CyberHappenings logo
☰
Home Browse Watchlists Experimental About

Track cybersecurity events as they unfold. Sourced timelines. Filter, sort, and browse. Fast, privacy‑respecting. No invasive ads, no tracking.

Google Workspace Security Hardening Recommendations

First reported
Last updated
1 unique sources, 2 articles

Summary

Hide ▲

Google Workspace environments, built for collaboration, often have permissive settings and integrations that can be exploited by attackers. Security teams, especially lean ones, must properly configure and maintain Google Workspace to defend against modern cloud threats. Key practices include enforcing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA), hardening admin access, securing sharing defaults, controlling OAuth app access, fortifying against email threats, detecting and containing account takeovers, understanding and protecting data, and balancing collaboration with control. Material Security extends Google Workspace security by providing advanced email security, automated account takeover detection and response, data discovery and protection, and unified visibility across the cloud office. The latest insights highlight the importance of securing email, the primary attack vector, and addressing gaps in native protection such as Business Email Compromise (BEC) attacks and legacy protocols. Material Security offers advanced solutions to enhance Google Workspace's security capabilities.

Timeline

  1. 28.10.2025 12:30 2 articles · 2mo ago

    Google Workspace Security Hardening Recommendations Published

    Recommendations for securing Google Workspace environments were published, focusing on key practices such as enforcing MFA, hardening admin access, securing sharing defaults, controlling OAuth app access, fortifying against email threats, detecting and containing account takeovers, understanding and protecting data, and balancing collaboration with control. Material Security is introduced as a solution to extend Google Workspace security with advanced features. The article further emphasizes the importance of securing email, addressing gaps in native protection, and enhancing access control.

    Show sources
    Open in new tab

Information Snippets

Similar Happenings

Identity Security Beyond MFA: Emerging Threats and Solutions

Multi-factor authentication (MFA) remains a critical security measure, but its limitations are increasingly exposed by sophisticated cyber threats. While MFA effectively deters automated attacks, human vulnerabilities and advanced tactics like AI-driven phishing and SIM swapping continue to bypass these controls. Organizations are now adopting phishing-resistant authentication methods and integrating identity threat detection to enhance security. The FBI and NIST have warned against using email-based OTPs and SMS codes due to their vulnerabilities. Instead, hardware-based security keys and public key cryptography are gaining traction. Real-time monitoring and adaptive policies are essential to mitigate risks posed by compromised credentials and unusual user behavior.

Open in new tab

Credential Theft and Account Compromise Surge in 2025

In 2025, cyber threat actors significantly increased their focus on credential theft, leading to a 389% rise in account compromise incidents, which constituted 55% of all attacks observed by eSentire. Credential access represented 75% of malicious activity, with two-thirds aimed at account takeovers and the remaining third used for phishing campaigns. Microsoft 365 accounts were primary targets. The use of phishing-as-a-service (PhaaS) kits, such as Tycoon2FA, FlowerStorm, and EvilProxy, fueled business email compromise (BEC) attacks. These kits are sophisticated, continuously updated, and designed to bypass modern security controls like multifactor authentication (MFA). While BEC attacks declined to less than 10% of malicious activity, they remained a top threat for companies, particularly in real estate, finance, retail, and construction. The report also highlighted a 14-fold increase in security incidents involving email bombing and IT Help Desk impersonation, a 300% spike in the ClickFix lure, and varying trends in cyber incidents across different industries.

Open in new tab

Security Teams Urged to Shift Focus Beyond Phishing Click Rates

Security teams are encouraged to move beyond measuring phishing click rates and focus on the potential damage an attacker can inflict once they gain access to a mailbox. The emphasis should be on resilience and containment strategies to mitigate the impact of breaches, as prevention alone is insufficient against sophisticated threats. The article highlights the importance of a layered approach to email security, including prevention, detection, recovery, and containment. It argues that containment measures, though often overlooked, are crucial in minimizing the damage caused by breaches. Key metrics for assessing email security maturity include mailbox lootability, reset-path exposure, and time-to-contain, which provide a more accurate reflection of risk than click rates.

Open in new tab

Increased Browser-Based Attacks Targeting Business Applications

Browser-based attacks targeting business applications have surged, exploiting modern work practices and decentralized internet apps. These attacks, including phishing, malicious OAuth integrations, and browser extensions, compromise business apps and data by targeting users. The attacks leverage various delivery channels and evasion techniques, making them difficult to detect and block. Phishing attacks have evolved to use non-email channels such as social media, instant messaging apps, and malicious search engine ads. These attacks often bypass traditional email security controls and are harder to detect. Attackers exploit the decentralized nature of modern work environments, targeting users across multiple apps and communication channels. Non-email phishing attacks can result in significant breaches, as seen in the 2023 Okta breach. The rise in these attacks highlights the need for enhanced browser security measures and better visibility into user activities within the browser.

Open in new tab

Google Chrome Enterprise Premium Enhances Browser Security for Hybrid Work Environments

Google's Mark Berschadski discussed how Chrome Enterprise is evolving to address the complex security challenges of today's rapidly changing business landscape at the "There's No Place Like Chrome" event. The traditional workplace perimeter has dissolved, leading organizations to pivot to browser-based security to enable work from any device, anywhere. Chrome Enterprise Premium supports zero trust security principles through identity verification, device posture assessment, and continuous verification. It allows organizations to implement granular security policies while maintaining a seamless user experience, making it essential for securing hybrid work environments. Kemmerer and Hudziak addressed common misconceptions about browser security, noting that traditional solutions like VPNs and firewalls often fail in BYOD scenarios. Chrome's extensive telemetry and security features, including Safe Browsing and advanced malware sandboxing, provide IT and security teams with the tools needed to monitor and mitigate risks effectively. The threat landscape is evolving with attackers increasingly targeting human vulnerabilities through social engineering rather than technical exploits. Google Safe Browsing alerts users if they click on a site known or suspected to be involved in nefarious activities, and administrators can prevent access to such sites. Chrome Enterprise and Chrome OS enable security controls at the browser level, allowing for verification of device status, user identity, access rights, and data handling. Chrome Enterprise includes Data Loss Protection (DLP) controls that manage file downloads, printing, and uploads to safeguard intellectual property. It supports secure interactions for third-party contractors and BYOD environments. Google is integrating productivity-enhancing AI capabilities like Gemini into Chrome for enterprise customers later this year, transforming the browser into a secure, productive workspace with customizable controls that adapt to changing organizational needs while effectively managing risk.

Open in new tab