Google Adds Encryption Security Feature for Gmail Users

Google will soon present Gmail's new security feature, (photo: Justin Morgan / Unsplash)

JAKARTA - Google will soon introduce a new Gmail security feature, Client-Side Encryption (CSE) to help prevent data from falling into the wrong hands.

Aimed at enterprise customers such as Enterprise Plus and Education Standard/Plus, CSE security features can be used to control and manage encryption keys.

CSE is intended for organizations that store or manage sensitive data. Under this system, emails created in Gmail can only be read by the sender and intended recipient. This feature will also prevent anyone from reading any messages that might be intercepted in transit.

In addition, the data will be encrypted on the end user's device before being sent to the data center server. This means that Google will not have access to the encryption keys needed to gain access.

This new feature will come to Gmail at the end of the year, and then Google Calendar in 2023. as quoted from TechRadar, Wednesday, October 12.

Google says it always uses the latest cryptographic standards to encrypt data that lands on its servers, ensuring bad actors can't gain access to sensitive information.

However, the new system will give businesses direct control over their encryption keys and the identity management provider used to access those keys.

“Above all, a secure environment is a requirement regardless of your location or device,” says Google.

"We also want to help customers strengthen the confidentiality of their data, while addressing data sovereignty and compliance requirements."

Separately, Google also announced it will bring data loss prevention to Google Chat, admins can implement controls that protect against data leaks in real-time, and new data sharing options to Drive that will give businesses more control over how files are shared.