Project Lifeboat: Secure your business continuity with Google
In an evolving cyber landscape, being prepared for disruptions is essential. That's why we're hosting a critical session exclusively for our valued ChromeOS customers to introduce a powerful contingency solution: Project Lifeboat. This webinar will demonstrate how Google's integrated solution, which includes ChromeOS, Chrome Enterprise, Google Workspace, and Google Cloud, can help your organization maintain essential operations during and after a security incident. We'll show you how to ensure critical communication and access remain secure, even if your primary systems are compromised. Join us to learn how ChromeOS provides a robust and resilient foundation for your business continuity strategy. Once you register - we will share the calendar event with meeting link closer to the event.Essential settings and configurations in Chrome Enterprise Upgrade
Let's explore some important settings and configurations to help you manage your ChromeOS devices effectively with Chrome Enterprise Upgrade. Now that you've got the basics down, we'll dive into some key administrative tasks and policies to enhance your experience. If you haven’t yet, check out “Your first steps with Chrome Enterprise Upgrade” article before continuing reading. Setting Device and User/Browser Policies Policies are configured within the Admin Console. There are various device policies and user/browser policies that allow you to control and manage various aspects of your ChromeOS devices and user experiences. Consider applying the following popular, useful policies: Device Policies > Security : Password manager, Lid close action, Power management, Geolocation, and more. Device Policies > Sign-in Settings: Sign-in screen, Device wallpaper, Single sign-on, and more. User Policies > User Experience policies: Download location, Form auto-fill, Payment methods, and More. For more detailed explanations of the policies available, check out these extensive articles on device policies and user policies. Ensuring Devices Remain Managed: Forced Re-enrollment By default, wiped ChromeOS devices automatically re-enroll into the account without requiring user credentials. This feature, known as forced re-enrollment, ensures that devices remain managed and policies are consistently enforced. Guidance is available on how to turn forced re-enrollment on or off. More information on forced re-enrollment is available here. Controlling Device Access with Sign-in Restrictions Sign-in restrictions allow you to manage which users can sign in to your managed devices. The available options are: Restrict sign-in to a list Allow any user to sign in Do not allow any user to sign-in More information on configuring sign-in restrictions is available here. Blocking Websites You can prevent users from accessing specific URLs, domains, and IP addresses. This is done through website blocking configurations. More information and a step-by-step guide can be found here. Managing Device Updates Devices automatically check for and download updates when connected to Wi-Fi or Ethernet. Administrators can manage ChromeOS updates for the organization. Full OS updates are generally released roughly every 4 weeks. Minor updates, such as security fixes, are released every 2–3 weeks. Guidance on configuring and customizing update schedules is available here. Configuring Apps and Extensions Administrators can set policies for specific web apps, Chrome apps, or supported Android apps. For example, you can force-install an app and pin it to users' Chrome taskbar. More information, step-by-step instructions, and a video tutorial are available. By understanding and utilizing these essential settings and configurations, you can effectively manage your ChromeOS environment with Chrome Enterprise Upgrade.Google I/O 2025: AI's Impact on Enterprise Device and User Management
Google I/O 2025 was undeniably an AI-centric event, showcasing a future where artificial intelligence is deeply embedded across Google's ecosystem. Here's a breakdown of the key areas and their potential relevance for managing your ChromeOS fleet and users: Pervasive AI Integration Across Google Products The event underscored the "extensive application of AI across Google's products, with major upgrades to the Gemini app, generative AI tools, and AI models." For IT admins, this means: User Experience & Training: As AI becomes more integrated into familiar Google Workspace applications (which are heavily used on ChromeOS devices), your users will experience new functionalities. This may necessitate updated training protocols, or support resources to help users effectively leverage AI-powered features like personalized smart replies in Gmail or new functionalities in NotebookLM. Security and Compliance: The increased use of AI, especially with generative capabilities, brings new considerations for data handling and privacy. IT admins will need to evaluate how these AI features interact with sensitive enterprise data and ensure compliance with organizational security policies on managed devices. AI in User Interaction and Device Capabilities Evolving Google Search and User Interfaces: Features like "AI Mode for Google Search," introducing "Deep Search for thorough responses," and "Live capabilities from Project Astra for real-time interaction using the camera," are transformative. From a device management perspective, this could imply: Network Considerations: More complex AI interactions might demand greater network bandwidth or processing power from devices. Privacy Implications: Features leveraging real-time camera interaction (Project Astra) highlight the importance of device camera management and privacy settings within an enterprise context. IT admins will need to understand and potentially control these capabilities on user devices. Project Astra's "Computer Control" Capabilities: A particularly noteworthy advancement mentioned was Project Astra "evolving into a 'world model' with improved memory, computer control." While still in development, the concept of AI gaining "computer control" capabilities is a significant point for IT administration. This could eventually lead to AI-driven automation of tasks on devices, requiring IT admins to define permissions, monitor actions, and ensure security protocols are in place to manage these powerful new capabilities. Broader Enterprise Relevance Developer Tooling Evolution: Updates to developer tools like Google AI Studio and Colab, along with new open models, are indirectly relevant. If your organization develops custom applications that run on Android (and thus on ChromeOS), or integrates with Google's APIs, advancements in these areas could impact your internal development and deployment processes on managed devices. Conclusion Stick with us to remain informed about these broader AI advancements which appear to be essential for maintaining a secure, efficient, and forward-thinking enterprise environment. For more details on the announcements, refer to the official Google Blog: Google I/O 2025: 100 things Google announcedOptimizing your ChromeOS deployment
We're excited to share the "Getting Started with ChromeOS Deployment Guide." This comprehensive guide is an invaluable read for anyone looking to successfully deploy and manage ChromeOS within their organization. Whether you're just starting your ChromeOS journey or looking to refine your existing setup, this guide offers practical insights and best practices. It covers everything from initial deployment strategies, including project kick-off and infrastructure configuration, to defining policies and managing apps and extensions. You'll find detailed guidance on: Network and Wi-Fi Setup: Ensuring seamless connectivity for your devices. Device Enrollment: Understanding both manual and zero-touch enrollment methods. Policy Considerations: Key aspects to consider for effective management. App and Extension Management: Streamlining your software ecosystem. User Adoption and Change Management: Strategies to support your users through the transition, including governance, readiness, communications, and training. This guide is packed with detailed checklists and recommendations, providing a structured approach to your ChromeOS deployment. It also offers resources for ongoing support and troubleshooting, making it a go-to resource for a smooth and efficient transition to ChromeOS. Dive in and empower your enterprise with the full potential of ChromeOS! You can access the guide here: Getting Started with ChromeOS Deployment GuideOptimize your fleet management with ChromeOS Flex: Remote deployment
For IT Admins, the evolving capabilities of ChromeOS Flex offer a powerful way to modernize device fleets, enhance security, and simplify deployment. This update to Flex Remote Deployment enables efficient transformation of existing PCs and Macs into secure, cloud-first ChromeOS devices, regardless of location. Revitalize Your Hardware, Streamline Operations ChromeOS Flex extends the life of your current hardware, reducing e-waste and lowering total cost of ownership. Devices boot quickly and maintain speed, ensuring consistent productivity. The updated Flex Remote Deployment simplifies large-scale deployments, allowing automatic conversion of managed PCs to ChromeOS Flex without complex IT requirements. Deploy across your fleet via USB or network, with cloud profiles syncing settings instantly. Key management benefits include: Centralized Control: Manage all ChromeOS Flex devices alongside native ChromeOS devices via the Google Admin console. Remote Policy Configuration: Use Chrome Enterprise Upgrade for remote updates and policy configuration, ensuring consistent security. Mass Deployment: Integrate with tools like Microsoft SCCM or Windows Deployment Services for efficient rollouts. Enhanced Security and User Experience ChromeOS Flex boasts proactive security with sandboxing and blocked executables, minimizing the need for traditional antivirus. IT controls prevent data loss, and automatic background updates keep devices secure and current. Employees benefit from a fast, clutter-free experience with quick access to VDI and web apps. Get Started Today ChromeOS Flex is a no-cost download, offering an accessible path to a cloud-first OS. While it provides most ChromeOS benefits, certain hardware-specific features (like Google security chips and Android app support) are exclusive to native ChromeOS devices. Full management capabilities for ChromeOS Flex require Chrome Enterprise Upgrade or Chrome Education Upgrade. To learn more about ChromeOS Flex and its deployment options, including the newly launched remote deployment feature, you can explore the ChromeOS Flex engagement page or review the ChromeOS Flex one-pager. Furthermore, check out the official Google Blog Post.Mastering ChromeOS versions
Hello everyone! We all know how crucial it is to keep your ChromeOS devices running smoothly across anenterprise, especially with different versions deployed. Today, I want to highlight a fantastic, often underutilized, resource that can be a real game-changer for troubleshooting: chromiumdash.appspot.com/serving-builds?deviceCategory=ChromeOS It's packed with information that can help you quickly identify and resolve issues you might encounter. How can this website help you troubleshoot across different ChromeOS versions? Pinpoint Build Information: Ever wondered exactly what build your users are on, or what the latest stable, beta, or dev builds are for a specific device? This site gives you that information at a glance. Knowing the exact build can help you verify if a known bug has been fixed in a newer version, or if a reported issue is specific to an older release. Track Release Channels: You can see which versions are currently "serving" on Stable, Beta, Dev, and Canary channels. This is helpful when you're testing new features or trying to understand if an issue is present across all channels or just a specific one. Identify Recent Updates: If a user reports a problem right after an update, you can quickly check what changes went into that specific ChromeOS version. This can give you clues about potential regressions or new features that might be causing the issue. Compare Versions: Having trouble with a specific app or feature on an older ChromeOS version, but it works fine on a newer one? This site allows you to easily see the differences in release numbers, helping you narrow down when a fix might have been introduced, or when a change occurred that could be impacting your users. Plan Upgrades: By understanding the different serving builds, you can better plan your ChromeOS upgrade strategies and anticipate potential issues that might arise when moving to a newer version. In a nutshell, this website provides transparency into the ChromeOS release cycle, empowering you with the data you need to confidently troubleshoot problems across your diverse ChromeOS fleet. So next time you're facing a tricky ChromeOS issue, give this site a look – it might just have the answers you're looking for!
