One Easy Tip to Keep Your Google Drive Secure

Google Drive has become one of the de-facto file sharing solutions in businesses and organizations across the country. Its integration into Google Workspace, including Gmail, has helped to facilitate large file transfers, group access, and generally help to organize a company’s digital assets both remotely and on-site. 

One drawback to Google Drive’s accessibility and ease of use is the “set it and forget it” mentality, where third parties are granted access to potentially sensitive or confidential information well past the point where they were meant to have it. Former employees, ex-contractors and the like with continuing unfettered access to shared files and drives can represent a serious flaw in a business’s cybersecurity stance.

Fortunately, Google has addressed this issue with a simple feature: Expiration dates for shared assets.

When sharing a file or folder in Google Drive, you can simply click “Add expiration” on the pop-up window (see below). Add an expiration date, and you’re all set.

It should be noted that this feature is only available for Google Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Standard, Enterprise Plus, Education Plus, Education Standard and Nonprofits customers; personal account users are unable to set expiration dates.

Maintaining file access is an onerous task, but an important one for security. If you’re looking to save time, consider incorporating expiration dates into your workflow.

Having trouble managing your files? Not sure what kind of Google Workspace account you have? Nodal can help! Contact us today.