My takeaways from the virtual global conference Google Cloud Next held on October 12th till October 14th are four:
- Client-side Encryption
- Zero Trust Computing – Security
- Workspace expanding to a large echosystem via integration.
- Google Product Updates
I’ll give more insights below explaining why these four are my choices out of the potential topics from 140 sessions at the event. Google Cloud Next included live and in demand events and was free to attend. Attending virtually Google’s Cloud Next events has always been a privilege. “New Home for Work” was the message for a future workspace during the Google Cloud Next 20′. Scrolling the roadmaps for products such as Google Meet, new generation Gmail etc, makes Google’s achievements instantly recognizable . This 2021 virtual event stands out for its scale and in-depth sessions. I’m not surprised that the press found it difficult to recap and threw cliche phrases in an attempt to obscure the lack of preparation and research or even quote from the Tech Press needed for such a cornerstone specialized global conference from a leader in the industry.
At Google Cloud Next 2021 Conference the virtual experience was mostly interactive via demo, Q&A, live labs etc. Google welcomed users making the most out of the Google Cloud space Google themselves design for all. It was fun joining the live chats, watching the speakers standing, listening to a Facebook Manager’s tech insights at a Google event etc. During the days of the conference Google tools and products were serving Google, including the experience and lessons learned from tons of online meetings and events during the pandemic year 2020.
Keynote: Grounded
The Digitalization is now in all areas of our life. That’s how Sundar Pichai, Google’s CEO began the Keynote introduction (2:00). Many individual and enterprise data found new proportions in the daily routines of people. Google is the leader in innovation, releasing 4 updates daily for their products or a total of 150 000 updates!
Enterprise Transformation was at the center of Thomas Kurian’s talk, as he shared the stage with Sundar Pichai for the Keynote. Essential themes for the success of Google Cloud partnerships pointed out by Thomas Kurian in the Keynote (1:19:10) are:
- Understanding and using data in the specific industry
- Having the leading industry technology infrastructure
- Creating the best hybrid workplace
- Data and systems security now and in the future
- Working together to address the world’s most important challenges
Google Workspace is beginning integration with a large echosystem. All the core tools such as Drive,Docs, Calendar, Meet, Gmail are client-side encrypted starting October 12th, as announced. With Google Workspace, developers can list their apps on Google Workspace Marketplace and extend their company. Listen to the presentation of Javier Soltero, Google’s VP.
To sum it up, Google Cloud Next 2021 Keynote grounded Google’s operations from Data centers Carbon footprint, enterprise partnerships, Artificial Intelligence success such as Renault Factory of The Future or Euphonia research bringing Custom Voice in help of Dawn patients, to Work Safer in a hybrid environment new edition for everyone at work and much more security-wise innovations on the Developers side.
Workspace
Google Workspace’s big number of 3 bln global users was at the center of the News attention during the Google Cloud Next 2021 conference. If you missed it, alongside the innovative solutions announced for the hybrid work after-pandemic reality by Google’s VP Javier Soltero in his presentation, he has pointed to a Spotlight of business interest, precisely the whole Google Workspace echo system of partnerships happening right now and expanding in the near future. Subscribe to Google Workspace!
Client-side encryption
The client-side encryption is the number one highlight from Google Workspace in the Keynote. In the context of the biggest problems such as cyber security and encryption this innovative technical solution is playing and will play a key role for the sustainable global internet of networks.
Following the beta introduction of Client-side encryption for Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides in June, CSE is now coming to Google Meet. This lets companies control encryption keys so that “customer data is indecipherable to Google,” and fulfill data sovereignty or compliance requirements. Meanwhile, customers can now directly manage their encryption keys in-house with the beta version of Key Access Service Public APIs. A third-party partner (Flowcrypt, Futurex, Thales, or Virtru) was previously required.
Resource https://9to5google.com/2021/10/12/google-workspace-cloud-next-21/
– client-side encryption with Google Cloud
The Clien-End Encryption is best recapped on Google Cloud blog. Here’s the quote:
At Cloud Next 2021, we announced a first of its kind solution that provides customers with ubiquitous data encryption which delivers unified control over data at-rest, in-use, and in-transit, all with keys that are under your control. With ubiquitous data encryption:
You control the access to your data regardless of whether it’s on storage, in memory, or in flight
You can take full advantage of compute and storage power of GCP
You can reduce your level of implicit trust in Google
– encryption customer control Trust Google Cloud More with Ubiquitous Data Encryption
Google Product Updates
There are tons of updates announced before, during and after the end of Google Cloud Next event. For the impact of the new solutions I wouldn’t miss the new Search Quality Evaluator Guidelines.
AppSheet in Gmail: custom built no-code applications
Google innovated the business apps and email by putting both in the same interface. This is giving the option to exclude switching among multiple services. Users are receiving a dynamic email as the workflow enabling no-code applications with AppSheet. The announcement is on Google Cloud bolg and here’s the Bringing AppSheet Apps into Gmail video tutorial.
Translate Captions in Google Meet Beta
The future of communication lives in Google Meet! It’s not an exaggeration to say it, since even at present one can talk in English while participants in a Google Meet meeting can read in their native languages. The futuristic experience is valid for users who can read in French, German, Spanish and Portuguese. As always, Google is exploring via the Beta Program how to best scale this functionality to other languages too. You can apply for the Beta Translated captions in Google Meet here.
More Product Updates
It’s impossible to list Google product Updates in October, including the announcements at Google Cloud next! I have selected the list of Peggy KTC, Google Diamond Product Expert and here’s what caught her interest:
Warnings in Google Docs when a file may contain malware, phishing, or ransomware. As a side note, Google Docs is 15 years old this month!
Client-side encryption for Google Meet. This gives Google Workspace customers complete control over encryption keys.
New Jira integration for Google Chat and Spaces.
Data Loss Prevention for Google Chat. This lets organizations prevent sensitive and confidential information from being shared with outside parties.
– Weekly Update – October 16, 2021 https://www.peggyktc.com/2021/10/weekly-update-october-16-2021-youtube.html
Security
Must listen on replay to the whole session. I would rather not take any item out of the security context the way the speakers wanted it to be in this important presentation.
Resources
- Sustainability: new tools to measure environmental impact
- Google Disributed Cloud
- Build a more secure future
- Extending the value of Google Workspace
- Turn data into value
- Trust Google Cloud More with Ubiquitous Data Encryption
If you have come so far, you’ve noticed the complexity of the scope of the solutions Google Cloud Next is manifesting! To help with the resources and navigation, I’ve added basic categories, characteristics and links to Google’s cornerstone articles. This approach might as well help you with your own takeaways from Google Could Next.
How to navigate Google Cloud Next event site?
Google has upgraded event categories and narrowed down the specifics. Everyone involved from production facilites, niche industries, IT specialists to marketers are granted simplified and easy navigation on the event site. One might object that it’s Google’s job to organize information yet doing it live online on a global scale for billion demanding users where Google are the leaders is a big responsability. The way I participated in interactive Q&A sessions was a fun and exciting experience. I can tell Google did the best Global virtual conference for the year 2021! You can trust me because I’ve been involved in online events since 2015!
Categories of Events
- Customer Success How Booking.com uses Apigee on Anthos to enhance the customer’s experience
- Product Demos Showcase Renaut Factory of The Future
- Own playlist, My playlist
- Playlists by Google Experts, Executive content example Perspectives for Marketers by Alison Wagonfeld
- Catalog, Recommended Playlis based on a short survey about interests
- Partner Highlights Anaplan on Google Cloud – the recipe to thrive in tomorrow’s operating environment
Events by Characteristics
- Spotlight
- Highlights
- Breakout
- Live Demo
- Live Q&A
- Interactive labs
Useful Updates
Cloud Everywhere, Google Cloud blog including announcements
Work Safer , Google Workspace new offer
Disclaimer: Developers technical sessions are not included in this article’s takeaways.
