Google Workspace has quickly become the productivity backbone for businesses worldwide, offering an all-in-one suite with email, cloud storage and collaboration tools. This single-platform approach makes it easy for teams to connect and work efficiently, no matter where they are, enabling seamless digital transformation that's both scalable and adaptable.
As companies shift from traditional, on-premises setups focused on device security, to more user-centered, hybrid models, Google Workspace is perfectly positioned to support this evolution. Now, the user account itself is the central hub, allowing access from any device or location — a game changer in today's remote and distributed work environments.
However, with all this connectivity and flexibility comes a challenge. Google Workspace connects to countless apps and touches every user in the organization, making it an appealing target for cybercriminals. The platform's internet accessibility opens up additional entry points, raising security stakes considerably.
With an estimated three billion users worldwide — over 11 times the user base of its nearest competitor, Microsoft 365 — Google Workspace's popularity[1] highlights both its power and its risks. As organizations increasingly depend on Google Workspace, the question arises: Are you doing enough to keep your data secure in this expansive digital environment?
In this article, we'll discuss Google Workspace's unique security challenges and what it takes to truly protect your business-critical data.
Think your data is safe in Google Workspace? Here's what you need to know
When it comes to cloud data security, many users assume that platforms like Google Workspace handle all aspects of their data protection. But that's only part of the story. With SaaS applications like Google Workspace, security operates on a shared responsibility model. Let's see what it is.
What is the shared responsibility model (SRM)?
The shared responsibility model is like a partnership between Google, the SaaS provider and you, the user. While Google provides superior protection for its infrastructure — including data centers, networks and hardware — what happens within your user account is largely in your hands. Google keeps the platform safe from large-scale threats, but when it comes to data management and user access, that's your sole responsibility.
This means you're in charge of setting up strong access controls, managing permissions and using multifactor authentication (MFA) to secure your user accounts. You're also responsible for backing up your data and protecting it from threats like phishing or accidental deletions — areas where Google can't step in for you. In short, Google provides a secure foundation, but keeping your data safe from user errors and specific threats falls on you.
The human factor: Why users could be the weakest link in your cybersecurity strategy
Users are often the most vulnerable link in any organization's cybersecurity framework. No matter how robust a system's defenses are, a single mistake — like clicking a malicious link or responding to a phishing email — can expose the entire network to attacks. Numerous studies highlight this reality, pointing to user error as a leading cause of data breaches. While Stanford University[2] states that 88% of data breaches "come from inside the house," i.e., attributable to user error, IBM's Cyber Security Intelligence Index Report[3] says that user error is the main cause of 95% of cybersecurity breaches.
As discussed, Google Workspace's integration of services like email, cloud storage and collaboration tools creates a broad attack surface, with multiple entry points for cybercriminals. This expansive reach, coupled with the rising frequency of phishing and other user-targeted attacks, leaves Google Workspace data particularly vulnerable.
For instance, cybercriminals are constantly evolving their tactics to exploit users. Common phishing schemes now include sophisticated impersonations of trusted contacts, fake login pages that capture credentials and targeted spear-phishing attacks that seem to come from internal departments. These tactics trick users into unwittingly granting network access to attackers. Just recently, hackers managed to bypass Google Workspace's verification process with a "specially crafted request[4]," highlighting the rapid and alarming evolution of today's threat landscape.
What do users get wrong in Google Workspace?
There are some common vulnerabilities in Google Workspace that cybercriminals are quick to exploit. Here's a breakdown of common user oversights and misconceptions that can leave your data exposed:
- Weak or reused passwords: Using simple or repeated passwords remains a top security risk. Easy-to-guess passwords or those reused across multiple platforms make it easier for threat actors to break into accounts, especially if those credentials have already been compromised in previous breaches.
- Lack of MFA: MFA provides an extra layer of security, but many users still rely solely on passwords, leaving accounts exposed to brute-force and credential-stuffing attacks. Without MFA, one compromised password can lead to unauthorized access and significant data loss.
- Misconfigured security settings and user permissions: Misconfigurations in security settings or granting overly broad permissions are common missteps that increase vulnerability. When users or admins don't restrict permissions properly, attackers can move freely within an account or access sensitive data.
- Inadequate email filtering and user protection: Insufficient email filtering allows phishing and malware-laden emails to slip through, exposing users to threats. Without robust email security, malicious emails can easily reach inboxes, where a single click can compromise an entire network.
- Improper or inadequate user lifecycle management: Many organizations overlook the importance of managing user accounts effectively, often resulting in "ghost users." These are active accounts belonging to former employees or inactive users, creating unnecessary access points that attackers can exploit without detection.
- Failure to back up cloud data correctly: Some users mistakenly assume that Google Workspace handles all data backup needs. However, Google's responsibility stops at infrastructure-level redundancy. Following the 3-2-1 backup rule (or the all-new 3-2-1-1-0 rule that we will discuss later in this blog) — keeping three copies of your data on two different storage types, with one copy off-site — is essential. For example, in May, a Google Cloud misconfiguration led to the deletion of the cloud subscription and a widespread outage for UniSuper[5], an Australian superannuation fund (pension program). In situations like these, the immutability of storage (data that can't be altered or deleted) adds an extra layer of protection for your data.
Getting it right: Eight essential steps to protect Google Workspace
Building a resilient data protection strategy is crucial for protecting your Google Workspace against cyberattacks like phishing and ransomware. Data resilience goes beyond prevention — it's about ensuring quick recovery and uninterrupted business operations, even if an attack occurs. Here are eight proactive measures to secure your Google Workspace environment from cyberthreats:
1. Multilayered security
Implement multiple layers of security, including MFA, conditional access and identity protection, to create a strong first line of defense. These measures make it more difficult for unauthorized users to gain access, even if credentials are compromised.
2. Vulnerability assessments and penetration testing
Regularly assess and test your environment for weaknesses. Vulnerability assessments help identify and fix security gaps, while penetration testing allows you to simulate attacks and improve defenses before real threats strike.
3. User awareness training
Educate users on recognizing phishing attempts, handling sensitive data and maintaining secure habits. Security awareness training empowers users to make safer choices and reduces the likelihood of user-based errors that attackers often exploit.
4. Monitoring and logging
Implement real-time monitoring and logging to detect unusual or suspicious activities immediately. Keeping a close eye on user activity helps identify and respond to threats as they occur, minimizing potential damage.
5. Zero trust principles
Adopting a zero-trust approach means assuming that no one — inside or outside the network — can be trusted by default. Enforcing strict access controls and segmentation reduces the attack surface and limits lateral movement.
6. Strengthen email security
Use advanced phishing detection tools and AI-driven filters to protect against sophisticated email-based attacks. Advanced email security solutions can detect and block malicious content before it reaches users' inboxes.
7. Cloud detection and response
Employ cloud detection and response (CDR) tools to monitor and analyze security threats specific to cloud environments. CDR solutions help detect threats quickly and enable rapid incident response to contain potential breaches.
8. Automated backup and recovery
Automated, off-platform backups ensure that your data remains accessible even after an attack. With automated recovery, organizations can restore data quickly, sidestepping the need to pay ransoms and minimizing downtime.
Why backup is your last line of defense?
A solid backup strategy is your last line of defense, ensuring that even if an attacker gains access to your network, you can still recover critical information without losing time, money or valuable business continuity. However, backups are also a key target for cybercriminals, who often look to disable or corrupt them during an attack, making robust backup protection more important than ever.
The 3-2-1-1-0 Rule: Modernizing backup best practices
For years, the 3-2-1 backup rule has been a trusted standard in data protection: keeping three copies of your data, stored in two different formats, with one off-site copy. However, as cyberthreats become more sophisticated, backup experts have developed an updated version of this rule to provide even stronger data resilience. Enter the 3-2-1-1-0 rule — a refined approach that adds layers of security and verification.
Here's how the 3-2-1-1-0 backup rule works and how a reliable third-party backup solution like Backupify can help you implement it seamlessly:
3 copies of data
With Google's built-in redundancy, multiple copies of your data are stored within Google's infrastructure. Backupify adds another security layer by creating an additional backup that's stored redundantly from Google Cloud, ensuring you have, at minimum, three copies to bolster your resilience.
2 different formats
Backupify stores your data on encrypted disks entirely outside of Google Cloud. This diversification strengthens data security by reducing reliance on a single storage format, making it harder for attackers to access all copies.
1 off-site copy
Backupify also ensures that your data is stored redundantly off-site, adding a vital layer of separation that protects your data from localized failures or attacks on Google Workspace itself.
1 immutable copy
Immutability means that your backup copy cannot be altered or deleted, even by administrators. With Backupify's immutable storage, you gain peace of mind knowing that your data is locked in, secure and protected from any tampering.
0 doubt you can recover
Backupify goes beyond just storing data; it provides tools to monitor backup status, deliver alerts about any issues and perform on-demand restores. This ensures you can confidently recover your data whenever needed without worrying about the reliability of your backups.
Modernize your data protection with Backupify
Backupify is a powerful, cloud-to-cloud backup solution designed specifically for Google Workspace, providing seamless, reliable protection for your organization's data. With Backupify, you get automated, secure backups for critical data like Gmail, Calendar, Contacts, Drive and Team Drives. Whether you need to restore a single file or an entire account, Backupify ensures that your Google Workspace data is protected against accidental deletions, malicious attacks and system failures.
Backupify's automated, 3X daily backups keep your data current, while on-demand backups offer flexibility to initiate backups whenever needed without impacting your regular schedule. Real-time backup notifications keep you informed with up-to-date insights directly on your dashboard, so you're always in control.
In addition to its backup capabilities, Backupify offers top-notch security features designed to protect and maintain compliance. Backupify meets rigorous SOC 1/SSAE 16, SOC 2 Type II and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act standards, ensuring your data meets industry compliance requirements. Data security is further reinforced with AES-256 encryption both in transit and at rest, while ransomware protection and rollback capabilities allow you to restore data to its pre-attack state. Backupify's data storage is also immutable, stored in Datto's private cloud across multiple secure regions worldwide.
Protect your Google Workspace data with confidence. With Backupify, you can ensure resilient data security, instant recovery and continuous business continuity. Discover how Backupify can protect your data — get a demo today!
