Google Workspace is a powerful cloud suite featuring Gmail, Drive, Docs, Meet, and more. It is built for seamless collaboration, secure communication, and real-time access anywhere. With business-grade security, scalable storage, and AI-powered tools, it helps teams work smarter.

Google Workspace Client-side Encryption (CSE), powered by Futurex’s industry-leading key management, lets you encrypt data before it reaches Google’s servers. It gives you full control of your keys and ensures your files stay indecipherable, collaboration without compromise.

Organizations need an additional layer of security to keep sensitive business data private and secure. Google recommends using an external key management partner like Futurex for customer-controlled encryption keys. 
CSE encrypts data on the user's device, ensuring only the organization can decrypt it. This supports compliance and secure cloud collaboration across all industries.

Google has set out eight key principles to ensure organizations retain complete control over their data privacy while leveraging Google Workspace's collaborative power.

• Data privacy and control: Encrypt data in the browser; Google never sees unencrypted content
• Customer-managed encryption keys: Use external KACLS; maintain separation of duties
• Seamless user experience: Minimal workflow disruption; supports collaboration
  
• Strong access controls: JWT-based authentication and authorization; identity provider integration
  
• Availability and resilience: Ensure KACLS and IdP uptime and backup to avoid data loss
• Regulatory compliance: Meet privacy, compliance, and sovereignty requirements
• Abuse prevention: Implement client-side threat scanning; enhance Workspace security settings
  
• Key lifecycle management: Regular key rotation; use HSMs for cryptographic material protection.

• Exclusive data control: Manage encryption keys externally so Google can’t access your data, encryption happens entirely in your browser
• Validated hardware security: Powered by FIPS and PCI PTS HSM-validated hardware for enterprise-grade key protection
• Seamless integration and scalability: Direct Google Workspace CSE integration with flexible on‑prem, cloud, or hybrid deployment
• Identity and access management: Works with Google, Okta, and VirtuCrypt to enforce strong authentication and key access control
• Simplified compliance: Centralized key management streamlines setup, policy enforcement, and regulatory compliance
• High availability: Multi‑data center and cloud redundancy for always‑on service, backups, and disaster recovery.

Enable client-side encryption for multiple users via Google Workspace Admin console as follows: 

1. Log into the admin console
2. Select the option to add an external key service (KACLS)
3. Enter the KACLS server address
4. Specify organizational units
5. Configure 3rd party Identity Provider .

Futurex’s CryptoHub platform represents decades of security expertise, delivering customer‑focused, crypto‑agile solutions from a firmware‑first, unified device. Seamlessly integrated with Google Workspace, it exceeds Google’s own best‑practice standards, making it the premier choice for Client‑Side Encryption (CSE) and Gmail.

CryptoHub empowers organizations to safeguard sensitive data and maintain full control in even the most collaborative environments. It offers external key management, robust access controls, validated hardware security, and streamlined operations.

Futurex’s Google Client-Side Encryption in more detail.

The encryption path:

The decryption path:

Yes, integration guides for Google Workspace CSE are now available online for the following applicable devices and services: 

• CryptoHub Integration Guide - Google Workspace CSE 
• CryptoHub Integration Guide - Google Workspace CSE for Gmail 
• Key Management Server Integration Guide - Google Workspace Client-Side Encryption (CSE)