Secure Your Google Workspace with Enterprise-Grade Cybersecurity
Leverage Google Drive and top-tier tools like CrowdStrike and JumpCloud for robust protection without switching to Microsoft 365.
Have you been told by an MSP that it is better to move to Microsoft to ensure cybersecurity?
It’s a familiar pitch – but not a universal truth.
Both platforms can be configured to meet high cybersecurity standards. The recommendation often reflects an MSP’s long-standing preference for Microsoft, influenced by partner incentives, deeper integrations, and the perception of enterprise-grade security tools.
The Real Story: Post-COVID & AI Security landscapes have evolved dramatically. Legacy protocols are no longer sufficient. Today, modern cybersecurity depends on smart architecture – not brand loyalty.
With the right strategy, Google Workspace offers robust protection when paired with platforms like:
- CrowdStrike (Endpoint Detection & Response)
- JumpCloud (Identity & Device Management)
- Strong password policies & multi-factor authentication
- Ongoing threat awareness and training
Bottom Line: A Google Workspace environment – when layered with the right tools and practices – can rival or even exceed Microsoft 365 in cybersecurity strength.
If your business is Google-based and focused on improving security, you’re already on solid ground. Let us help you assess and enhance your protections with confidence..
Essential Eight Security: Is Google Workspace a Good Start? Absolutely.
It’s a common and excellent question from Australian businesses: “If we’re aiming for Essential Eight security, are we better off with Microsoft 365, or is Google Workspace a good starting point?”
It’s an important consideration, and we’re here to definitively tell you that Google Workspace provides a remarkably strong, often streamlined foundation for achieving your Essential Eight compliance goals.
While Microsoft 365 often features heavily in Essential Eight discussions, that’s largely due to the framework’s historical ties to Windows-centric environments. However, both Google Workspace and Microsoft 365 are robust platforms that, when configured correctly, can meet the rigorous intent of the Essential Eight across its various maturity levels.
Google's Security-First Philosophy: Your Built-In Advantage
- Security by Design: Google’s data centres and cloud infrastructure are engineered from the ground up with multiple, interlocking layers of security – from physical access controls to operational protocols and sophisticated software protections.
- Automatic & Seamless Updates: Forget the headache of manual patching! Google Workspace applications and Chrome OS (if you use it) benefit from continuous, automatic updates. This significantly reduces the burden of two critical Essential Eight controls: Patch Applications and Patch Operating Systems. It’s a huge reduction in manual effort and risk.
- Built-in Protections: Advanced threat detection, robust spam filtering, and malware protection are not optional extras; they’re deeply integrated into core Google Workspace services like Gmail and Drive.
- Global Certifications: Google regularly undergoes rigorous independent third-party audits and holds numerous certifications (like ISO 27001, SOC 2, GDPR compliance, and more). While the Essential Eight is a framework, these global certifications offer strong assurance of Google’s foundational security excellence.
Aligning Google Workspace with Each Essential Eight Strategy
Let’s break down how Google Workspace supports each of the Australian Cyber Security Centre’s (ACSC) Essential Eight mitigation strategies:
1. Application Whitelisting / Application Control
While Google Workspace operates differently from traditional desktop applications, it offers robust controls over what applications and extensions can be used within your environment. For devices managed with Google Endpoint Management (especially Chrome OS, but also for managing other operating systems), administrators have significant control over application installation and execution. This allows you to define and enforce which applications are permitted to run.
2. Patch Applications
This is where Google Workspace truly shines. Your core Google Workspace applications (Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Calendar, Meet, etc.) are cloud-native and automatically updated by Google. This ensures the latest security patches and features are always applied without any intervention from your IT team or end-users. This dramatically shrinks the attack surface from unpatched software.
3. Configure Microsoft Office Macro Settings
Since Google Workspace primarily uses its own suite of productivity tools (Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides), the inherent risk associated with malicious Microsoft Office macros is significantly reduced. If your organisation still needs to interact with Office files, Google Drive’s native viewing capabilities can mitigate macro risks by opening files in a safe, sandboxed environment. You can also set policies for how downloaded Office files are handled.
4. User Application Hardening
Google Workspace services are built with security in mind from the ground up. Features like secure Browse, automatic updates, and sandboxed environments contribute to hardening the user experience. Administrators can also enforce secure browser settings and manage extensions centrally through Google’s administrative controls.
5. Restrict Administrative Privileges
Google Workspace provides highly granular administrative roles and controls, making it straightforward to implement the principle of least privilege. Features such as custom admin roles, delegated administration, detailed audit logs, and security alerts empower you to closely monitor and control privileged access across your organisation.
6. Patch Operating Systems
For endpoints using Chrome OS, operating system updates are entirely automatic and seamless, handled directly by Google. For devices running other operating systems (like Windows or macOS) used in conjunction with Google Workspace, while Google Workspace integrates with endpoint management solutions to help monitor OS patching, the primary responsibility for patching these non-Chrome OS devices lies with your organisation.
7. Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)
Google Workspace offers powerful and flexible MFA options that are incredibly easy to deploy and enforce across all user accounts. This includes highly secure options like security keys (e.g., Titan Security Key), Google Authenticator, Google Prompt, and SMS. Implementing robust MFA is a fundamental and easily achievable Essential Eight control within Google Workspace.
8. Regular Backups
Google Workspace inherently provides robust data redundancy and recovery capabilities within its vast global infrastructure. For additional layers of data protection and to meet specific retention policies aligned with your Essential Eight maturity target, Google Workspace offers advanced data retention settings through Google Vault. It also integrates seamlessly with many third-party backup solutions if you require offsite, disconnected backups for maximum resilience.
The Clear Advantages of Google Workspace for Essential Eight
Choosing Google Workspace for your Essential Eight journey offers distinct benefits:
Reduced Overhead: Many “patching” and “hardening” controls are managed directly by Google, significantly freeing up your internal IT resources. This allows your team to focus on other critical, higher-level security aspects unique to your business.
Cloud-Native Security Excellence: Google’s cloud infrastructure is designed for immense scale, resilience, and security, offering an environment that few on-premises or less mature cloud solutions can match.
Simplified Management: The centralised Google Workspace administration console allows for efficient management of users, devices, and security policies, making it easier to implement, monitor, and maintain your Essential Eight controls.
Our Recommendation: Leverage Google Workspace's Strengths
Rather than seeing it as an “either/or” choice, think of it as leveraging the inherent strengths of your chosen platform. Google Workspace is an incredibly secure and robust platform that can absolutely propel your organisation towards Essential Eight compliance.
The key to success lies in a multi-faceted approach:
Define Your Maturity Level: Clearly understand your target Essential Eight maturity level, as this will dictate the specific configurations and additional measures you need to implement.
Optimise Your Google Workspace Configuration: Fully utilise the comprehensive suite of security features available within your Google Workspace edition (e.g., consider Google Workspace Enterprise for advanced controls).
Implement Complementary Controls: While Google handles much of the underlying security, your organisation remains responsible for vital aspects like comprehensive user security training, robust endpoint management (especially for non-Chrome OS devices), and strict adherence to your internal security policies.
Continuous Review and Audit: Cybersecurity is an ongoing journey. Regularly review and audit your security posture against the Essential Eight framework to identify and address any emerging gaps or evolving threats.
We’re here to help you navigate this landscape. Let’s schedule a discussion to assess your current Google Workspace configuration against the Essential Eight framework and provide tailored guidance on how to strengthen your security posture.
Our goal is to ensure your Google Workspace environment is not just compliant, but truly secure and resilient.
Ready to Secure Your Google Workspace?
No need to switch to Microsoft 365. Our experts will build a cybersecurity solution tailored to your Google Drive environment.
