Tag Archives: MDM

Streamlined and intuitive app management in the Admin console with new unified experience

What’s changing 

We’re creating a single place to manage web and mobile apps in the Admin console. With the new location, we’ll also be updating the management interface to be more consistent and intuitive. You’ll find this at Admin console > Apps > Web and mobile apps. There, you’ll be able to see configured apps, search apps, add apps, manage user access, adjust settings, and more for: 
You’ll no longer be able to manage apps in the previous locations. However, you’ll still manage the Android available apps and system apps settings in Admin console > Devices > Mobile settings. 


Who’s impacted 

Admins 


Why it’s important 

By reducing the locations you need to use to manage different categories of apps and creating simplified and consistent workflows, it will be quicker and simpler to manage app use and deployment for your organization. 


Additional details

New location for web and mobile apps:


New and consistent experience to add web and mobile apps:


Unified settings and quick controls to view access and manage apps:


Getting started 

  • Admins: Find the new app management location at Admin console > Apps > Web and mobile apps. Visit the Help Center to learn more about managing Android and iOS apps, and SAML apps for your organization. 
  • End users: No end user impact. 

Rollout pace 

Availability 

Mobile app management: 
  • Available to Business Plus; Enterprise; Education and Enterprise for Education; G Suite Basic and Business; and Nonprofits customers
  • Not available to Business Starter, Essentials, and Enterprise Essentials customers.
SAML app management: 
  • Available to Essentials, Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education, Enterprise for Education, and Nonprofits customers

Resources 

Managed Android devices must upgrade to Android Device Policy by October 26, 2021

What’s changing 

Last year, we announced that a new Android management client, Android Device Policy, would replace the legacy Google Apps Device Policy client. We’re now discontinuing the legacy client. 


To ensure that devices enrolled by users with advanced management will continue to sync and have access to data, users in your organization must switch to Android Device Policy before October 26, 2021. If users still have Google Device Policy on this date, they won't be able to sync their devices or access data.
 

To switch to Android Device Policy, users must have an Android 6.0 Marshmallow or later device that supports a work profile. For users with devices that don’t meet these requirements, consider switching to basic mobile device management. 


Devices enrolled by users with basic management must move to Android 6.0 Marshmallow or later before October 26, 2021 to continue enforcing a screen lock. If a user's device can't be upgraded to Android 6.0 or later, their device will continue to sync and retain access to data, however it will not be able to enforce a screen lock. 


Who’s impacted 

Admins and end users 


Why it’s important 

The latest Android devices and operating system (OS) versions provide improved security features. Moving to Android 6.0 (Marshmallow) or newer can help ensure all devices are protected by the latest security features, and can take advantage of improvements in the Android enterprise experience. 


Getting started 


Rollout pace 


Availability 

  • Available to Business Starter, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education, Enterprise for Education, and Nonprofits customers 
  • Not available to G Suite Essentials 

Resources 

Google Device Policy app ending support for iOS 10 soon

Quick launch summary 

The Google Device Policy app won’t support mobile devices running iOS version 10 or lower after the end of 2020. If your organization has advanced mobile device management (MDM) enabled, users must upgrade to iOS version 11 or higher to access new MDM features or to download the Device Policy app for the first time. 

We will remove support for iOS 10 in the first release of the Device Policy app in 2021. Therefore please ensure your users upgrade their devices before the end of the year to avoid any disruption to their work. 

Use our Help Center to find more information on minimum device requirements for Google mobile management.

New device management API now generally available

Quick launch summary 

Earlier this year, we announced that a new API to manage company-owned and personal mobile devices and desktop devices was available in beta. Now, we’re making that API generally available. There are no changes to the new API since we launched the beta. 

The new Devices API enables you to manage mobile and desktop devices within your organization. It is intended to fully replace the existing Mobiledevices endpoint of the Admin SDK Directory API, and provides some significant additional functionality as described below. The Mobiledevices endpoint (aka “old API”) will continue to be supported. 

The device management API implements the following new functionality not found in the Mobiledevices endpoint of the Directory API: 
  • Support for desktop devices 
  • Add company owned devices to the device inventory 
  • Manage company-owned devices inventory 
  • Manage desktop device inventory 
  • Ability to manage devices under all management modes (Fundamental, Basic or Advanced) 
  • Create and manage custom state with each user account on a device. This custom state can be used in making context-aware access decisions. 

In addition, the following main functionality from the older API is also available in the new API: 
  • Manage BYOD inventory for Android and iOS devices 
  • Manage organizational user accounts on devices 
  • Devices under Basic or Advanced management can be managed 
  • Perform actions such as wipe on devices and organizational user accounts on devices 
  • Search devices and organizational user accounts on devices 



Getting started 

Rollout pace 

Availability 

  • Available to all G Suite customers 

Resources 

New device management API available in beta

What’s changing 

We’re launching a beta for a new API to manage company-owned and personal mobile devices and desktop devices. It will work for devices managed via fundamental management, endpoint verification, Drive File Steam, and enhanced desktop security for Windows. Find out more about device management in G Suite. 

The new API is part of the Cloud Identity API, and will eventually replace the Admin SDK Directory API used to manage mobile devices. 


Who’s impacted 

Admins and developers 


Why you’d use it 

The new API includes all the capabilities of the Admin SDK Directory API it will replace. In addition, it adds these new features over and above the Admin SDK: 
  • Ability to create and manage company owned devices 
  • Ability to manage Windows devices registered with the Google Credential Provider for Windows 
  • Ability to manage desktop services such as those with the “Endpoint Verification” extension or those with Drive File Stream installed on them 

Getting started 

Rollout pace 

Availability 

  • The beta is open to all G Suite customers. 

Resources 

New device management API available in beta

What’s changing 

We’re launching a beta for a new API to manage company-owned and personal mobile devices and desktop devices. It will work for devices managed via fundamental management, endpoint verification, Drive File Steam, and enhanced desktop security for Windows. Find out more about device management in G Suite. 

The new API is part of the Cloud Identity API, and will eventually replace the Admin SDK Directory API used to manage mobile devices. 


Who’s impacted 

Admins and developers 


Why you’d use it 

The new API includes all the capabilities of the Admin SDK Directory API it will replace. In addition, it adds these new features over and above the Admin SDK: 
  • Ability to create and manage company owned devices 
  • Ability to manage Windows devices registered with the Google Credential Provider for Windows 
  • Ability to manage desktop services such as those with the “Endpoint Verification” extension or those with Drive File Stream installed on them 

Getting started 

Rollout pace 

Availability 

  • The beta is open to all G Suite customers. 

Resources 

Simplify management of company-owned iOS devices with new Apple Business Manager integration

What’s changing 

We’re launching an integration between Google endpoint management and Apple Business Manager (formerly the Device Enrollment Program, or DEP). This makes it possible to securely distribute and manage company-owned iOS devices from the Google Admin console. 

The integration will enable G Suite Enterprise, G Suite Enterprise for Education, G Suite Enterprise Essentials, and Cloud Identity Premium customers to set Google endpoint management as an MDM server on Apple Business Manager. 


Who’s impacted 

Admins 


Why you’d use it 

With the integration between Google endpoint management and Apple Business Manager: 
  • Admins can manage company-owned iOS devices directly from the Admin console, in the same location as they manage other devices that access their organization’s data. 
  • Admins can control a wider range of features including app installation, Apple app usage, authentication methods, and more, as shown in this table of supervised company-owned iOS device settings. 
  • Apple Business Manager and Google endpoint management automatically sync for seamless device management. 
  • Users follow a simple device setup and enrollment through the built-in setup wizard. 
Apple Business Manager setup in the Admin console



Getting started 

  • Admins: To use this feature, you need to enable advanced mobile management for iOS devices in applicable OUs, and have an Apple Business Manager account set up. Visit our Help Center to learn more about how to set up company-owned iOS device management. 
  • End users: There is no end user setting for this feature. Once provisioned by an admin, users can follow the device setup wizard steps to enroll the device. Once the setup wizard is complete, the Google Device Policy app will automatically install and the user should sign in to it with their G Suite or Cloud Identity account. 

Rollout pace 

Availability 

  • Available to G Suite Enterprise, G Suite Enterprise for Education, G Suite Enterprise Essentials, and Cloud Identity Premium customers 
  • Not available to G Suite Basic, G Suite Business, G Suite for Education, G Suite for Nonprofits, and G Suite Essentials customers 

Resources 

Distribute certificates for mobile devices via MDM

What’s changing 

We’re making it possible to issue digital certificates to iOS and Android devices for secure access even when those devices are not connected to the corporate network. This will make it easier to provide new mobile devices with identification, authentication, and access to G Suite and other corporate resources. This is available to G Suite Enterprise, G Suite Enterprise for Education, and Cloud Identity Premium customers using Google Endpoint Management via an on-premises connector.

Who’s impacted 

Admins

Why it’s important 

Certificates are an important way to identify and authenticate mobile devices so they are able to securely access corporate resources. These resources can include G Suite, enterprise WiFi hotspots, and more.

Some customers include a requirement for devices to be on-premise and protected by a firewall in order to distribute device certificates. As some users can no longer access corporate locations and networks, customers need a way to issue these certificates remotely.

By providing this feature, we are helping these customers keep their employees connected and productive even when they’re not in the office.

Getting started 



Rollout pace 


  • This feature is available now. 

Availability 


  • Available to G Suite Enterprise, G Suite Enterprise for Education, and Cloud Identity Premium customers 
  • Not available to G Suite Basic, G Suite Business, G Suite for Education, G Suite for Nonprofits, and Cloud Identity Free customers 

Resources 


Revamped My Devices page will help users find and manage their devices

Quick launch summary 

We’re making some updates to the My Devices page. Users can go to the page to see the devices they’ve used to log in to G Suite and then manage those devices. It includes detailed device information, an option to log out of the device, and an option to wipe the device. You may notice:

  • A new URL, as the page is now found at mydevices.google.com, rather than google.com/apps/mydevices. Soon, we’ll start to redirect users from the old site to the new site. 
  • The page now includes both mobile and desktop devices. The old page only showed mobile devices. 
  • Detailed device information. This is the same as the previous site. 
  • Options to manage device access and wipe the device if desired. This is the same as the previous site. 


The new My Devices page at mydevices.google.com 


The old My Devices page at google.com/apps/mydevices 

Availability 

Rollout details 


G Suite editions 
Available to all G Suite editions

On/off by default? 
This feature will be ON by default.

Stay up to date with G Suite launches

Fundamental device management brings basic coverage to all desktop computers

What’s changing 

With this launch, all desktop devices that log in to G Suite will get fundamental device management by default. This means that when a user logs in to G Suite through any browser on a Windows, Mac, Chrome, or Linux device, the device will be registered with endpoint management. This will happen automatically upon login and does not require any other user actions or software to be installed on the device.

When a device is registered with fundamental device management, admins can see the device type, operating system, first sync time, and last sync time in the Admin console. They can also sign the user out from that device.

This provides the basic benefits of device management without additional costs or requiring installation of agents or profiles. We’re also making enhancements to the filters available in the device list that will strengthen our endpoint verification and Context-Aware Access functionality. See more information below.

Who’s impacted 

Admins only

Why you’d use it 

Fundamental device management provides a base level of security to every desktop device that accesses G Suite data. The device data collected can help admins make more informed security and policy decisions about how to manage the devices in their organization. More specifically, the feature will help admins to:
  • Get a clearer picture of all the devices that are accessing corporate data. 
  • Use more comprehensive data to analyze device access in the organization through reports and the security center. For example, you could use it to identify devices that require OS updates. 
  • Take remedial action to remotely sign out a user when a device is lost, stolen, or compromised.
  • Improve Context-Aware Access controls. The device inventory will be more comprehensive, and admins can use a new “Exclude Endpoint Verification” filter, which will enable admins to see which devices would not be able to access G Suite when context-aware access is deployed. 


How to get started 



Additional details 


Fundamental desktop management provides device information without apps or agents 

When fundamental device management is enabled, the admin will get information about a limited set of device properties: device type, device model, OS version, first sync, and last sync.

This will be visible in two places in the Admin console:

  • The devices list found at Admin console > Device management > Devices > Endpoints. 
  • The audit section found at Admin console > Reporting > Audit > Devices. 

Information about devices with fundamental device management will be listed alongside devices that use other agents to provide admins with details about devices accessing corporate data. Admins can filter the endpoint list by “Management Type” to see devices with a specific device management type, such as fundamental, endpoint verification, or Drive File Stream.

You can filter for “Fundamental” managed devices at Admin console > Device management > Devices 

A device page with information provided through fundamental device management 


Limitations of fundamental device management and other endpoint verification options 
Fundamental device management is designed to be an agentless, lightweight information collection tool. Its goal is to provide a basic data set, which can help admins make some decisions and add some controls to devices accessing their data.

Google provides other services, which offer more detailed data and enable more comprehensive controls to admins, including endpoint verification, Chrome device management, Drive File Stream, and Google Mobile Management.

New Endpoint Verification filter helps deploy Endpoint Verification and Context-Aware Access

We’re also adding the ability to filter for devices without endpoint verification in the device list at Admin console > Device management > Devices. This can help admins to identify devices which are accessing corporate data without endpoint verification, and see if they’d like to install endpoint verification on any of them. This can also improve the deployment of Context-Aware Access, which relies on Endpoint Verification. By seeing users and devices without Endpoint Verification installed, admins can identify and avoid potential user disruption before turning on Context-Aware Access. 

Helpful links 



Availability 

Rollout details 

  • Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: 
    • Extended rollout (longer than 15 days for feature visibility) starting on October 29, 2019. 
    • Rollout could take up to 6 months to reach all domains. 
    • When it reaches your domain, you’ll see the banner pictures below, and there will be a new “Management Type > Fundamental” filter option available in the endpoint devices list. 

When the rollout reaches your domain, you’ll see this banner when you go to Admin console > Device management > Devices 

When the rollout reaches your domain, you’ll see the “Fundamental” management type filter option at Admin Console > Device Management > Devices. 


G Suite editions 
Available to all G Suite editions.

On/off by default? 
This feature will be enabled by default.


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