Client-Side Encryption
This article highlights how Google Workspace client-side encryption (CSE) provides you an additional layer of data protection by using third-party key management services or Google Workspace CSE APIs and this can be controlled and managed by organizations on their own.
With Google Workspace client-side encryption (CSE), you can add another layer of encryption to your company’s files and emails which might be confidential & sensitive in nature, other than the latest cryptographic standards and Transport Layer Security (TLS) which Google uses for data security. With CSE you can keep your organization’s data end-to-end encrypted and have greater control over data accessibility in such a way that Google servers and third parties can’t decrypt.
Through CSE, organizations can make use of any third-party key management services or Google Workspace CSE API to add an additional layer of encryption before any data is transmitted or stored in Google’s cloud-based storage. This feature is available by default in the Google Workspace Enterprise Plus plan.
Supported Application/Services Types in Google Workspace
CSE can be used in the following applications/services:
- Google Drive & Google Docs Editors
- Google Calendar
- Google Sheets
- Google Slides
- Google Meet & Calendar
- Gmail (already rolled out in 2022)
Business Use-cases
Client-side encryption is very much beneficial for organizations working with intellectual property, or organizations needing demonstrative data control using encryption keys that can be held at a specific location, within a nation’s borders, or any other defined boundary.
Also, CSE is very helpful for organizations where it is kind of mandatory that data is protected and the keys can be accessed only locally and not outside their country like in public sector institutions and in highly-regulated industries that have ITAR, CJIS, TISAX, IRS 1075, or EAR requirements.
Majorly, Aerospace & defense contractors, criminal justice & law enforcement agencies, federal, state and local government agencies can really benefit with client-side encryption.
Conclusion
Client-side encryption (CSE) acts as another protection layer and helps you to safeguard your data from any other Google servers and foreign attackers trying to steal your confidential data and the best part is that organizations can have full control and management over this feature at their end.
