Google has announced a lot of new updates to their GSuite applications, bringing stronger security features to Gmail, Meet and Chat. Along with this, they are also introducing new tools for IT admins that allow easier management in the Admin console.
Starting with Gmail, Google is introducing a new security standard called Brand Indicators for Message Identification (BIMI) that allows organisations to validate ownership of their corporate logos and securely transmit them to Google. Once they are authenticated, emails from the organisation will have their logo displayed in avatar slots in the Gmail UI, increasing user confidence in the source of these mails.
Regarding Meet, Google is introducing controls over who can join meetings and safety locks to better protect meetings. Now, if an attendee is rejected, they cannot join the meeting again until the host re-invites and if multiple knocking requests are denied, the user will be automatically blocked.
With safety locks, hosts have controls over which methods can be used to join the meeting (like for example, via calendar invite or phone), have the ability to block all anonymous users, require the host to join the meeting first, and even control the level of participant interactivity in the meeting.
In Chat, Google will now check all links against their Safe Browsing database and flag any link that is found to be malicious. Users will also be able to report and block Chat Rooms if they discover any malicious activity.
And finally, Google is bringing improvements to the Admin Console that make it easier to navigate and manage connected devices within the organisation. Google also announced a partnership with Apple Business Manager that enables G Suite Enterprise, G Suite Enterprise Essentials, Cloud Identity Premium, and G Suite Enterprise for Education admins to manage company-owned Apple iOS devices.
Admins now have automated information rights management (IRM) controls and these controls will be integrated with the Data Loss Prevention rules. Another tool that Google added is App access control, that allows admins to block apps from accessing G Suite services.
These features have begun rolling out today and will be coming to everyone over the next few weeks.