Gmail confidential mode launching on by default on June 25, 2019

What’s changing

Earlier this year, we announced the launch of Gmail confidential mode for G Suite in beta. On June 25, 2019, this feature will become generally available and your users will have the option to send emails with confidential mode.

At launch, confidential mode will be set to default ON for all domains with Gmail enabled, unless you choose to disable this feature (see instructions below).

Who’s impacted

Admins and end users

Why you’d use it

Confidential mode provides built-in information rights management controls in your emails by allowing senders to create expiration dates and revoke previously sent messages. Because a sender can require additional authentication via text message to view an email, it’s also possible to protect data even if a recipient’s email account has been hijacked while the message is active. Additionally, with confidential mode, recipients don’t have the option to forward, copy, print, or download their content or attachments.

How to get started

• Admins: As an administrator, you can determine whether your users can use confidential mode by navigating to Apps > G Suite > Settings for Gmail > User settings and selecting from the following options:
  • Disable: This option will prevent users in your domain from sending emails with confidential mode.
  • Enable now (beta): This option will enable confidential mode, which is currently in beta. The feature will remain enabled when it enters into general availability on June 25, 2019.
  • Enable when the feature is in general availability: This is the default option and will enable confidential mode when this feature becomes generally available on June 25, 2019.

• End users: Once Gmail confidential mode launches, you can follow the steps in this Help Center article to send & open confidential emails.

Additional details

How Gmail confidential mode works with Vault and eDiscovery
When a user sends a confidential message, Gmail replaces the message body and attachments with a link. Only the subject and body containing the link are sent via SMTP. This means that if your users send or receive messages in Gmail confidential mode, Vault will retain, preserve, search and export confidential mode messages. The message body of received messages will be accessible in Vault only if the sender of the message is from within your organization.

Helpful links

• Help Center: Protect Gmail messages with confidential mode
• Help Center: Send & open confidential emails
• Help Center: Vault and Gmail confidential mode

Availability

Rollout details

• Rapid Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on June 25, 2019
• Scheduled Release domains: Full rollout (1–3 days for feature visibility) starting on June 25, 2019

G Suite editions

• Available to all G Suite editions

On/off by default?

• This feature will be ON by default beginning on June 25, 2019.