Gmail confidential mode available in beta

Google introduced a beta program for Gmail confidential mode. It’s a new feature that protects sensitive content in your emails by creating expiration dates or revoking previously sent messages and removing options for recipients to forward, copy, print, and download.

It uses Built-in Information Rights Management (IRM) that removes the option to forward, copy, download or print messages. This helps reduce the risk of confidential information being accidentally shared with the wrong people.

In addition to protecting sensitive content in your emails by creating expiration dates, you can also require additional authentication via text message to view an email. This makes it possible to protect data even if a recipient’s email account has been hijacked while the message is active.

Although confidential mode helps prevent the recipients from accidentally sharing your email, it doesn’t prevent recipients from taking screenshots or photos of your messages or attachments. Recipients who have malicious programs on their computer may still be able to copy or download your messages or attachments.

Additionally, 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.

Gmail confidential mode Beta is available as an opt-in to all G Suite customers.