So many work-related applications and the data we use daily run online and are accessed through the browser. That setup means the browser you access needs to be safe, secure, effective, and easy to manage. With those requirements in mind, Google is enhancing its Chrome Enterprise product to help IT administrators better manage its browser for employees in the office and at home.
In a blog post published Wednesday, Google announced a slew of new and improved features for the enterprise edition of its browser. The changes are especially geared toward work environments where people use Google Workspace apps, such as Gmail and Google Docs.
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Chrome Enterprise already offers several management tools at machine, user, and profile levels. However, the new management capabilities that are available or coming soon aim to provide admins with greater control and flexibility, especially at the profile level.
Admins can now tailor different settings and policies in Chrome for specific user groups and roles. You can enforce security policies at the profile level to ensure sensitive data is protected, even on personal devices. You can also better manage and secure your browsing environment on personal or contractor devices. Further, you can allow users to maintain different profiles for work and personal use.
One upcoming feature promises greater visibility into your Chrome user profiles. Using new profile lists and reporting with Google Cloud Identity, admins can view detailed reports about the user profiles at your company, including browser version, applied policies, and installed extensions. Currently available for Trusted Testers of Chrome Enterprise, this capability will launch for everyone later this year.
Next up, admins will be able to use new Device Trust Connectors with Okta, Ping, and Cisco Duo. This feature will let you build access controls for your workforce to alert you if someone signs into Chrome or is using a Chrome profile.
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Another upcoming enhancement will help Chrome users at your organization. A new sign-in process will let employees know that they’re using a managed browser and help them more easily separate their work and personal profiles.
Users will see how their profiles and devices are managed and what types of data your company can view. They’ll also be able to move bookmarks, extensions, and other browser data from their work profile to their personal profile or keep them separate. This feature is gearing up to launch in the coming weeks, according to Google.
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Next, Google Workspace users will be able to get an overview of their daily Google Calendar whenever they open a new tab in Chrome. This feature is rolling out now, so it should reach Chrome Enterprise users soon.
New site shortcuts will let employees see frequently used websites from the search bar along with shortcuts set up by administrators. These shortcuts can be customized for specific groups and departments, such as giving the sales or HR team access to Salesforce. Rolling out now, this option will be available for all managed users, even those who don’t use Google Workspace.
Finally, the same tab group tweaks headed for regular Chrome users are rolling out for Chrome Enterprise users. Employees will be able to save and sync tab groups across Chrome on the desktop, letting them access those same groups on other computers and devices.
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This feature is launching soon for Chrome on the desktop, Android, and iOS. Chrome Enterprise users will also be able to see suggested pages to revisit. Browse a website on one device, and the suggestions for that same site will pop up on another device.
“We are excited to continue innovating and delivering even more value to Chrome Enterprise users,” Google said in its blog post. “Many of the capabilities we’ve covered today can be set and configured from our cloud management tool, Chrome Enterprise Core. For organizations looking for more advanced security capabilities through Chrome, learn more about Chrome Enterprise Premium.”
