Gmail enterprise users now have access to powerful end-to-end encryption (E2EE) which prevents both Google and anyone else from reading their inbox communications.
Google describes this encryption feature as an “email protective bubble” which extends its client-side encryption framework that launched to Workspace users during December 2022.
The system represents an entirely new encryption approach according to Google which aims to simplify the technology further. The company announced this feature as a beta release which becomes available today to enable users for sending organization-wide encrypted emails.
Google plans to extend this encryption feature to all Gmail inboxes starting this year and promises full email inbox encryption by the end of 2025.
Online services protect their users’ privacy through end-to-end encryption which allows decryption access only to senders and recipients. Private keys form the foundation for security but organizations and users struggle with key management which prevents widespread email encryption adoption.
Companies usually implement Secure/Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (S/MIME) for E2EE but Google describes this method as cumbersome because it creates “frustration and roadblocks in sending encrypted emails.” The present client-side encryption system from Google depends on S/MIME for its operations.
The Google representative stated that this feature enhances the CSE toolkit by introducing new encryption methods which enable organizations to exchange encrypted messages without interruptions.
