Google Workspace updates from March 31

New features and improvements for Google Workspace

View this email in your browser Update(s) in this email: More assistive writing suggestions in Google Docs Stronger data security and privacy with Google Workspace Client-side encryption, GA support for Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides More assistive writing suggestions in Google Docs March 31, 2022, 5:04 pm What's changing  We've added several new assistive writing features in Google Docs, which will provide a variety of suggestions to help you create impactful documents faster. Specifically, you'll see suggestions for: Alternate wording Using active voice  Making sentence structure more concise  Use of more inclusive language  Potential inappropriate words  Who's impacted  End users  Why you'd use it  In addition to Smart Compose, these new features offer a variety of stylistic and writing suggestions as you compose documents. Suggestions will appear as you type and help guide you when there are opportunities to avoid repeated or unnecessary words, helping diversify your writing and ensuring you're using the most effective word for the situation.  You'll see suggestions when there are opportunities to structure a sentence with an active voice or when a sentence can be more concise, helping to make your writing more impactful. Potentially discriminatory or inappropriate language will be flagged, along with suggestions on how to make your writing more inclusive and appropriate for your audience.  We hope this will help elevate your writing style and make more dynamic, clear, inclusive, and concise documents.  Getting started  Admins: These feature will be ON by default and can be disabled in the admin console for eligible EDU SKUs (see Availability details below)  In the coming weeks we will introduce these same controls to remaining eligible SKUs (see Availability details below)  Features will be able to be turned off at the domain/OU/group level.  End users:   This feature will be ON by default and can be disabled by the user. Visit the Help Center to learn more about turning Check your spelling & grammar in Google Docs on or off for your account.   When typing in Docs, tone and style suggestions are indicated with a purple underline. Selecting the underline will show a brief description for the suggestion — you can accept or reject the suggestion from here.  Rollout pace  Rapid Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on March 31, 2022  Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on April 14, 2022  Availability  Tone and Style  Available to Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus  Not available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Enterprise Essentials,, Education Fundamentals, Frontline, and Nonprofits, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers Word Warnings  Available to Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Fundamentals, Education Standard, Education Plus, Teaching and Learning Up  Not available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Enterprise Essentials, Frontline, and Nonprofits, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers  Resources  Google Help: Check your spelling & grammar in Google Docs  Google Help:Manage writing suggestions in Google Docs Stronger data security and privacy with Google Workspace Client-side encryption, GA support for Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides March 31, 2022, 12:26 pm  What's changing  Last year we announced the beta for Google Workspace Client-side encryption. Now, this feature is generally available for Google Drive, Docs, Sheets and Slides, with support for multiple file types including Office files, PDFs, and more.  This is a step in our commitment to enable Client-side encryption across Google Workspace, including Gmail, Meet, and Calendar. Follow the Google Workspace Updates blog to be informed on our next milestones on Client-side encryption.  Who's impacted  Admins  Why it's important  Google Workspace already uses the latest cryptographic standards to encrypt all data by default, at rest and in transit between our facilities. Client-side encryption goes beyond this, giving you authoritative control and privacy as the sole owner of private encryption keys and the identity provider used to access those keys.  This can help you strengthen the confidentiality of your sensitive or regulated data while addressing a broad range of data sovereignty and compliance needs.  When using Client-side encryption, your data is indecipherable to Google. You can create a fundamentally stronger privacy posture, whether that's to help your organization comply with regulations like ITAR and CJIS or simply to better protect the privacy of your confidential data.  Read our announcement blog post to learn our plans for Client-side encryption across Google Workspace. Additional details  To enable Client-side encryption, you'll choose a key access service partner: Flowcrypt, Fortanix, Futurex, Stormshield, Thales, or Virtru. Each of these partners have built tools in accordance with Google's specifications and provide both key management and access control capabilities. Your partner of choice either holds the key to decode encrypted Google Workspace files or simply provides you with software that allows you to hold the keys on-premise. Either way, Google cannot decipher these files without this key, which Google never has access to. You can also decide to build your own key service implementation using our API specifications.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmgoO8Um5v8  Getting started  Admins: This feature will be OFF by default and can be enabled at the domain, OU, and Group levels (Admin console > Security > Access and data control > Client-side encryption). Visit our Help Center to learn more about client side encryption.  End users: Get started with encrypted files in Drive, Docs, Sheets & Slides  Rollout pace  Rapid and Schedule Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on March 31, 2022  Availability  Available to Enterprise Plus and Education Plus customers  Not available to Google Workspace Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Education Fundamentals, Frontline, and Nonprofits, as well as G Suite Basic and Business customers.   Resources  Google Workspace Admin Help: About client-side encryption  Google Docs Users Help: Get started with encrypted files in Drive, Docs, Sheets & Slides  Google Cloud Security Blog: Google Workspace delivers new levels of trusted collaboration for a hybrid work world Previous Posts: Compose with Markdown in Google Docs on web Improved announcements for braille comments and highlights available in Google Docs on Web New Google Meet management settings for admins Create externally friendly booking pages with appointment scheduling in Google Calendar Expanded access for noise cancellation in Google Meet Note: We've recently changed how we send these emails. Please let us know if you have any feedback on this change here.  Google Workspace Updates Blog Google Workspace Release Calendar @GoogleWorkspace @GoogleWorkspace Google Cloud Community © 2022 Google LLC 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043 You're receiving this email as you're subscribed to updates from the Google Workspace Updates blog. To change how you receive these emails, update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.