Google Workspace Security

Written By Robby Barnes

From time to time customers tell us that other providers have told them that Google Workspace is not secure, and if they want to be secure they need to switch to Microsoft 365. This is not true. There are valid reasons to use Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace, but “being secure” is not one of those reasons. Both can be secure if configured correctly. Google has a very strong culture of security, and has many of the worlds leading security engineers. From Project Zero, a leading research organization at Google, their recent acquisition of Mandiant, and even the fact that they pioneered the concept of Zero Trust Security, Security has been at the core of Google for many years, and they have an excellent track record. In this article, I explain the security implemented by Google and it’s products that help keep users and data secure.

Security Model and Zero Trust Approach

Google Workspace is built on Google’s secure-by-design infrastructure and a zero trust security model. This means no user or device is inherently trusted without verification. Google pioneered the zero trust concept with its internal BeyondCorp initiative starting in 2011 as a response to nation-state cyber attacks.

BeyondCorp shifted access controls from network perimeters to individual users and devices, requiring strong authentication and device validation for every access request. Google’s zero-trust approach enforces critical access controls based on device state, user identity, and context (e.g., location), rather than trusting a corporate network by default.

Google’s Security Team

Google employs hundreds of full-time security and privacy professionals (over 750 as of one report) including many industry experts. Google’s security team runs Project Zero, which finds and fixes zero-day vulnerabilities across the software industry. Internally, they monitor Google’s networks for suspicious activity and respond to incidents swiftly.

Built-in Encryption

All data in Google Workspace is encrypted by default at rest and in transit within Google’s infrastructure. Google Workspace uses the latest cryptographic standards to encrypt all data at rest and in transit between its facilities automatically.

Advanced Phishing and Malware Protection

Google Workspace provides multi-layered phishing and malware defenses that leverage Google's massive threat intelligence. Gmail’s AI-driven filters block >99.9% of spam, phishing emails, and malware from reaching users’ inboxes.

Endpoint Security and Device Management

Google Workspace includes robust endpoint management tools to secure devices:

  • Mobile Device Management (MDM): Require screen locks, strong passwords, and remotely wipe device data if lost or stolen.

  • Endpoint Verification for Desktops: Detects device posture (OS, antivirus status, disk encryption enabled) for laptops/desktops.

  • Context-Aware Access: Enforce access policies that restrict access based on device security compliance.

  • Google Workspace MDM: Google Admin Help

  • BeyondCorp for Enterprises: Google BeyondCorp Enterprise

Data Loss Prevention and Encryption

Google Workspace provides Data Loss Prevention (DLP) capabilities and strong encryption options:

  • Content-Based DLP: Admins can create rules to prevent sensitive data from leaving Gmail, Drive, and Chat.

  • Encryption (at Rest, In Transit, Client-Side): All data is encrypted, and client-side encryption is available for enhanced security.

  • Google DLP Features: Google DLP Guide

Identity and Access Management (IAM)

Google Workspace provides enterprise-grade IAM features:

  • Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Requires a second factor like Google Authenticator, security keys, or push notifications.

  • Single Sign-On (SSO) and Federation: Supports SAML 2.0 and OAuth for integration with other identity providers.

  • Context-Aware Access: Allows fine-grained access control based on user context and device compliance.

  • Google IAM Best Practices: Google Identity & Access

Security Monitoring, Investigation, and Analytics

Google Workspace includes robust security monitoring tools:

  • Security Center Dashboard: Provides a real-time overview of security metrics.

  • Alert Center: Sends real-time alerts for security threats and suspicious activities.

  • Security Investigation Tool: Enables administrators to investigate incidents and take bulk actions.

  • Google Security Center: Security Dashboard

Compliance and Regulatory Support

Google Workspace meets industry compliance standards:

  • ISO/IEC 27001, ISO 27017, ISO 27018: International security certifications.

  • SOC 2 / SOC 3 Reports: Independent security audits.

  • FedRAMP High Authorization: Certified for U.S. government use.

  • GDPR Compliance: Provides tools for compliance with data protection laws.

  • Google Workspace Compliance: Compliance Overview

  • FedRAMP Certification: FedRAMP Marketplace

High-Security Organizations Using Google Workspace

Many organizations with high security requirements trust Google Workspace, including:

  • Government Agencies:

    • U.S. General Services Administration (GSA)

    • State of Arizona (~36,000 employees migrated)

    • U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)

  • Large Enterprises:

    • Verizon Communications (~150,000 employees)

    • PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers)

    • Airbus (~130,000 staff)

    • Cloudflare

  • Healthcare and Academia:

    • Johns Hopkins University and Medicine

    • Brown, Princeton, and Stanford Universities

  • Security-Focused Companies:

    • Palo Alto Networks

    • Okta

    • Cloudflare

  • Google’s Case Studies: Google Workspace Customers

Conclusion

Google Workspace offers enterprise-grade security, a robust zero-trust model, and best-in-class security features to protect organizations from cyber threats. Many high-security organizations, including governments, large enterprises, and security companies, trust Google Workspace due to its strong encryption, identity controls, phishing protection, and compliance capabilities.

By properly configuring multi-factor authentication, context-aware access, data loss prevention, and endpoint management, Google Workspace can be as secure—if not more secure—than other productivity platforms.

For further reading:

We are Google Partners, and experts at providing the right Google Workspace solution for your business, and ensuring everything is correctly configured for the needs of your business.

Interested in learning more? Contact us today to see how we can help you and your business with Google Workspace.

Robby Barnes
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