Encryption is an additional layer of protection for storage and transmission of company data. Organizations have until January 20, 2023 to register for the beta.

Update 03.01 11 a.m.: According to Google, the service is now generally available to all professional users and schools. Users can use the service to send encrypted emails within the organization but also externally, even if they don’t use Gmail.

Google has launched a beta version of client-side encryption in Gmail. The beta enables companies and organizations to make sensitive data and attached documents unreadable, including for Google. The company announced the new feature in a blog post. This is only available in some workspace accounts. Admins of these accounts have until January 20 to sign up for the beta, which is only available for the web version of Gmail.

Shipping Restrictions

Once the application has been activated by the administrator, employees can additionally encrypt their data by selecting “additional encryption” (see image). Encryption comes with a number of limitations. For example, a sender cannot use emojis or add their signature. At this time, client-side encryption is not yet available for the Gmail app on Android or iOS. According to Google, this will be the case in a next release.

“Google Workspace already has the latest cryptographic standards to encrypt all data on-premises and in transit between our facilities,” Google said on the blog. “Client-side encryption improves the confidentiality of data and helps address a number of corporate independence needs and their need to meet certain regulatory requirements.” Calendar introduced.

Emails outside the organization

The additional encryption does not only apply to emails within the organization. The function can also be used when sending messages to people outside the company. Even if the recipient uses another email service or provider. The specially encrypted emails can therefore also be sent to people who work with Microsoft and Apple, since the system is based on S/MINE, an existing standard for emails.

With client-side encryption, Google gives business administrators control over managing and monitoring the encrypted data. It will be mainly the IT departments that generate certificates and keys via an API via an external management service. Pretty complicated and that’s one of the reasons why the application is only available for Workspace Enterprise Plus, Education Plus and Education Standard.