Google Workspace will now at least explain why you’ve been locked out of your apps
New Google Workspace tool will lift the burden on IT departments
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
Googlehas lifted the lid on an update for itsproductivity softwaresuite that will help clarify why users are locked out of their applications.
As explained in a newblog post, IT teams that rely on the Context-Aware Access feature to establish granular access control can now provide end users with more information about the conditions under which they can use their apps.
Previously, employees whose access toGoogle Workspaceservices had been blocked had few options but to get in contact with the IT department, but the new tool should increase the likelihood that users can resolve issues without assistance.
Hybrid working and identity management
Since the rise ofhybrid working, identity andaccess managementhas become all the more important for businesses, with employees no longer operating exclusively from within the relative safety of the corporate network perimeter.
The objective is to ensure remote employees can access all the resources they need for work, without creating gaps in the security posture that could be exploited by cybercriminals.
As part of this process, many IT departments choose to establish a strict set of conditions that must be met in order for applications to work as intended, via features such as Context-Aware Access.
“Context-Aware Access allows admins to assign granular access control policies to apps based on attributes such as user identity, location, device security status, IP address, etc.,” explained Google. “When a user or device does not meet the requirements, they will be unable to access the respective apps.”
Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter
Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!
Google Drive is getting a small but mighty new feature>Google hits back at claims Gmail inbox filters are biased>Google Docs now gives you ultimate control over your text
Until now, the only course of action for employees locked out of their apps has been to submit a ticket to the IT desk, which Google says creates “unnecessary delay, churn and support calls”.
With the latest Workspace update, however, IT admins can opt to provide blocked employees with additional context surrounding the reason for their ban, arming them with the information they need to resolve the issue themselves.
The feature is currently rolling out to all premium customers, who should gain access within the next two weeks. Unfortunately, the new tool will only be extended to customers on the Enterprise Plus, Education Plus and Cloud Identity Premium subscription plans at this time.
Joel Khalili is the News and Features Editor at TechRadar Pro, covering cybersecurity, data privacy, cloud, AI, blockchain, internet infrastructure, 5G, data storage and computing. He’s responsible for curating our news content, as well as commissioning and producing features on the technologies that are transforming the way the world does business.
7 myths about email security everyone should stop believing
Best Usenet client of 2024
Arcane season 2 confirms the hit series isn’t just one of the best Netflix shows ever made – it’s an animated legend that’ll stand the test of time
