Google recently announced end-to-end encryption for the web version of Gmail. The feature allows users to send and receive encrypted emails inside and outside their domains. Google already offered end-to-end encryption for Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Meet, and Calendar. However, it was not available for Gmail. According to the company, end-to-end encryption ensures that sensitive data in the email body and attachments are impenetrable to Google servers. Customers retain control over encryption keys and the identity service to access those keys.

End-to-end encryption is available to users of Google Workspace Enterprise Plus, Education Plus and Education Standard. Applicable users can request a beta version until January 20, 2023. Applicants have to pass a Gmail CSE Beta Test to get access. To turn on end-to-end encryption, beta users can go to Security > Client-side encryption, then click Gmail and select the group submitted in their Gmail CSE enrollment form.

End-to-end encryption is not yet available for personal Google accounts or users of Google Workspace Essentials, Education Fundamentals, Frontline and Nonprofit. The same goes for legacy G Suite Basic and Business customers, Google said.