Google Workspace Updates: July 2021

Google Workspace Updates Weekly Recap - July 30, 2021

Friday, July 30, 2021

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.

Improvements for braille mode in Google Docs provide a richer, more interactive experience

We've improved how suggestions are announced in braille mode in Google Docs. You’ll now hear detailed suggestion information inline with the rest of the text — this includes whether the suggestion is an insertion or deletion, and the author of the suggestion. | Learn more.

Disabling File Transfer in Google Chat

Admins can now disable or limit file sharing for their users in Chat. Specifically, admins

will be able to specify controls within and outside their organization, and will be able to choose between restricting all files, allowing images only, or allowing all files. | Available to Google Workspace Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, Enterprise Essentials | Learn more.

Alert Center enrichment with VirusTotal threat context now generally available

Earlier this year, we pre-announced an integration between the Alert Center and VirusTotal. Currently, the Google Workspace Alert Center provides admins with actionable, real-time alerts and insights regarding security-related activity in their domain. With the VirusTotal (now part of Google Cloud) integration, admins have the ability to dig into their alerts at a deeper level. | Available to Google Workspace Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals and Education Plus customers. | Learn More.

Use dynamic security groups for group based policies

Google Workspace admins can now use dynamic groups to manage policies for their users in the Admin console. Previously, it was only possible to apply these policies to static groups and OUs. | Available to Google Workspace Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, and Cloud Identity Premium customers. | Learn more.

Workspace for Education Plus now syncs Google Classroom courses and rosters with Student Information Systems

U.S. school districts with Google Workspace for Education Plus will be able to automatically set up Google Classroom courses and keep rosters in sync with their Student Information System (SIS). IT admins will do the setup via Clever, meaning teachers will no longer need to manually create classes and invite students to join them. | Learn More.

Enhancements to Google Voice

We’ve made several enhancements to Google Voice, including information and troubleshooting tips for missed calls, the ability to easily redial dropped calls, the ability to delete SMS messages in bulk, and an option to show your Google Voice number as the caller ID when forwarding calls. | Learn more.

Search within a folder in Google Drive on iOS

You can now search for content inside a specific folder in Google Drive on iOS. Simply navigate to the folder you want to search within and select the search bar — you’ll see a list of suggested folders, documents, and users to refine your search results. Select the folder chip before typing your search query. | Learn more.

Assign SSO profile to organizational units or groups with the new SAML Partial SSO beta

Currently, you can configure to authenticate your users using a third-party identity provider — this configuration applies to all users within your domain. Now, you have the option to specify groups or organizational units (OUs) to authenticate a subset of your users using Google. This feature is available as an open beta. | Learn more.

New enrollment privilege and naming updates for Google Meet hardware in the Admin console

We are making two improvements to the admin controls for Google Meet hardware: a new enrollment privilege admins and updates for hardware management in the Admin console. | Learn more.

Use the new Google Meet web app for better meetings on desktop devices

We’ve launched a new Google Meet standalone web app. This Progressive Web Application (PWA) has all the same features as Google Meet on the web, but as a standalone app it’s easier to find and use, and it streamlines your workflow by eliminating the need to switch between tabs. | Learn more.

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

Use the new Google Meet web app for better meetings on desktop devices

Friday, July 30, 2021

Quick summaryWe’ve launched a new Google Meet standalone web app. This Progressive Web Application (PWA) has all the same features as Google Meet on the web, but as a standalone app it’s easier to find and use, and it streamlines your workflow by eliminating the need to switch between tabs.
The PWA runs on any device with Google Chrome browser version 73 and up (version 73 was released in March 2019). This means it works on Windows, MacOS, Chrome OS, and Linux devices.

Image showing Google Meet PWA in the app launcher screen

Google Meet PWA app (far right column, second down) in app launcher screen

Image showing Meet PWA app opened for a meeting

Meet PWA app opened for a meeting

Getting started

Admins:

Use our Help Center to automatically install the progressive web app for users or manage PWA access.
Alternatively, you can allow users to install the app themselves, just make sure users can install Chrome Browser extensions.

End users: This app will not be available until installed on a user’s device. Visit the Help Center to learn how to download and use the Meet progressive web app on your computer.

Image of offer to try the Google Meet web app that appears in the main Google Meet opening page

There will also be an offer to try the Google Meet web app in the upper right-hand corner of the main Google Meet opening page
Rollout pace

Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on July 26, 2021
Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on August 2, 2021

Availability

Available to all Google Workspace customers, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers and users with personal Google Accounts.

Resources

Google Chrome Help: Use Progressive Web Apps

New enrollment privilege and naming updates for Google Meet hardware in the Admin console

Thursday, July 29, 2021

What’s changing We are making two improvements to the admin controls for Google Meet hardware:

A new enrollment privilege: You can use the new "Enroll Google Meet hardware" admin privilege to limit the enrollment of new devices to authorized users.
Updates for hardware management in the Admin Console: Legacy references to “Chromebox for meetings” will be renamed “Google Meet hardware,” and there will be a minor settings reorganization.

Read below for more details.

Who’s impactedAdmins only

Why it’s important This new admin privilege provides enhanced security functionality by enabling you to restrict who in your organization is able to enroll new Google Meet hardware devices and consume licenses. The naming updates will help increase the consistency and clarity of managing hardware devices in the Admin console.

Additional details A new enrollment privilege As part of this launch, we are creating:

A new “Enroll Google Meet hardware” privilege that can be granted to Google Meet hardware administrators.
A new “Require enrollment privilege” policy in the new Service settings group in the Google Meet hardware settings.

Enabling the Require enrollment privilege policy for your organization will require any user attempting to provision a new device to have the Enroll Google Meet hardware admin privilege. If they do not, enrollment will be blocked during setup and no license will be consumed.

Updates for hardware management in the Admin Console
For consistency and clarity, we will begin updating a handful of remaining legacy references to Chromebox for meetings with the correct product name, Google Meet hardware. You may notice this change in the Admin console Policies page, Admin roles and privileges page, and the Subscriptions page.
Additionally, the Google Meet hardware settings page will now have a single combined tab for Device settings. These were previously separated out across Meet settings and System settings. See image below.

Getting started

Alt text - Admin console screen showing new admin privilege

The new “Enroll Google Meet hardware” admin privilege in the Admin console

Alt text - Admin console screen showing new enforcement option

The setting to enforce the new Admin privilege for enrollment of new Google Meet Hardware devices

Alt text - Admin console screen showing new device settings section

The new ‘Device settings’ section in the Admin console
Rollout pace

This feature is available now for all users.

Availability

Available to all Google Workspace customers with Google Meet hardware licenses

Resources

Google Workspace Admin Help: Enroll your device

Assign SSO profile to organizational units or groups with the new SAML Partial SSO beta

Thursday, July 29, 2021

What’s changing Currently, you can configure to authenticate your users using a third-party identity provider — this configuration applies to all users within your domain. Now, you have the option to specify groups or organizational units (OUs) to authenticate a subset of your users using Google. This feature is available beginning today as an open beta, which means you can use it without enrolling in a specific beta program.

Who’s impacted Admins

Why you’d use it Currently, when you configure SSO with a third-party identity provider, the setting applies to your entire domain. However, there are some instances where you may want a subset of your users, such as vendors or contractors, to authenticate with Google instead. The Partial SSO beta gives you the flexibility to specify the authentication method for various users in your organization as needed.

Getting started

Admins: In the Admin console, navigate to Security > Settings > Set up single sign-on (SSO) with a third party iDP > Manage SSO Profile assignments. Visit the Help Center to learn more about assigning SSO profiles to organizational units or groups.

Rollout pace

Rapid and Scheduled Release: Full rollout (1-3 days for feature availability) beginning on July 29, 2021

Availability

Available to all Google Workspace and Cloud Identity customers

Resources

Google Workspace Admin Help: Set up single sign-on for managed Google Accounts using third-party Identity providers
Google Workspace Admin Help: Assign SSO profile to organizational units or groups

Search within a folder in Google Drive on iOS

Thursday, July 29, 2021

What’s changing
You can now search for content inside a specific folder in Google Drive on iOS. Simply navigate to the folder you want to search within and select the search bar — you’ll see a list of suggested folders, documents, and users to refine your search results. Select the folder chip before typing your search query.

Searching for content in a folder in Drive

Searching for content in a folder in Drive

Who’s impacted
End users
Why you’d use it
We’ve heard from our users that they often navigate to specific folders to streamline their search experience. We hope this change makes it easier for you to quickly find your important files.

Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
End users:

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on July 29, 2021

Availability

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

Resources

Google Help: Find files in Google Drive

Enhancements to Google Voice

Wednesday, July 28, 2021

Update

[August 3, 2021]: The “Delete multiple SMS messages at once” feature is only available in the U.S.

What’s changing

We continuously listen to customer feedback as we make refinements to Google Voice, and based on your feedback we’ve made the following enhancements:

Missed Call Reason: Now you can see why a call did not ring and what you can do to fix it by changing your settings. Just go to the Missed Call details section or the Voicemail section (in case you received a voicemail for the call), and take the recommended steps in settings such as turning off the Do Not Disturb or setting the device to receive incoming calls

Image showing how to easily find out why a call did not ring and correct it in Settings

Easily find out why a call did not ring and correct it in Settings

Call Drop Reason and Redial: Find out why a call dropped and easily redial. If the call dropped due to poor internet connectivity, you'll have the option to call using your mobile carrier network.

Image showing an example of why a call didn't connect

See the reason your call didn’t connect

Caller ID: Google Voice customers using iOS now have a setting that allows them to see their Google Voice number as the caller ID when a call comes in to a number linked to Google Voice. When this setting is on, you will see the number you linked to Google Voice as the caller ID.

Image showing how you can chose to see your Google Voice number as the caller’s number for calls to numbers you linked to Voice

You can chose to see your Google Voice number as the caller’s number for calls to numbers you linked to Voice

Delete multiple SMS messages at once: Now you can delete multiple SMS messages at one time to streamline your workflow - a capability frequently requested by our users. To use this feature, simply tap on the avatar on one or more SMS threads, and a trash bin will appear on the app bar above the messages allowing the message threads to be easily deleted. Note: This feature is only available in the U.S.

Gif showing how to select multiple SMS messages and delete them at once

Select multiple SMS messages and delete them at once

Who’s impacted
End users
Getting started

Admins: There is no admin control for this feature.
End users: This feature will be OFF by default for the Caller ID feature and can be enabled by the user from within Settings. Visit the Help Center to learn more about changing the caller ID for incoming calls

Rollout pace

Missed Call Reason: Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting July 15.
Call Drop Reason and Redial: This feature is available now for all users.
Caller ID: This feature is available now for all iOS users.
Delete multiple SMS messages at once: This feature is available now for all users.

Availability

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

Resources

Workspace for Education Plus now syncs Google Classroom courses and rosters with Student Information Systems

Monday, July 26, 2021

What’s changingU.S. school districts with Google Workspace for Education Plus will be able to automatically set up Google Classroom courses and keep rosters in sync with their Student Information System (SIS). IT admins will do the setup via Clever, meaning teachers will no longer need to manually create classes and invite students to join them. Note that this will not overwrite Classroom courses that teachers create individually.
Who’s impacted
Admins and end users
Why you’d use it
This feature, created in partnership with Clever, improves the interoperability and integration between Google Classroom and most major SIS in the U.S. It saves teachers time with class setup and keeps Classroom classes and SIS rosters in sync with less manual and duplicative work.
Getting started

Admins: This feature will be OFF by default and can be enabled in the Admin console under Classroom settings. After that, go to Clever, link to the Google Classroom rostering app & follow the setup wizard.

End users: This feature will be OFF by default and can be enabled by your admin. There is no end user setting for this feature. When your admin sets up rostering via Clever, teachers will receive an invite within Classroom to teach the class with the roster pre-populated.

Rollout pace

Rapid Release and Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on July 26, 2021

Availability

Available to Education Plus

Resources

Google Help: Set up SIS roster import

Roadmap

This feature was listed as an upcoming release.

Use dynamic security groups for group based policies

Monday, July 26, 2021

What’s changing Google Workspace admins can now use dynamic groups to manage policies for their users in the Admin console. Previously, it was only possible to apply these policies to static groups and OUs.
Workspace admins can use dynamic attribute-based groups to automate tasks such as "turn drive off for everyone in Europe through the Admin Console".

Who’s impacted

Admins

Why it’s important

This change gives admins greater control and flexibility when managing Workspace policies for users in their organization. For instance, rather than applying policies to a specific group which is updated manually at large, admins can apply policies to a dynamic group which stays up-to-date automatically.

Further, this reduces manual work for Admins and helps improve security by relying on external source of truth systems for user attributes.