Highlights:

  • Google LLC has recently introduced a set of new ChromeOS features that will assist businesses in protecting business data and employee devices from cybercriminals.
  • The tool enables administrators to prohibit users from copying and pasting data, capturing screenshots, and using screen-sharing applications.

Google LLC has recently introduced a set of new ChromeOS features that will assist businesses in protecting business data and employee devices from cybercriminals.

The features debuted in San Fransisco at the annual RSA Conference.

ChromeOS is an operating system developed by Google that utilizes the Chrome browser as its primary user interface. It is used extensively in the education industry. Over the past few years, Google has endeavored to increase enterprise adoption of ChromeOS by adding tools that make the platform simpler to secure and administer.

The new cybersecurity features introduced by the company lately extend this initiative. ChromeOS Data Controls is the primary highlight of this announcement. According to Google, preventing the unauthorized use of business records will be less difficult.

The tool enables administrators to prohibit users from copying and pasting data, capturing screenshots, and using screen-sharing applications. Additionally, printer access can be disabled. According to Google, ChromeOS Data Controls permits the customization of when and how each usage restriction is implemented.

Administrators can configure ChromeOS to prevent copying and pasting only when employees use a crucial business application. Additionally, it is possible to implement usage restrictions on particular URLs. A corporation, for example, might prohibit employees from copying content into unapproved cloud-based file storage facilities.

ChromeOS enables businesses to configure unique usage restrictions for each business entity. Administrators may allow access to printers in one department but block it for teams that do not require the feature to complete their tasks. ChromeOS can also be configured to allow a specific user action while notifying administrators when it occurs.

Tony Ureche, the Head of Security, identity, and privacy for ChromeOS, wrote in a blog post, “Finance team members might need to share or print spreadsheets and documents they are working on. But members of other teams do not need this access, and to prevent user errors, admins can set up rules blocking specific users or groups from leaking this data.”

Alongside the rollout of ChromeOS Data Controls is an expansion of privacy settings. In the preferences menu of the operating system, users can now deactivate their camera and microphone with a single click. The feature is based on a comparable privacy control implemented by Google for Android.

As part of a recent update, Google also publishes integrations with external cybersecurity tools. The integrations will facilitate the incorporation of these tools into ChromeOS computer deployments.

Companies can now monitor ChromeOS devices for malware using the Falcon Insight XDR cybersecurity platform from CrowdStrike Inc. Additionally, Falcon Insight XDR supports Windows, Mac, and Linux. Administrators can now monitor ChromeOS devices and workstations running other operating systems from a centralized console.

Enterprises utilize cloud-based security analytics platforms to detect infrastructure compromise indicators. These platforms analyze data from numerous systems, including ChromeOS workstations, to identify indicators of malicious activity. Google is making collecting data from ChromeOS fleets simpler as part of the recent update.

The company is introducing an integration that facilitates the transmission of security logs from the operating system to its cybersecurity analytics platform, Chronicle. ChromeOS can transmit information regarding user logins and logouts, USB activity, and remote desktop access requests. In addition, it can share identical data to CrowdStrike’s Falcon LogScale and Palo Alto Networks’ Cortex XDR security analytics platforms.

The last two integrations presented lately are concerned with application access management. Google claims that the integrations simplify the implementation of the conditional access feature of Microsoft’s Azure Active Directory service. The conditional access feature allows users to access an application only if their devices satisfy predefined security requirements.