Chromebook Management Best Practices & Set Up for Google Workspace

Are you looking for a way to effectively manage the Chromebook devices in your organization? Follow this guide to learn the fundamentals of managing Chromebooks with Google Workspace.

Steps to Effectively Set up Google Workspace Chromebook Management

Google Admin console is a powerful tool that can be used to govern all the Chromebooks in your network and their users as well as Google Workspace applications, user access, and security settings for your network's Chromebooks.

By following these steps, you can set up Chromebook management in Google Workspace and effectively manage your Chromebook fleet:

1. Configure and enroll devices: The first step is to configure and enroll your Chromebook or ChromeOS devices. This can be done by following the instructions in Google's Chromebook Management documentation.
2. Create user groups and policies: Once your devices are enrolled, you can create user groups and policies. User groups can be used to assign users to specific policies, such as policies that control what apps users can install or what websites they can visit. Policies can be used to control a variety of Chromebook functions, such as the operating system, apps, and settings.
3. Customize app deployments: You can also customize app deployments by creating app bundles, which are groups of apps that can be deployed to users or devices. App bundles can be used to deploy apps to users or devices in a consistent and efficient manner.
4. Monitor and troubleshoot device usage: Finally, you can monitor and troubleshoot device usage by using Google Workspace's Chromebook management reporting tools. Reporting tools can be used to track device usage, identify potential issues, and troubleshoot problems.

Best Practices for Google Workspace Chromebook Management

To ensure that your Chromebook fleet is secure and that your users are productive, be sure to follow these best practices for Chromebook management.

Creating Effective Security Policies

The first step in effectively managing Chromebooks is to create effective security policies. These policies should define the acceptable use of Chromebooks, Chrome features, and the security measures that users must follow.

Some important security policies to consider include:

• Password policies: Password policies should require users to create strong passwords and to change their passwords regularly.
• Device encryption: All Chromebooks and ChromeOS devices should be encrypted to protect data in the event of device loss or theft.
• App restrictions: Users should only be able to install and use apps approved by the administrator.
• Web filtering: Users should only be able to visit websites approved by the administrator.

Implementing Ongoing Training

Be sure to implement ongoing training in your organization to help users operate their Chromebooks securely. This training should cover topics such as password security, password management, device encryption, app restrictions, and web filtering.

Regularly Reviewing User & Device Analytics

It's also important to regularly review user and device analytics. This will help you to enforce policies, identify potential security risks, and to take steps to mitigate those risks.

Some important analytics to review include:

• Login attempts: Review login attempts to identify suspicious activity, such as multiple failed login attempts from a single device.
• App usage: Examine recent app usage to identify apps that are being used for unauthorized purposes.
• Website visits: Review website visits to identify any sites that pose security risks or unauthorized activity.

FAQs: Google Workspace Chromebook Management

What is Chromebook Management?

Chromebook management refers to the process of managing, controlling, and monitoring Chromebook devices within an organization.

With Google Workspace, IT administrators can manage standalone ChromeOS devices, users, policies, and settings from a centralized Admin console.

How do you set up Chromebook Management in Google Workspace?

To set up Chromebook Management in Google Workspace, you must first sign in to the Google Admin console using your administrator account.

In the console, navigate to "Devices" and then "Chrome management." From there, users can set up various policies and settings for their Chromebooks, such as user settings, device settings, app management, and network settings.

Does Google Workspace work on Chromebook?

Yes, Google Workspace works on Chromebook. You can access all of your Google Workspace apps and services on Chromebook, including Gmail, Drive, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and more. You can also use Chromebook to access other web-based apps and services.

How do I get to Device Management on Chromebook?

Here are the steps to access the Device Management page on a Chromebook:

• Click on the time in the bottom right corner of the screen.
• In the menu that pops up, click on the gear icon to open the Settings page.
• On the left side of the Settings page, click on "Device".
• In the Device section, click on "Device management".
• This will open the Device Management page where you can see device information, check for updates, turn off auto-updates, view battery/storage stats, and more.

Alternatively, you can also follow these steps:

• Open the Chrome browser.
• In the address bar, type in "chrome://management" and hit enter.
• This will directly open the Device Management page with all the available options.

So in summary, the Device Management page can be accessed either through the Settings menu or by entering chrome://management in the browser address bar on a Chromebook. This page allows you to manage various device-level settings and functions.

How are Chromebooks managed?

Here are some of the main ways Chromebooks can be managed:

• Chrome Enterprise: Chromebooks can be centrally managed by admins using the Chrome Enterprise suite of tools. This allows controls over devices, apps, policies, reporting and more.
• Chrome Education License: Schools can manage Chromebooks and users through the Chrome Education license, which enables admin consoles, domain wide controls, and integration with school systems.
• Google Admin Console: Business and enterprise Chromebook fleets can be managed through the Google Admin Console for basic device settings and user permissions.
• Policy Management: Chromebooks allow granular policy settings to be applied to configure and restrict device behavior through the Google Admin console or Chrome Enterprise.
• Enrollment: To apply management controls, Chromebooks must be enrolled in either a Google domain, Chrome Enterprise, or the Chrome Education license using a registration code.
• Remote Management: Admins can remotely monitor, configure, troubleshoot and control managed Chromebooks from a central console.
• Kiosk Mode: Chromebooks can be locked into kiosk mode for public computing stations by admins.
• Powerwash: Chromebooks can be remotely wiped by admins to erase user data and reset to factory settings.

In summary, Chromebook management utilizes enterprise management consoles, policy settings, enrollment, and remote controls to configure, restrict, monitor and secure Chrome OS devices centrally.

How do I change the management on my Chromebook?

Here are the steps to change the management on your Chromebook:

• Click on the time in the bottom right corner of the screen and click on the gear icon to open Settings.
• In Settings, click on "Advanced" in the left menu.
• Under "Sign in and security", click on "Manage other people".
• This will show you the currently logged in users and device management enrollment.
• To change enrollment, click on "More settings" under the management status.
• In the menu that pops up, click on "Unenroll".
• In the confirmation dialog, click "Unenroll" again to remove the device from management.
• Once unenrolled, you can enroll the Chromebook into a different domain or management console.
• To enroll, click on "Enroll" in the previous menu and follow the on-screen instructions to setup enrollment.

You may need to powerwash your Chromebook before enrolling in new management. in summary, go to Advanced Settings > Manage Other People, unenroll the device if currently managed, then enroll in new management as needed. A powerwash first may be required. This will change the management and admin controls on your Chromebook.

How do I open Chrome management?

Here are a few ways to open the Chrome management page on a Chromebook:

• In the Chrome browser, type chrome://management in the address bar and press enter. This will directly open the management page.
• Open the Chrome browser and in the address bar, type chrome://policy and press enter. On the policy page, click on "User and Device Management" in the left menu.
• Click on the time icon in the bottom right corner of the screen, click the gear icon to open Settings, go to Advanced, then click "User and Device Management".
• Use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + Shift + M. This will launch the management page.
• If your Chromebook is managed, you can click on the "Managed by" text under your profile icon in the shelf at the bottom to open the management page.
• If you have the Chrome Enterprise policy engine installed, go to chrome://policy and click "Device Management".
• Open the Chrome menu > Help > Device Management.