Google Workspace Mobile Device Management Guide

With remote and hybrid work becoming the norm, managing the devices that access your organization's data is more critical than ever. Google Workspace provides built-in mobile device management (MDM) capabilities that allow administrators to enforce security policies, track devices, and protect organizational data on employee devices.

Basic vs Advanced Management

Google Workspace offers two levels of device management:

• Basic management — requires screen lock, can wipe corporate data (not personal data), provides device inventory. Available on all Workspace plans.
• Advanced management — adds password strength requirements, app management, device encryption enforcement, camera restrictions, and full device wipe. Available on Business Plus and Enterprise plans.

BYOD Policies

Bring Your Own Device policies must balance employee convenience with organizational security. Key considerations:

• Require device enrollment before accessing corporate data
• Enforce screen lock with minimum PIN length or biometric authentication
• Enable remote wipe of corporate data (not personal data) for lost or stolen devices
• Block rooted/jailbroken devices which bypass security controls
• Require device encryption to protect data at rest

Chromebook Management

For organizations using Chrome devices, Google Workspace provides additional management capabilities:

• Automatic enrollment and provisioning for new devices
• App and extension management (whitelist/blacklist)
• Network configuration (Wi-Fi, VPN, proxy settings)
• Kiosk mode for single-purpose devices
• Guest mode restrictions and ephemeral sessions

Remote Wipe and Lock

When a device is lost or stolen, speed matters. WorkspaceForge provides one-click remote wipe and lock directly from the device management dashboard. You can choose between:

• Account wipe — removes only corporate data and accounts, preserving personal data
• Full device wipe — factory resets the entire device (advanced management required)
• Remote lock — immediately locks the device with a custom message

All device management actions are logged in the audit trail for compliance documentation.

Device Compliance Monitoring

Beyond individual device actions, maintaining a healthy device fleet requires ongoing monitoring. Track metrics like:

• Percentage of devices with screen locks enabled
• Devices running outdated operating systems
• Unencrypted devices accessing corporate data
• Devices not synced in 30+ days (potential ghost devices)

Frequently Asked Questions