Google Drive Sharing: Protect Confidential Google Drive Files

Share Google Docs Externally—With Security and Compliance

Close the enterprise security and compliance gap for Google Drive sharing with third parties, while boosting productivity. Take control of email and folder sharing with customers and partners, whether your organization standardizes on G Suite, embraces Google Drive storage, or prohibits its use. Google Drive and Docs users securely send and share using the Kiteworks G Suite Plugins—without leaving the window they are working in. Users of the Kiteworks Google Drive Connector can send or share within any Kiteworks client, app, or plugin. Users profit from transparent transformations to standard Microsoft formats, and all the security and compliance benefits of the Kiteworks platform.

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Google Drive Security: Advanced Breach Prevention

This plugin creates a security framework that maintains control over sensitive content while enabling external collaboration.

Prevent accidental exposure: Eliminate risks from inadvertent external link sharing that could compromise confidential documents
Share securely: Distribute Google content through protected, governed email and secure web folders with controlled access
Integrate security: Route file sharing through existing DLP systems, anti-malware scanners, and governance controls
Track compliance: Generate audit logs and compliance reports documenting all sharing activities

Seamless Secure Sharing: Google Drive Integration

This integration embeds protection where users already work.

Simple secure sharing: Send documents via email or share through protected folders with two clicks from the Google environment
Full workspace integration: Access security features via plugins across Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides
Maintain document integrity: Easily incorporate changed versions back into original documents
Work efficiently: Provide security without adding complexity while automatically applying protection measures

Seamless Secure Sharing: Google Drive Integration

Convert to Microsoft Office Formats Automatically | Plugin and Connector

This solution automatically handles format conversion to ensure compatibility across different document systems.

Users share Google Docs but recipients get standard MS Office files
No conversion work for either party
Docs/Word, Sheets/Excel, Slides/PowerPoint supported
Also transfers file types that don’t require conversion, such as PDFs, text files, and images

Manage External Users Without Using Gmail Accounts | Plugin and Connector

Simplify external collaboration by removing the requirement for Google accounts while maintaining security controls.

Avoid the need for file sharing recipients to create and use Gmail accounts
Authenticate, log, and audit based on recipients’ business email addresses
Control multi-factor authentication (MFA) and single sign-on (SSO)
Provide security without adding complexity while automatically applying protection measures

Manage External Users Without Using Gmail Accounts | Plugin and Connector

Centralize Governance and Compliance | Plugin and Connector

Unify security policies across all content repositories to ensure consistent protection and compliance management.

Manage Google Drive external sharing with governance policies in Kiteworks
Consistent policies across all repositories—avoids shadow copies of policies
Comprehensive security operations center (SOC) monitoring and compliance reporting
Generate detailed activity reports for regulatory compliance requirements

Give Users a Single Point of Access to Content Stores

Create a unified content access experience that simplifies workflow while maintaining appropriate controls.

Users access all repositories—including Google Drive—through a single folder structure
Access via web, mobile app, and plugins for MS Outlook and Office, iManage, and Salesforce
Honor repository data access controls
Other sources include on-premises file shares and enterprise content management (ECM) systems, cloud storage, SFTP, and the Kiteworks system’s own repository

Block Google Drive But Accept Customer Files | Connector

Enable selective access to Google Drive content for organizations with strict security policies regarding cloud services.

Support organizations that prohibit Google Drive for users and block it at the firewall
Allow designated users controlled access to Google Drive files sent by customers and partners
Apply security scans and governance policies as you bring customer files into your own repositories
Full audit log and compliance reporting

Frequently Asked Questions

Google Drive is generally secure, as it uses SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encryption for data while it is in transit, meaning data sent between your device and their servers, or between their data centers, is protected. Moreover, it uses 128-bit AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) keys for data at rest. However, like with any online service, it’s also up to the user to use strong, unique passwords and two-step verification to increase their Google Drive security.

Yes, Google Drive is compliant with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Google has made clear commitments to its users about the privacy and security of their data, which include GDPR compliance. However, it is also the responsibility of individual users or businesses to ensure that how they use Google Drive and the data they store there comply with the regulations.

Google Drive employs several techniques to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive files, including authentication, encryption, access control, and more. It’s important to note, however, that while Google Drive has many security measures in place, it’s also crucial for users to practice good security habits, such as regularly changing passwords, not sharing passwords with others, and being careful about who they share their files with. Additionally, Google also recommends keeping your account recovery options up to date.

Yes, Google Drive is HIPAA compliant; however, it’s important to note that compliance depends not only on the technology but also on how it’s used. This means that in order for Google Drive to truly be HIPAA compliant, it must be used in a manner that satisfies all of the HIPAA rules. Also, Google offers a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) to paid Google Workspace customers, which is a requirement for HIPAA compliance.

Kiteworks enhances the security of Google Drive by providing additional layers of protection. Specifically, Kiteworks provides advanced access controls and permission settings, allowing organizations to define granular access levels for shared files. This ensures that only authorized individuals can view, edit, or download files stored in Google Drive, reducing the risk of unauthorized access. Additionally, Kiteworks enforces encryption measures for data at rest and in transit, providing an extra layer of protection for shared files. Kiteworks also provides a built-in audit log so all activities related to the data stored on Google Drive are tracked and recorded. This can be useful for identifying any suspicious activities and taking appropriate action. In total, Kiteworks empowers organizations to confidently share Google Drive files with external parties, promoting secure collaboration while maintaining control over sensitive data.