Tag Archive for: Google Workspace

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Secure Gemini AI in Google Workspace

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Three Ways to Protect Company Files When Your Team Uses Gemini AI

Written by Allen Falcon, Co-Founder & CEO, Cumulus Global

Artificial intelligence offers incredible potential for productivity. AI also creates new security challenges.

Follow these three steps to protect and secure information when using Gemini AI in Google Workspace.

Key Takeaways

    • ✓Gemini AI sees what your Workspace settings allow
    • ✓Cleaning up shared files prevents sensitive data leaks
    • ✓Automated onboarding and offboarding keeps permissions accurate
    • ✓Decommissioning inactive accounts closes security gaps and cuts costs

Leaking sensitive, proprietary, or confidential data via AI is easy. An employee may put confidential financial data into a public AI tool, a private AI model, like Gemini AI, might read files that were overshared within your organization, or you may accidentally externally share sensitive information embedded in an internal model.

Gemini AI relies on your existing Google Workspace permissions. If a document is shared too broadly, the AI engine will make that information visible to unauthorized users.

Fortunately, you can secure your sensitive files and establish clear guardrails with a few strategic updates.

Step 1 of 3

Audit Your File Sharing Settings

Unintended file sharing happens quietly in nearly all organizations. Over time, link sharing and external permissions create hidden security risks.

Pay close attention to these common sharing pitfalls that can inadvertently surface confidential data to AI tools:

    • Exposure via Links: “Anyone with the link” settings can expose internal documents to external search engines and public AI crawlers.
    • Sharing to your Domain: Giving permission to your entire domain gives everybody, and every attached service, access to the information.
    • Lingering Access: External sharing permissions granted to contractors often remain active long after their work is complete.
    • Group Over-Sharing: Public Google Groups may inadvertently grant broad access to internal shared drives.

Use an automated tool to scan file, folder, and shared drive permissions against defined policies and compliance guidelines. Put systems in place to monitor and mitigate risks in real-time.

Step 2 of 3

Streamline User Onboarding and Offboarding

Manual IT administration is prone to human error and inefficiency. When employees join or leave, updating access controls requires careful detail.

Establishing automated lifecycle policies helps maintain strict access boundaries at every stage of employment.

    • Automate Onboarding: Add new hires to the correct Google Groups, shared folders, and chat spaces using policy-based automation.
    • Secure Transfers: Transfer file ownership directly to managers or secure shared drives as part of your offboarding workflow.
    • Cleanup Calendars: Remove former staff from internal meetings without disrupting active client appointments.
    • Manage Contacts: Ensure mobile address books remain accurate by clearing out former employees and transferring key business contacts.

Automate these steps to ensure your access controls are up-to-date and Gemini AI only displays sensitive files to authorized team members.

Step 3 of 3

Manage Inactive Accounts and Licenses

Inactive accounts waste budget and create unnecessary entry points for bad actors. Staff members who left months ago should not remain in your user directory.

Put automated management rules in place to ensure that former accounts are properly monitored and decommissioned:

    • Suspension Rules: Establish automated account suspension policies to keep your user directory secure and up-to-date.
    • Inactivity Alerts: Utilize alerts to track and address accounts with no login activity over a 30-day period.
    • License Management: Minimize software expenses and satisfy legal data retention requirements by transitioning offboarded employees to archive licenses.
    • Data Preservation: Safely eliminate paid licenses by transferring essential data into alternate cloud storage options.

Manage user lifecycles to reduce your monthly costs while protecting your company data.

Take the Next Step for Workspace Security

Securing your workspace does not require a complete operational overhaul. Targeted, automated changes create a foundation for strong data governance and reduce operational overhead and risks.

As demonstrated in our recent 3T@3 Series session, automated solutions like Patronum give you the capability to actively monitor and manage permissions and access, streamline your onboarding and offboarding processes, and secure your Google Workspace environment.

Contact us or schedule time to connect with a Cloud Advisor at Cumulus Global to arrange your workspace security review and to explore your options.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

Whether you’re beginning your cloud migration or looking to improve an existing environment, our Cloud Advisors can help.

Schedule a conversation

Allen Falcon

Co-Founder & CEO, Cumulus Global

Allen Falcon co-founded Cumulus Global in 2006 to help small businesses implement enterprise-grade cloud, security, and compliance solutions. Under his leadership, Cumulus Global has grown into a managed cloud services provider supporting more than 1,000 organizations throughout North America.

Countdown to The End of Chrome Apps

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Change is the only constant in the cloud world, and Google is entering the final stages of a major transition. Google will phase out Chrome Apps in favor of modern Web Apps.

If your organization does not use Chrome Apps in your environment, you can safely disregard this update. However, if you rely on them for kiosks, digital signage, or user sessions, it is time for you to review the discontinuation timelines.

Although Google first announced the end of support for Chrome Apps back in 2016, and later extended support for Enterprise and Education customers through January 2025, the final deadlines are now locked in.

This timeline applies to all Chrome Apps, including Legacy (v1) packaged apps, Hosted apps, and self-hosted Chrome Apps.Connect with a Cloud Advisor

The Final Discontinuation Timeline

With most developers and users already migrated away from Chrome Apps, the final schedule is rolling out across the following milestones:

  • July 2026 (Scheduled for ChromeOS M150):
    • This is the last ChromeOS release that supports Chrome Apps in Kiosk Mode.
    • Devices on the Long-Term Support (LTS) channel will receive support for Chrome Apps in Kiosk Mode until April 2027.
    • The Chrome Sign Builder app will no longer be supported at the end of the M150 LTS cycle in April 2027.
  • February 2027 (Scheduled for ChromeOS M160):
    • ChromeOS will disable admin-installed Chrome Apps in Managed Guest Sessions (MGS) and user sessions by default.
    • Admins will be required to manually set a policy to re-enable them.
  • February 2028 (Scheduled for ChromeOS M184):
    • This is the last ChromeOS release to support Chrome Apps, marking the official end of life for the platform.
    • Devices on the LTS channel can continue using them until October 2028. Google will grant no exceptions.

What You Need to Do: A 3-Step Action Plan

To ensure a smooth transition and avoid workflow disruptions, Google advises taking the following steps:

1. Audit Your Fleet

Identify exactly which apps are configured in your ecosystem:

  • Log into the Google Admin console
  • Navigate to Devices > Chrome > Apps & Extensions
  • Click + Search or add a filter, select Type, and choose Chrome

Note: This filtered list will display both Chrome Apps and Chrome extensions. Only Chrome Apps are being discontinued; your extensions will remain unaffected. Look for built-in warnings within the Admin console to help identify force-installed Chrome Apps that require immediate attention.

2. Engage with Developers

Contact your third-party app developers immediately to discuss their Chrome App migration options. Google has advised developers to communicate their transition plans directly to their customers.

3. Plan Your Migration

Begin transitioning any in-house or critical workflows away from Chrome Apps and toward alternative solutions, such as Progressive Web Apps (PWAs).

Help is Here

Transitioning legacy tools requires careful planning, but you do not have to manage it alone. Contact us or meet with a Cloud Advisor to ensure a seamless, compliant transition.

About the Author

Allen Falcon is the co-founder and CEO of Cumulus Global.  Allen co-founded Cumulus Global in 2006 to offer small businesses enterprise-grade email security and compliance using emerging cloud solutions. He has led the company’s growth into a managed cloud service provider with over 1,000 customers throughout North America.

7 Reasons to Upgrade Your Google Workspace Business Starter Plan

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Google Workspace Business Starter is a robust, affordable productivity suite that handles the essentials of secure email, calendar, and document sharing services. But as your business grows, those entry-level features can start to feel like a constraint.

If you are outgrowing the limits of Business Starter, here are seven reasons to consider upgrading to a Business Standard or Business Plus subscription.

1 Massive Storage Increases:

Business Starter caps you at 30GB per user. This fills up fast when you consider high-resolution images, video files, and years of email history. Upgrading to Business Standard or Plus bumps your capacity to 2TB or 5TB per user, respectively. Furthermore, this storage is pooled across your entire organization, which gives your heavy users the flexibility they need.

2 Shared Drives:

Shared drives provide a centralized way to manage your folders and permissions. Ownership resides with the system instead of individuals, so access remains consistent even as your team changes. You also benefit from more precise access controls and a streamlined process for sharing files externally.

3 Appointment Scheduling:

This feature allows you to eliminate the cost of third-party tools like Calendly. By upgrading, you can create professional booking pages directly within Google Calendar. Simply set your availability and share a link to let clients book time with you, which removes the friction of back and forth scheduling emails.

4 Professional Meeting Tools:

Don’t rely on third-party AI extensions to capture your meetings. With a Business Starter or Business Plus Subscription, you unlock the ability to record Google Meet sessions and use built-in AI note-taking. These features are secure and fully integrated, ensuring your team never misses a follow-up item or a key decision.

5 Gemini AI Assistance:

Gemini AI is now built directly into Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Chat, and Meet. Whether you need a first draft of a proposal, a summary of a long email thread, or a custom image for a slide deck, Gemini acts as a force multiplier for your daily tasks. It helps your team move from a blank page to a finished product faster.

6 The Gemini App and Custom Gems:

Beyond the side panel in your documents, an upgrade provides secure access to the full Gemini LLM at gemini.google.com. You can create Gems, which are custom AI personas tailored to your specific brand voice or workflows. They allow you to schedule automated actions to keep your business moving efficiently.

7 NotebookLM:

This tool is a significant advantage for data-driven teams. NotebookLM allows you to create private and secure learning models using only your specific data. It functions like a research assistant that has read your internal documents and can synthesize information or answer complex questions instantly.

Connect with a Cloud AdvisorWhat About the Cost?

While upgrading comes with marginal increases in your per user licensing fees, the vast majority of small and midsize organizations can offset the increase.

With the expanded capabilities of Google Workspace Business Standard and Business Plus subscriptions, you can eliminate fees for:

  • Calendaring and appointment scheduling tools
  • Online meeting services
  • Standalone Gen AI subscriptions
  • External AI note-taking services
  • Additional cloud storage providers

Help is Here

We are here to ensure you have the right tools for your specific goals. If you want to learn more, check out the blog posts and eBooks in our AI Landing Zone, send us a message, or book a meeting with our Cloud Advisors.

About the Author

Allen Falcon is the co-founder and CEO of Cumulus Global.  Allen co-founded Cumulus Global in 2006 to offer small businesses enterprise-grade email security and compliance using emerging cloud solutions. He has led the company’s growth into a managed cloud service provider with over 1,000 customers throughout North America.

Google Workspace vs. Microsoft 365: Which Productivity Suite Fits Your Future?

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Every few years, we see a shift in how businesses view their productivity suite. Small and midsize businesses that have been running on Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace for years take a pause and reconsider if it is still the right fit.

Many re-evaluate, some take action and switch, and a surprising number are caught somewhere in the middle.

Are businesses rethinking their Google and Microsoft services?

The short answer: Yes.

We surveyed prospective and existing clients, finding that nearly 40% of respondents are currently “double-dipping” and using services from both Google Workspace and Microsoft 365.

  • The Hybrid Habit: The most common mix is using MS Office desktop applications while relying on Google Workspace for email, calendaring, and file sharing. A limited number of respondents use MS Outlook for email while relying on Google Docs, Drive, and Shared Drive for documents and sharing.
  • The Shadow IT Risk: A significant number of users in Microsoft-centric environments still use personal Google accounts to create and share Docs, Slides, and Sheets, creating a massive security gap.

Given these patterns, business leaders understand that rethinking their Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 can unify their information, improve security, and lower costs.

Currently, nearly one-third of our cloud migrations are between these two platforms, with traffic flowing in both directions.

Why Are Businesses Rethinking their Productivity Suite?

Most organizations now have enough history with cloud services to identify the gaps in their current workflow. However, with the rapid integration of Artificial Intelligence, your platform choice has become a pivotal long-term investment. Assessing how Google Workspace or Microsoft 365 fits your future priorities is a necessary step in maintaining a competitive edge.

What are the major differences between Google Workspace and Microsoft 365?

Microsoft and Google bring different philosophies to their application suites. 

Should you choose Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, or a mix?

There is no one-size-fits-all answer. Choosing between a “cloud-first” or “hybrid-first” model is only the starting point. Other major factors, including technical integration and your plans for AI, will also come into play.

We will explore those critical topics in our upcoming posts. Stay tuned.Connect with a Cloud Advisor

Help is Here

Our Productivity Suite Assessment can help you understand which suite is best for your business and how to fully utilize its capabilities. Use code PST2604 before May 31, 2026, and we will waive the fee.

You can also reach out to our Cloud Advisors. Book a no-obligation intro call and to discuss your needs, priorities, strategy, and plans. Send us an email or book a brief introductory call. We are here to help.

About the Author

Bill Seybolt bio pictureBill is a Senior Cloud Advisor responsible for helping small and midsize organizations with productive, security, and secure managed cloud services. Bill works with executives, leaders, and team members to understand workflows, identify strategic goals and tactical requirements, and design solutions and implementation phases. Having helped hundreds of organizations successfully adopt cloud solutions, his expertise and working style ensure a comfortable experience and effective change management.

Cumulus Global Designated a Google Premier Partner

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Premier Partner status reflects the company’s excellence in providing Google Workspace services.

Westborough, MA, April 9, 2026 – Cumulus Global proudly announces that Google has designated the company as a 2026 Premier Partner for Google Workspace. Google’s Premier Partner Status recognizes Cumulus Global’s success delivering Google Workspace and Managed Cloud Services to small and midsize businesses, local and regional governments, and K-12 school systems across the country.

“It is an honor to receive this continued recognition from Google as a strategic partnership,” noted Cumulus Global CEO Allen Falcon. “We appreciate our clients and the trust they put in our team to deliver solutions and excellent services, from deployment and migration through adoption, integration, and on-going growth.”

Google Workspace is more than a powerful productivity suite. With proper administration, support, and services, Google Workspace provides foundational security and market-leading integrated AI services as an affordable solution for small and midsize organizations.

“We strive to ensure our clients’ information technologies and services are productive, secure, and affordable,” noted Falcon. “Google Workspace, with integrated AI and security, and our Managed Cloud Services, combine as a power solution for our clients.”

With the native integration of Gemini AI into Google Workspace, companies get more than in-app assistance with writing and editing. Organizations benefit from the power of the Gemini App with Fast chats, Deep Research, Nano Banana imaging, and Vids for creating short-form videos. Gems provide customer personas for prompted chats, and the ability to schedule actions introduces basic AI-powered automation. NotebookLM lets organizations create private, secure learning models.

About Cumulus Global

Nationally recognized as a leader in cloud services and solutions, Cumulus Global delivers productive, secure, and affordable managed cloud services to small and midsize businesses, governments, and K-12 schools. Translating business objectives into technology needs and priorities, we design, deploy, manage, and support services that help our clients thrive and grow.

Which Workspace Business Subscription is Right for You?

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Pick the right Google Workspace Business SubscriptionFor small businesses, generally those with fewer than 300 employees, Google offers three subscription options. The right choice for your business depends on your needs, priorities, and budget. While we offer a comprehensive feature comparison, the highlights below are designed to help guide your decision.

Business Starter

Cost: 
  • $7 / user / month with an Annual or Multi-Year Subscription
  • New subscription incentives: Available
  • Upgrade Incentives: N/A
Key Features:
  • Custom domain with 30 GB of storage for email and documents
  • Basic security controls
  • Email filtering, virus blocking, and phishing/malware protections
  • Groups for email lists, content sharing, calendar invites
  • Drive for Desktop
  • Shared Drive membership
  • Basic Chat and Meet features
  • Gemini AI for Gmail
Top Reasons SMBs Choose Starter:

Business Starter delivers a low-cost entry for small businesses looking for reliable email services with occasional needs for editing, document sharing, and other collaboration tools.

Business Standard

Cost: 
  • $14 / user / month with an Annual or Multi-Year Subscription
  • New subscription incentives: Available
  • Upgrade Incentives: Available
Key Features:
  • 2 TB storage per user, aggregated across subscription
  • Enhanced security controls
  • Attachment scanning / sandboxing
  • Document eSigning, approvals, custom templates
  • Advanced Shared Drive sharing and storage
  • Meet Features: Noise cancellation, breakout rooms, recording, polls, Q&A, and more
  • Gemini AI for Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Chat, and Meet
  • Full NotebookLM Access
  • Secure Data Regions
Top Reasons SMBs Choose Standard:

Business Standard is an affordable, secure platform for business productivity that is the best entry point for most small businesses. Businesses love the useful, integrated AI features and capabilities, as well as the admin-managed storage (shared drive) with secure external sharing.

Business Plus

Cost: 
  • $22 / user / month with an Annual or Multi-Year Subscription
  • New subscription incentives: Available
  • Upgrade Incentives: Available
Key Features:
  • 5 TB storage per user, aggregated across subscription
  • Advanced security controls
  • Archive / eDiscovery Services for Gmail, Drive, Shared Drives, and Chat
  • Organizational branding, including default templates and themes
  • Chat file sharing management and document controls
  • Meet recording, transcripts, and notes
  • Security advisor data protection
  • Advanced endpoint and device management and controls
Top Reasons SMBs Choose Plus:

Business Plus is a secure, affordable, productive platform with features that help meet regulatory and industry compliance requirements. Businesses that chose this subscription need or want the advanced security with compliant archiving and e-discovery, expanded storage capacity, and advanced controls for Chat, Meet, and Devices.

How We Help

Our Cloud Advisors are here to help you plan, execute, and succeed. We can help you evaluate and select the right Google Workspace Business (or Enterprise) subscription for your business. Book some time and start your journey.

About the Author

Allen Falcon is the co-founder and CEO of Cumulus Global.  Allen co-founded Cumulus Global in 2006 to offer small businesses enterprise-grade email security and compliance using emerging cloud solutions. He has led the company’s growth into a managed cloud service provider with over 1,000 customers throughout North America.

AI in Google Workspace – AI Ultra for Business

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Google AI Ultra for BusinessGoogle Workspace is a comprehensive and secure platform that empowers organizations to be more productive, collaborative, and creative. This series explores the power of AI built within Google Workspace across each of the workspace apps. In this post, we cover the Google AI Ultra add-on for Google Workspace.

Google AI Ultra for Business

Google AI Ultra for Business is an add-on for existing Google Workspace Business and Enterprise subscribers, offering enhanced capabilities.  Beyond the highest access to the Gemini app, Google AI Ultra for Business delivers advanced tools for deep reasoning, images, and videos.

Here are 4 reasons to consider Google Ultra for Business:

1 Gemini App
  • Dive deep with the most capable models, including Gemini 2.5 Pro and Deep Research.
  • Deep Think, with the ability to explore multiple scenarios and answers before responding, is coming soon.
2 Video Generation
  • AI Ultra for Business includes advanced filmmaking tools:
    • Veo 3 — Professional video production tool
    • Flow — Create cinematic scenes using Veo 3
    • Whisk — Image and text to 8-second videos, using Veo 2

3 Project Mariner

  • Research prototype for streamlined human-agent interaction
  • Allows AI agents to handle multiple tasks concurrently
  • Coming soon, initially to the US only

4 Individual YouTube Premium

  • Upgrade your video game with an individual YouTube Premium plan.

And More …

Google AI Ultra for Business also includes higher access and usage limits for:

  • Gemini App
  • Image Generation
  • NotebookLM
  • AI Credits (12,500 credits per month)
  • Storage (30 TB across Photos, Drive, and Gmail

We Will Help

At Cumulus Global, our priority is ensuring that you have productive, secure, and affordable managed cloud services. We work to ensure that you get the most value from the IT and cloud services you need and want, without overspending, to best support your business objectives.

Unsure of where to start? Check out our IT Assessment or schedule a meeting with a Cloud Advisor. We will help you adapt while keeping your IT services secure and cost-effective.

About the Author

Allen Falcon is the co-founder and CEO of Cumulus Global.  Allen co-founded Cumulus Global in 2006 to offer small businesses enterprise-grade email security and compliance using emerging cloud solutions. He has led the company’s growth into a managed cloud service provider with over 1,000 customers throughout North America.

AI in Google Workspace – AppSheet

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Gemini AI in AppSheetGoogle Workspace is a comprehensive and secure platform that empowers organizations to be more productive, collaborative, and creative. This series explores the power of AI built within Google Workspace across each of the workspace apps. In this post, we cover AI in AppSheet.

AI in AppSheet

AppSheet is an add-on for Google Workspace and a Google Cloud service that empowers Google Workspace users to create custom apps and automations without writing code.

In addition to simplifying workflow creation and connecting your business data, AppSheet provides controls needed to remain secure and compliant.

Gemini AI in AppSheet helps you create and refine apps and better access and refine your data and information.

Here are 3 Gemini features in AppSheet you should know.

1 Create an App
  • Bring app ideas to life by simply describing them. Gemini AI in AppSheet can transform those concepts
    into a fully functional app for you to edit or publish.
2 Extract Information
  • Currently in preview, Gemini AI in AppSheet lets you populate forms and reports directly from images. Snap a photo of a receipt, invoice or document to capture data and match it to the right fields.
3 Connect External Services
  • Also in preview, AppSheet apps can connect to hundreds of Google Cloud and third-party services without custom code.

And More …

You can also:

  • Embed Gemini-powered AI tasks directly within your AppSheet automations.
  • Extract information from PDF files.
  • Automatically categorize information as it is input.
  • Route and prioritize items based on categorized content to streamline workflows.

We Will Help

At Cumulus Global, our priority is ensuring that you have productive, secure, and affordable managed cloud services. We work to ensure that you get the most value from the IT and cloud services you need and want, without overspending, to best support your business objectives.

Unsure of where to start? Check out our IT Assessment or schedule a meeting with a Cloud Advisor. We will help you adapt while keeping your IT services secure and cost-effective.

About the Author

Allen Falcon is the co-founder and CEO of Cumulus Global.  Allen co-founded Cumulus Global in 2006 to offer small businesses enterprise-grade email security and compliance using emerging cloud solutions. He has led the company’s growth into a managed cloud service provider with over 1,000 customers throughout North America.

AI in Google Workspace – Vids

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Gemini AI in VidsGoogle Workspace is a comprehensive and secure platform that empowers organizations to be more productive, collaborative, and creative. This series explores the power of AI built within Google Workspace across each of the workspace apps. In this post, we cover AI in Vids.

AI in Vids

Vids is a relatively new addition to the Google Workspace family of apps. Google Vids is a cutting-edge video creation platform, powered by AI.

Gemini AI in Vids helps you generate your first draft and land your message with AI voiceovers. You are empowered to create polished videos in less time so you can tell more engaging stories.

Here are 3 Gemini features in Vids you should know.

1 Create Your Story
  • Create your video storyboard with suggested scenes, scripts, stock media, music, and more to jumpstart video storytelling. Start with only a prompt and a file from your Google Drive.
2 AI Voiceovers
  • Use Gemini in Vids to give your videos a fresh voice by choosing from a variety of preset, professional- sounding voiceovers.
3 Read-Along Teleprompter
  • Record your talk track with confidence using the teleprompter embedded directly in Vids’ recording studio, so you can stay on message.

And More …

You can also

Create Clips from Prompts
  • Turn ideas into video clips by providing a descriptive prompt.

We Will Help

At Cumulus Global, our priority is ensuring that you have productive, secure, and affordable managed cloud services. We work to ensure that you get the most value from the IT and cloud services you need and want, without overspending, to best support your business objectives.

Unsure of where to start? Check out our IT Assessment or schedule a meeting with a Cloud Advisor. We will help you adapt while keeping your IT services secure and cost-effective.

About the Author

Allen Falcon is the co-founder and CEO of Cumulus Global.  Allen co-founded Cumulus Global in 2006 to offer small businesses enterprise-grade email security and compliance using emerging cloud solutions. He has led the company’s growth into a managed cloud service provider with over 1,000 customers throughout North America.

AI in Google Workspace – Chat

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Gemini AI in ChatGoogle Workspace is a comprehensive and secure platform that empowers organizations to be more productive, collaborative, and creative. This series explores the power of AI built within Google Workspace across each of the workspace apps. In this post, we cover AI in Chat.

AI in Chat

Chat in Google Workspace provides direct messages, group chats, and spaces. Chat makes work collaboration and project management easier.

Gemini AI in Chat is your real-time assistant and partner for team collaboration. Use it to stay on top of active conversations by summarizing recent messages, finding specific details, and capturing action items. With on-demand summaries in the Chat home view, AI in Chat gives you a single place to catch up on every conversation.

Here are 4 Gemini features in Chat you should know.

Chat Summaries
  • Located in the home view for Chat, Gemini AI in Chat provides you on-demand summaries of each active conversation. 
  • You can catch up quickly in one place and focus your attention where it’s needed most.
Action Items
  • Gemini AI in Chat can analyze conversations and automatically identify and list action items. Stay organized and ensure that decisions and tasks are clearly understood and assigned. 
  • You can ask for a general list of action items or ask to see action items specifically for a particular person.
Contextual Question Answering
  • You can ask Gemini AI specific questions about a conversation or a shared file directly within Chat. This gives you quick retrieval of information without manually scrolling back through messages.
  • For example, if someone mentioned a timeline extension or a project decision, you can ask Gemini, “What did [person] say about the timeline extension?” or “What’s the decision on the project discussed?” 
Automatic Language Translation
  • Google Chat, using Gemini, will automatically detect and translate messages in over 120 languages to your preferred language and keep the original message for review. 

And More …

From the side panel, Gemini AI in Chat functions as an AI assistant and content generator. You can use AI in Chat to:

Draft Messages
  • Get AI assistance to compose messages, replies, or even brainstorm ideas directly within the chat interface.
Reference Shared Files
  • Gemini AI in Chat can analyze shared Google Workspace files (like Docs or Slides) linked in a chat and provide summaries or answer questions about their content.
  • You get immediate context about shared documents without needing to open each file separately.

We Will Help

At Cumulus Global, our priority is ensuring that you have productive, secure, and affordable managed cloud services. We work to ensure that you get the most value from the IT and cloud services you need and want, without overspending, to best support your business objectives.

Unsure of where to start? Check out our IT Assessment or schedule a meeting with a Cloud Advisor. We will help you adapt while keeping your IT services secure and cost-effective.

About the Author

Allen Falcon is the co-founder and CEO of Cumulus Global.  Allen co-founded Cumulus Global in 2006 to offer small businesses enterprise-grade email security and compliance using emerging cloud solutions. He has led the company’s growth into a managed cloud service provider with over 1,000 customers throughout North America.

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Workspace Migration Eliminates Info Silos

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The Client

An executive search firm specializing for more than 25 years in filling executive and senior legal positions within businesses and law firms.

Business objectives include:

  • Foster long-term relationships with client firms and candidates
  • Maintain deep information sets covering client businesses, legal firms, candidates, positions, and past placements
  • Enable secure information sharing across the company
  • Foster team collaboration

The Challenge

Over the years, individual team members have built extensive data sets covering their own client businesses, legal firms, and candidates. To foster collaboration and growth, the silos needed to come down without risking the integrity of the carefully curated information.

The Solution

Design and implement a five step approach including:

  • Deploy Google Workspace Business Standard for access to Shared Drives and increased pool storage.
  • Create an access and permissions architecture to define Share management and membership.
  • For each share, defined access roles and assign creator, editor, contributor, and view-only permissions.
  • Manage a migration from personal Google Drives storage, local file servers, other cloud services, and local devices
  • Provide on-ongoing guidance and support to maintain the information store

The Results

A successful migration to Google Workspace Standard, including:

  • Shared Drives configured with well-defined managers, contributors, and viewers creates an organized system of managing, maintaining, and sharing information across the organization.
  • Simple policies to guide naming conventions and file/folder hierarchies encourage consistency and enhance searchability of the information
  • Advanced mapping ensured an organized and clear placement of files and correct permission settings.
  • Migration support included planning and reviews with each individual, ensuring no data loss and minimal operational inconvenience during the migration period.
  • On-going guidance and support reinforces norms and helps users take advantage of Google Workspace capabilities across all of the included apps.

Cyber Security Requirements for Cyber Insurance

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eBook | Source: Cumulus Global — This eBook presents the minimally required, recommended, and best practice cyber security components for small and midsize businesses seeking appropriate and affordable cyber insurance.

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Building a Foundation for AI Success: A Leader’s Guide

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eBook | Source: Microsoft — This Whitepaper shares insights from AI leaders about the five categories that, collectively, form a foundation for AI success and for building sustainable value with AI.

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Gemini for Google Workspace: Prompting Guide 101

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eBook | Source: Google — This eBook provides you with the foundational skills to write effective, instructional prompts when using Gemini for Google Workspace so that you can be more productive and efficient in your day-to-day tasks.

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Resilient and Responsive Government (Gov Tech)

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Whitepaper | Source: Government Technology — A case study of how Maryland and Wyoming used Google Workspace in response to pandemic-driven demand for more resilient and responsive government services.

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The Total Economic Impact of Google Workspace (Forrester)

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Whitepaper | Source: Forrester Consulting — A Forrester Total Economic Impact™ study, commissioned by Google, estimates that Google Workspace’s secure and collaborative environment can result in a 336% return on investment over three years.

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Email Security: Good, Better, Best

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eBook | Source: Cumulus Global —
Cyber attacks by email have skyrocketed over the last decade. Email and domain impersonation attacks, fueled by successful phishing attacks, bypass account-centric security. This eBook discusses how to protect your business and domain from Business Email Compromises and impersonation attacks.

Read more

IT Services for Solopreneurs and VSBs

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eBook | Source: Cumulus Global —
IT Services pose unique challenges for Solo entrepreneurs, aka “solopreneurs”, and very small businesses (VSBs). More than having IT services that are “good enough”, solopreneurs and VSBs need technology to save them time, effort, and money.

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The Transition to Google Workspace

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Slide Deck | Source: Cumulus Global —
For many businesses, the transition comes with a significant increase in subscription fees. This deck, with notes, from our Coffee & Clouds Series webcast covers …

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Google Workspace Security

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eBook | Source: Google —
Google started in the cloud and runs on the cloud, so it’s no surprise that we fully understand the security implications of powering your business in the cloud.

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Webcasts

Pick, Mix, or Match: Google Workspace and Microsoft 365

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(04/12/26) – Your needs, and how your business runs, changes over time. Your Productivity Suite should meet your needs and priorities for productivity, security, and affordability. Now may be the time to assess whether to use Microsoft 365, Google Workspace, or a mix of both.

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Secure Your Data for Gemini AI

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(05/20/25) – Take steps to ensure that Gemini and other AI tools will not expose sensitive information internally or externally. In this 3T@3 Series online event, Cumulus Global CEO Allen Falcon is joined by Paul Lees, CEO of Bespin labs to discuss the importance of data governance and security with gen AI in Google Workspace.

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Small Business Compliance Primer

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(6/18/24) – For many of us, ensuring we have the right security and compliance program in place remains a challenge. A basic understanding of security and compliance will inform and guide your security priorities, plans, investment, and results.

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Gen AI Prompts and Privacy

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(05/21/24) – Gen AI tools can boost your productivity or waste your time. The better your Gen AI prompts, the more effective and efficient Gen AI will be for you. The session provides and demonstrates a model for effective prompt-building.

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Rethinking Google and Microsoft

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(04/30/24) – As both suites evolve, and your business changes, is your choice still the best match for your business? Assessing whether Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace is the best fit for your business needs should either trigger a change or improve how you use your current services.

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Choose the Right Managed Cloud Services

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(10/17/2023) – Business leaders like you understand the need for effective, secure, and affordable IT services. Hiring or contracting for services has likely been unaffordable. Managed Cloud Services, when properly matched to your business, provide the capabilities, security, and services you need at affordable rates. Hear from experts about defining needs and selecting the right services, technologies, and partners.

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Deep Dive: Lift-and-Shift and DaaS

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(07/18/2023) – As SMBs, we still have on-premise file and application servers that require upgrades, security, backup, monitoring, management, and support. Evaluating your on-premise IT, and moving what you can to the cloud, increases the business value of your IT spending and investments.

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Five Things Your IT Provider Should be Telling You

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(06/20/2023) – We tend to wait for our IT service providers to raise warning flags, and the periodic review with our IT provider can feel like a subtle sales call. Reacting to IT problems is not enough, and adding more IT services may not be the answer.

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The High Cost of Low Adoption

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(05/23/2023) – Beyond core features in Google Workspace and Microsoft 365, cloud adoption tends to be fairly low. Better cloud adoption improves productivity, communication, and security. And, it can save you money.

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Your Transition to Google Workspace

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Map your transition to Google Workspace: Understand the changes in features/functions and the cost impact for your business.

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