Google Meet looks to match Zoom with key security feature

Google’s transfer to lock down the security of conferences held on its Google Meet videoconferencing utility — with the deliberate introduction of end-to-end encryption this yr — might make the collaboration app a stronger possibility for purchasers in regulated industries.

The announcement that Google plans to roll out non-obligatory end-to-end encryption for all conferences, sooner or later in 2022, might additionally make the videoconferencing app extra aggressive with Zoom, which already gives the safety function for all conferences. And Google Meet might doubtlessly leapfrog Microsoft Groups, as effectively. Microsoft already gives end-to-end encryption for one-on-one calls on Groups, however has not introduced when the function may be arriving for group conferences.

In feedback offered to VentureBeat by e mail on Friday, Google stated that end-to-end encryption “is designed for conferences that require heightened confidentiality, usually these occurring in regulated industries with extra strict safety necessities.”

The transfer would additionally appear positioned to make Google Meet a more-appealing possibility for presidency prospects — a section of the market the place Google, yesterday, signaled that it’s seeking to compete more aggressively with Microsoft.

Google didn’t specify when in 2022 end-to-end encryption could also be coming to all conferences, saying solely that will probably be “later this yr.”

Part of the Google Workspace suite of productiveness apps, Google Meet gives video conferences with as much as 500 members, screen-sharing and live-streaming for companies to as much as 100,000 viewers of their area, based on Google. The corporate has not lately disclosed the scale of its person base for Google Meet, however in April 2020 had reportedly disclosed having greater than 100 million “every day Meet assembly members.”

Present encryption

By default, all information in Google Meet is already encrypted in transit between the shopper and Google, the corporate says. Google Meet recordings information that’s saved in Google Drive can also be encrypted by default, based on Google.

Google Meet gives “superior safety and privateness controls, together with encryption in transit, proactive counter-abuse measures and moderation controls to maintain conferences protected,” the corporate stated in its feedback to VentureBeat.

Google additionally pointed to inner privateness opinions, together with impartial verifications and certifications, as different key indications of its deal with safety and privateness. Customers can “believe within the many layers we’ve got in place to guard their privateness,” the corporate stated.

Earlier than end-to-end encryption arrives, Google Meet will subsequent be getting non-obligatory client-side-encryption, which is at present in beta. The function supplies prospects with “direct management” of the mandatory encryption keys, in addition to the identification supplier leveraged to entry the keys, based on Google.

In Could, client-side-encryption will transfer into common availability for Google Meet prospects (Enterprise Plus, Enterprise Plus and Training Plus prospects).

For end-to-end encryption, the function goes even additional by making certain that no middleman between members — not even a service supplier or Google itself — can decrypt and skim any of the assembly information.

Zoom first introduced end-to-end encryption for all conferences in October 2020. Microsoft, in the meantime, launched end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for one-on-one calls in December 2021.

“Initially E2EE will likely be obtainable just for one-on-one Groups calls,” Microsoft stated in a doc posted on its assist website. “After gathering buyer suggestions to grasp how the function addresses their compliance wants and obligations, we are going to work to carry E2EE capabilities to on-line conferences.”