What’s APPening with Google Docs

Gartner’s recent forecast analysis for Software-as-a-Service observes that Web-based office suites such as Google Apps (including Google Docs) will coexist with traditional office suites as business users will find them appropriate for real-time collaboration or as secondary online tools for taking notes. Google claims that over 3000 businesses sign-up for its Google Apps daily. Moreover, Google Docs is also very popular among employees for personal use. Nevertheless, users have discovered security issues with it, and many businesses have concerns related to data leak prevention and storing data in the cloud.
By using firewall policies that are based on the App-IDs for Google Docs, Google Docs Enterprise, and its functions for Editing and Uploading, businesses can securely enable access to specific features of the service. The Google Docs App-ID can be used to block/allow the entire service, while the more specific App-IDs can be used to control individual functions of the service.  With the App-ID for Editing, online editing of documents, presentations, and spreadsheets (that are converted to Google Docs format) can either be blocked completely or be subject to data filtering profiles. While Postini (in Google Apps) provides DLP functionality for Email, Google Docs does not have such a feature. Using data filtering profiles in the firewall security policies allow for pattern searches for SSNs, Credit card numbers, or other confidential (continue reading...)