Google Workspace Updates

New Google Meet Hardware Admin console features: peripheral status, default volume, and static URLs

Monday, April 12, 2021

Quick launch summary We’re adding three new features to the Google Meet Hardware section of the Admin console:
Peripheral status: In addition to the “Device status” column on the Device list page, we’ve added columns for connection status and peripheral status. These new columns will help you filter your device list in order to easily discover and troubleshoot issues, and identify devices with missing peripherals.
Additionally, there is a new column management widget which you can use to quickly create customized views and sort through your devices faster.

Default Volume: There are two new options for setting the default volume behavior on Meet Hardware devices:

Preset volume mode: You can set a numerical value between 0 and 100 that devices will automatically use at the beginning of every call.
Smart volume mode: This mode will automatically determine the best volume for the room by averaging the volume set by users in the five most recent calls.

The default volume behavior for a single device can be set on its Device detail page. For a group of devices, use the bulk action option from the Device list page.
Note that end users can still modify the volume on a device according to their preference regardless of the default volume selection.

Static Device list URLs: Device list filters will now be uniquely encoded into the page’s URL. This makes it easy for admins who are responsible for specific organizational units or devices to bookmark a customized view or share it among team members.
Getting started

Admins: You’ll see these updates in the Admin console under Devices > Google Meet Hardware.
End users: No action required

Rollout pace Peripheral status and Default volume

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on April 8, 2021

Static Device list URLs

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on April 12, 2021

Availability

Available to all Google Workspace customers in organizations with Google Meet Hardware

Restrict third-party API access to Google Workspace and end user data with new app access control

Thursday, April 8, 2021

What’s changing You can now block all third-party API access to Google Workspace data with a new setting. This complements other available OAuth settings which help you control which third-party & internal apps access Google Workspace data. When selected, all third-party apps are denied access to Workspace and end user data, blocking all OAuth 2.0 scopes. This also means that users cannot use their Google Workspace accounts to sign into third-party apps and websites.

Who’s impacted Admins and end usersWhy it’s important This new setting adds another layer of protection over your Workspace and end user data. Not every third party application has robust security measures in place or conforms to your security policy — by restricting third-party APIs from requesting sensitive information, such as login or email scopes, you can ensure your data and user data stays secure.When all third party API access is blocked, an app will not be able to access any Workspace user date, across web and mobile. If users try to authorize an untrusted app, they’ll see an authorization error message. Admins can customize this error message if they choose.Getting started

Admins: This feature will be OFF by default and can be enabled in the Admin console by going to Security > API controls and selecting “Block all third-party API Access”. Visit the Help Center to learn more about blocking all third-party API access or controlling which third-party & internal apps access Google Workspace data.

End users: There is no end user setting for this feature. You’ll receive an authorization error if you try to use your Google Workspace account to access an unauthorized application.

Rollout pace

Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: This feature is available now.

Availability

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

Resources

Changes to Google Workspace storage policies timeline

Monday, April 5, 2021

What’s changingWe’re extending the previously announced timeframe for upcoming changes to the Google Workspace storage policy. The updated timeline is:

June 1, 2021: High-quality photos will count towards Drive quota beginning June 1, 2021. There is no change to this timeline.
February 1, 2022: Any newly created Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drawings, Forms, or Jamboard files will count toward storage. Existing files within these products will not count toward storage, unless they’re modified on or after February 1, 2022. Read more in our Help Center.

Note that there are no changes to the previously announced dates for personal Google accounts.
Who’s impactedAdmins and end users. Storage limits differ across Google Workspace and G Suite editions, but we estimate that the majority of users will not be affected by these changes. See “Getting Started” below for more information on determining storage usage across your organization.
Why it’s importantPeople are uploading more content than ever before—in fact, more than 4.3 million GB are added across Gmail, Drive, and Photos every day. These changes to our storage policy are necessary to provide our users with a great experience and to keep pace with the growing demand.

We recently announced changes to the pooled storage policy for Workspace for Education customers. As a part of these updates, to empower Google Workspace admins to adapt to this model and optimize their storage, we will provide new admin tools to identify and manage how storage is used and allocated before the policy goes into effect. We’ve decided to delay the count of Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drawings, Forms, or Jamboard files count toward storage quotas until that tooling is in place.
Getting started

Rollout paceHigh-quality photos

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: These policies will go into effect on June 1, 2021

Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drawings, Forms, and Jamboard

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: These policies will go into effect on February 1 , 2022

Availability

These changes will apply to all customers with Google Workspace and G Suite licenses.

Resources

Automatically save your response progress in Google Forms: Beta available for Google Workspace for Education customers

Thursday, April 1, 2021

What’s changing Next week, we’re launching draft responses for Google Forms in beta. When responding to a Google Form, Quiz or Quiz assignment in Classroom while signed into your Google Workspace account, your progress will automatically be saved as a draft for 30 days from your last edit or until the form is completed.
This beta is only available to Google Workspace for Education customers. Admins can use this form to express interest in participating in the beta.

Who’s impacted Admins and end users
Why it’s important With this new feature, you won't have to start over if you can't complete a form or quiz in one sitting, if you want to switch between multiple devices, or if your internet connection cuts out before your answers have been submitted.
Additional details Note that during the beta, Forms will only automatically save your progress as a draft for users in your domain when they’re signed in to their Google Workspace for Education account.

Data location requirements In order to participate in the beta, your domain cannot have data location requirements. To determine if you have data regions, use this Help Center article regarding geographic location for your data.

Feature availability While this beta is only available for Google Workspace for Education customers, this feature will be made available to all Google Workspace customers later this year. We’ll provide an update on the Workspace Updates blog when this feature becomes generally available.
Getting started

Admins: Google Workspace for Education admins can use this form to express interest in joining the beta. You’ll be notified via email once accepted into the beta and when the beta becomes available.
End users: No action required. Once the beta starts, your draft responses will automatically be saved when logged in to your Google account. To view your drafted responses, simply reopen the form link when logged in to your Google account.

Availability

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

Resources

Update design for the Admin console home page

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Quick launch summary

A new card-based interface which includes more information and links to provide quick access to common tasks.
Expandable (or collapsible) cards for Users, Billing, and Domains, with quick links to common items in those areas.
Reordered items to make it easier to find the most used sections and complete common tasks.

We hope this design will make it quicker to navigate around the Admin console, easier to find items you need to manage, and simpler to understand how Google Workspace is deployed within your organization.

The new admin console home page

The old Admin console home page
Getting started

Admins: You’ll see the new interface when you log into the Admin console. Visit the Help Center to learn more about using the Admin console.
End users: No end user impact.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on March 31, 2021.

Availability

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

Resources

Google Workspace Admin Help: Use your Admin console

Add and manage four new types of citations in Google Docs

Wednesday, March 31, 2021

Quick launch summaryNow you can add these four new citation source types in Google Docs:

Film
TV Series
TV Episode
Miscellaneous

This will make writing academic papers easier, since you won’t have to copy citations from other tools. The four new citation source types come in addition to the types you already have available, including books, websites, journal articles, and newspaper articles.

Adding a film as a citation source
Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
End users: You can find and use the citations tool in the Tools menu. Visit the Help Center to learn more about citations in Google Docs.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on March 31, 2021.
Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting April 26, 2021.

Availability

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

Resources

Google Help: Add citations and a bibliography

Google Workspace Frontline is now available

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

What’s changingWe previously announced Google Workspace Frontline, our newest offering built specifically for frontline employees. Today, we’re excited to announce that Google Workspace Frontline is available for purchase through Sales and resellers, to give frontline workers secure access, on any supported device, to the information they need to be at their best.

Who’s impactedAdmins and end users
Why you’d use itGoogle Workspace Frontline can help open up communication and collaboration channels between frontline workers and corporate teams in a way that’s safe and secure, even from their own personal devices. It’s a custom solution that includes communication and collaboration apps like Gmail, Chat, Meet, Docs, Drive, and more, as well as business-grade support and security features like advanced endpoint management that help keep a company’s data secure.
Additional detailsWith Google Workspace Frontline, your employees will have access to:

Gmail
Google Calendar
Google Chat
Google Meet
Google Docs
Google Sheets
Google Slides
Google Sites

In addition, you’ll get 2GB Drive storage per user and the ability to view content in shared drives. This offer also includes business-grade support and security features like advanced endpoint management, which enables admins to require strong mobile passcodes, set up work profiles for Android devices, manage apps forAndroid and iOS devices, and wipe devices remotely if needed.
Getting started

Rollout pace

This edition is available now.

Availability

Google Workspace Frontline is available for both new and all existing customers.

Resources

Useful Links

Updates

New Google Meet Hardware Admin console features: peripheral status, default volume, and static URLs

Restrict third-party API access to Google Workspace and end user data with new app access control

Changes to Google Workspace storage policies timeline

Automatically save your response progress in Google Forms: Beta available for Google Workspace for Education customers

Update design for the Admin console home page

Add and manage four new types of citations in Google Docs

Google Workspace Frontline is now available

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