Google Cloud announced today a series of security alliances to bring more choice, capability, and simplicity to enterprise and public sector IT teams tasked with managing hybrid work at scale.
Google Workspace comes with security built into its cloud-native, zero-trust architecture. These capabilities combine threat defenses powered by Google AI, client-side encryption, data privacy controls and simple access to Google Cloud cybersecurity products like BeyondCorp Enterprise and Chronicle Security Operations, to stop most online threats before they emerge — while supporting customers’ regulatory and sovereignty needs.
Through its ecosystem of cybersecurity partners, Google Workspace can extend these capabilities by combining them with tools from leading security companies, enabling customers to adopt comprehensive, secure collaboration solutions to meet their specific security needs as part of a single Google Workspace offering.
“Global enterprises want to provide their workforces with more effective and secure ways of collaborating, with tools that increase productivity and avoid the vulnerabilities of legacy productivity solutions,” said Sunil Potti, VP and GM of cloud security, Google Cloud. “Through its growing ecosystem of security partners, Google Workspace offers the most enterprise-ready platform for hybrid work, providing organizations with confidence and flexibility to work securely.”
Today, Google Cloud extends the built-in identity, device and access management capabilities of Google Workspace through alliances with Okta and VMware, enabling large-scale businesses and public sector organizations to provide their workforces with FedRAMP-authorized collaboration and communication tools.
Google Workspace works with the enterprise-grade identity and access management capabilities in Okta Workforce Identity Cloud and the device and application management capabilities in VMware Workspace ONE, providing organizations with more choice and flexibility in how they enable safer collaboration for their workforce.
- Okta’s Workforce Identity Cloud brings Okta’s identity and access management capabilities to Google Workspace customers, securely connecting employees, contractors and business partners from any device and any location. Workforce Identity Cloud’s flexible rules and policies ensure employees have the right level of access they need to get their work done. With Okta, employees can use their Google Workspace credentials across more than 7,000 pre-built apps in the Okta Integration Network to reduce password sprawl for increased security.
- VMware Workspace ONE extends VMware’s unified endpoint management and zero-trust access capabilities to Google Workspace. IT teams can manage Google Workspace apps through VMware’s comprehensive platform, which provides users with access to business applications and makes it simple for administrators to onboard devices, change configurations, push automated OS updates and more, without requiring a combination of disjointed third-party solutions. Workspace ONE administrators also can access a collection of device-health dashboards and reports, along with multi-tenancy for management across geographies, organizations, and use cases.
- The JumpCloud Open Directory Platform provides customers with an alternative directory service to replace aging Microsoft Active Directory servers that is a modern, cloud-based solution. The platform works seamlessly with Google Workspace, enabling identity workflows and synchronization to thousands of applications, HRIS systems and cloud infrastructure. It also combines these features with desktop and mobile device fleet management capabilities to ensure secure, frictionless access to applications and other resources from any operating system or location an employee chooses to work from.
Google Workspace provides organizations with the ability to combine purpose-built security tools from its ecosystem of cybersecurity partners. New updates with JumpCloud, Okta, and VMware will build on existing offerings with CrowdStrike, which extends endpoint protection and zero trust through the CrowdStrike Falcon platform, and Palo Alto Networks, which extends endpoint protection and zero trust through Prisma Access and Cortex XDR.
Over the coming year, deeper technical integrations with these partners will expand the joint capabilities available to Google Workspace customers, making it easier to adopt Google Workspace for organizations with the most rigorous security and regulatory requirements.
Interested customers can learn more here.
