Google extends Chrome administration for businesses
Chrome Enterprise Core is the new name of Google's service for admins who manage the browser in the company. In addition to the renaming, there are new features
(Image: Google)
Google is relaunching its service for administrators to manage the Chrome web browser in companies under the name Chrome Enterprise Core. The service was previously called Chrome Browser Cloud Management, but more than just the name is changing: Google is expanding the range of functions at the same time.
Guidelines for iOS
Firstly, Chrome Enterprise Core can be used to distribute policies to users' devices. This now also works with iOS smartphones, in addition to desktop (Windows, macOS, Linux and ChromeOS) and Android devices. It is not relevant whether it is a managed or unmanaged web browser – in the latter case, the policies for the user profile apply, which is particularly the case with BYOD iPhones (Bring Your Own Device, i.e. the employee's personal device).
Chrome Enterprise Core includes hundreds of policies by default. Administrators can now also write their own Chrome configurations in JSON. This means that any GPO (Group Policy Object) policies for on-premises systems can also be set up centrally via the Cloud Management Console.
Another new feature is that administrators can manage web browsers in groups. For example, those responsible can group together all Chrome installations on a specific operating system or all browsers for developers in a specific department.
Monitoring
Administrators can also monitor the managed web browsers and user profiles via Chrome Enterprise Core. Central to this are the security analyses, which were previously reserved for Workspace Enterprise users and will be generally available from July. Chrome crash reports are also new. These should help IT departments to better process requests from their colleagues and simplify the analysis of problems with certain web applications.
Furthermore, Chrome Enterprise Core can now detect inactive web browsers and automatically delete them after a set period of time if desired. Finally, Google has integrated a setup guide into the Admin Console for new customers to help with the initial setup.
All information on the changes can be found in the announcement.
(fo)
