Enterprise Solutions [Go to GAT Labs for Education solutions here]

Detailed Market Comparison

The Best Google Workspace
Management Tools

Unlock the full potential of your Google Workspace with the best management tools. Ideal for any business size, these tools streamline your digital operations and safeguard your data, ensuring a seamless and secure Google Workspace experience
Google Workspace Management

The Best Google Workspace Management Tools

Unlock the full potential of your Google Workspace with the best management tools. Ideal for any business size, these tools streamline your digital operations and safeguard your data, ensuring a seamless and secure Google Workspace experience.

Google Workspace Management

A complete guide to the best Google Workspace Management Tools

In today’s fast-paced business environment, managing a Google Workspace efficiently is crucial for any organization. A Google Workspace Management Tool is not just a convenience; it’s a necessity. These tools provide indispensable assistance in handling vast amounts of data, ensuring security compliance, and optimizing productivity across your organization. 

 They enable you to streamline administrative tasks, enforce data protection policies, and gain valuable insights through advanced analytics. As your business grows, these tools scale with you, adapting to new challenges and requirements in your Google Workspace ecosystem.

Our guide can help you compare the most comprehensive Google Workspace management tools out there.

Table of Contents

Learning the Basics: Understanding the Google Admin Console

The Google Admin Console is a fundamental tool for managing Google Workspace, providing an essential platform for basic administrative tasks. It’s designed to simplify the management of users, groups, and basic security settings through a user-friendly interface. This console is vital for everyday operations, offering an intuitive design for quick and efficient management adjustments. 

While it’s a key tool for basic Google Workspace administration, exploring additional Admin Management Software can further enhance your workspace’s functionality and security, addressing more complex needs beyond the basics.

What is a Google Workspace Management Tool?

A Google Workspace Management Tool is a comprehensive platform designed to optimize, manage, and secure an organization’s Google Workspace environment.

With the right Google Workspace Management Tool, organizations can:

✔️ Centralise Google Workspace Management: Offers a unified dashboard for managing all Workspace applications.

✔️ Customize User and Admin Settings: Tailors Workspace to meet specific organizational needs.

✔️ Integrate with Business Tools: Enhances efficiency through seamless system integration.

✔️ Streamline Administrative Workflows: Simplifies management of accounts, permissions, and security.

✔️Automate Routine Tasks: Frees up time by automating user provisioning and data backups.

✔️ Provide Analytics and Reporting: Delivers insights into usage trends and security.

✔️ Facilitate Team Collaboration: Improves communication and coordination among team members.

✔️ Gather User Feedback: Enables continuous improvement of the Workspace environment.

Why Does Your Business Need a Google Workspace Management Tool?

Your business requires robust Admin Management Software to efficiently organize and manage your Google Workspace. By centralizing control, this tool not only ensures smooth operation but also significantly enhances data security and provides insightful analytics for decision-making.

The result is a more coordinated, secure, and productive Google Workspace environment, essential for modern digital workspace management.

How does a Google Workspace Management Tool Work?

A Google Workspace Management Tool efficiently organizes and oversees all aspects of your Google Workspace. It centralizes tasks like user account management, security settings, and data usage audits into one platform. Similar to a ticketing system, it categorizes and resolves administrative issues, ensuring smooth operation.

Additionally, it gathers data for insights into user behavior and system security, aiding in informed decision-making and optimizing Workspace performance. This tool is essential for secure management of your Google Workspace environment.

Comparison Table of the Best Google Workspace Management Tools
Type
Feature
Description
GAT Labs
BetterCloud
NetSkope
Patronum
CloudM
gPanel by Promevo
Audit & Reporting
Google Drive: Global Search
Search Google Drive globally for all users using Drive Search operators.
Google Drive: Externally Owned
Report on externally owned files
Gmail: Global Search
Search Gmail globally for all users using Gmail search operators
Gmail: Activity
Report on user activity, such as no. emails sent/received
Groups: Activity
Report on Group activity, such as no. email sent/received and last used
Browsing history
View user browser history
User Activity
Monitor and report on user activity, length of time spent on sites, behaviour flow etc.
Scheduled Reports
Create custom reports and have them delivered on a recurring basis
One-Click Reports
The ability to report on Workspace activity with one-click
Administration
Delete phishing emails
Search, and delete emails from users inbox
Email Delegation
Silently delegate access to another users mailbox
User, Group, OU management
Ability to create, view, update, move etc.
Calendar Management
Manage users calendars, including ACL's, removing attendees, deleting events, and managing meeting room resources
Contact Management
Create, update, delete users personal contact lists as well as global address list shared contacts
Drive Management
Modify Drive sharing permissions, copy files, change owner
Cannot create copies
Automation
Fully composable workflows
"If this, then that" type of workflows. Fully composable functions, not pre-defined.
Onboarding
New user automation
Offboarding
Leaver automation
Event Driven Workflows
Triggered by event
Offboarding Only
Scheduled Workflows
Triggered by time
Offboarding Only
Automatically Unshare Drive files in bulk
Remove all sharing permissions from shared files in an automated manner
Ad-hoc Workflows
Manually triggered
Offboarding Only
Endpoint Protection, DLP and monitoring/alerting
Web filtering
Block access to certain websites based on URL, or content
Content Compliance
Alert, or take action on specific content when input to a webpage
Google Drive DLP notifications
Define regex rule to notify when matched content is shared, made available to customers that do not have access to Google natives own DLP (available in Enterprise)
User Downloads
Downloads tracking, alerting
3rd Party App Access
Alerts for 3rd party applications used by end-users and specify specific API scopes to be notified about

An Overview of the 5 Best Google Workspace Management Tools

1. GAT Labs

4. Patronum

2. BetterCloud

5. CloudM

3. NetSkope

6. gPanel by Promevo

1. GAT Labs
GAT Labs

Who is GAT Labs:

GAT Labs is a leading provider of advanced security and management solutions for Google Workspace. It specializes in delivering comprehensive tools to enhance the efficiency and security of Google Workspace environments.

What Does GAT Labs Do:

GAT Labs offers a suite of tools that cater to various aspects of Google Workspace management. These include detailed analytics, streamlined user management, document access control, and advanced security features.

Problems GAT Labs Solves:

GAT Labs addresses key challenges in managing Google Workspace, such as preventing data breaches, simplifying user and document management, and ensuring compliance with security protocols.

Key Features:

  • – Auditing and Reporting
  • – Document Access and Ownership Management
  • – User Management
  • – Workflow Automation
  • – Real-Time Activity Monitoring
  • – Alerts and Notifications
  • – Third-party app Management
  • – Device Management
  • – Email & Contact Management
  • – Calendar Management
  • – Security and Compliance
  • – Data Protection
  • – File Sharing Controls
  • – Advanced Search Capabilities
  • – On/Offboarding Workflow (Based on Time, Events or Standalone)

GAT Labs Solutions vs Google Admin Console 

With the following table, you can easily understand the core functionalities and roles of both the Google Admin Console and GAT Labs Solutions in enhancing your Google Workspace management. 

Features
GAT Labs
Google Admin Console
Interactive dashboard displaying all shared files, public files, public with link and orphaned files
Domain-wide search for files shared with specific users or domains
Automatically send emails to your end-users notifying them of files with sensitive sharing permissions
Remove external sharing permissions for inactive files with granular controls over the files and users in scope
Apply sharing expiration periods with granular control over the files, users, sharing permission types or external domains in scope
Find and replace sharing permissions to reduce access level or easily update permissions to reflect organisational changes
Clear insights on individual user-sharing habits.
Audit externally owned files shared into your domain and option to create copies to take ownership
DLP Alerts and Share Removal for Files with Sensitive Information
Only available on Enterprise Plans
Domain-wide content search across all users MyDrive and Shared Drives
Silent Access to Content of Drive Files and Folders
Google Drive Productivity Report by User, Group or OU
Google Drive Top Internal Collaboration Pairs
Bulk File Ownership Change and Removal
Partially met with Enterprise Plans
Bulk File Permissions Change (Editors, Commenters, Contributors)
Partially met with Enterprise Plans
Partially met with Enterprise Plans

GAT Labs Products Suite:

– GAT+: Provides in-depth analytics and reporting for data management and auditing of Google Workspace.

– GAT Unlock: Enables controlled access to documents and change of ownership as well as email delegation and deletion of phishing emails.

– GAT Flow: Automates user onboarding and offboarding via workflows that can run based on time, events, or on-demand.

– GAT Shield: Offers continuous, live, in-browser security for Chrome users. Real-time monitoring of searches, downloads, browsing activity, URL filtering, and much more

How GAT Labs Offers Support:

  1. Customer Support Team: Access to a dedicated team for assistance with the Google Workspace Management Tool.
  2. Knowledge Base: An extensive collection of guides, FAQs, and tutorials for self-help and learning.
  3. Training and Webinars: Regular sessions to educate users on features and best practices in Google Workspace management.
  4. Email and Chat Support: Quick and efficient resolution of queries through email and live chat options.
  5. Product Updates: Continuous enhancements and new features based on user feedback and Google Workspace advancements.

Pricing:

– Essential Plan $14 user/year

– Admin Plan $20 user/year

– Secure Plan $30 user/year

50% Discount for Non-Profits, 10% Discount for Government, and about 90% discount for Education (see Education plans here)

Minimum Charge:

– $600 per domain per year

Free Trail:

– 15 days free trial

BetterCloud positions itself as the pioneering SaaS Operations Management Platform, offering robust solutions for IT teams to manage and secure SaaS applications effectively.

Features

– Compliance and Data Loss Prevention

– Customizable Reporting

– Auditing and Discovery

– Monitoring and Insights

– User and Directory Management

– On/Offboarding Workflows

Pricing:

– BetterCloud One Plan: $3/user/month

– BetterCloud Core Plan: $6/user/month

– BetterCloud Enterprise Plan: $10/user/month

Minimum Charge:

– $15,000 per year

Free Trail:

– BetterCloud offers a free trial for new users

netskope

Netskope is redefining cloud, data, and network security to help organizations apply zero-trust principles to protect data.

Netskope offers solutions including the Netskope Intelligent Security Service Edge (SSE), built on the Netskope Security Cloud. It provides visibility and real-time data and threat protection for cloud services, websites, and private apps, accessible from anywhere and on any device.

Features:

– Mobile Device Protection

– NewEdge Security Cloud

– SkopeAI

– Zero Trust Engine

– Integration Tools

Pricing:

– Discovery plan starts at $8 per user per month 

– Active Platform from $15 per month  

– Additional options such as DLP, Encryption, and Malware Protection are priced separately. 

Other pricing tiers include: 

– Breach Discovery + Log analysis at $2/user/month

– Mobile-only protection at $5/user/month

– Standard edition (mobile+web+DLP) at $10/user/month

– Enterprise edition (which includes encryption and specific app control) at $30/user/month

Free Trial:

– Offer a 14-day free test drive

Patronum

Patronum is a comprehensive tool for Google Workspace administrators, streamlining user management and automation. It simplifies onboarding and offboarding, ensuring adherence to company policies with automated email signatures, Gmail settings, and Google Drive management. 

Patronum enhances Google Workspace with features like contact sharing, Chrome extension, and Gmail add-ons, making it a tool for efficient, secure, and effective Google Workspace administration.

Features:

– Top Organization Sharers Dashboard

– External File Sharing Insights

– Google Drive and Shared Drive Management

– Internal and External File Sharing Compliance

– Google Group Management

– Google Calendar Management

– Contact Delegation and Management

– User Google Drive Administration

– Email Configuration and Management

– Inbox and Application Delegation

– Security and Verification Management

Pricing:

– Education: $2 user/year

– Non-Profit: $2 user/year

– Business: $8 user/year

Free Trial:

– Patronum offers a free trial for new users

CloudM

CloudM is a versatile tool designed to optimize Google Workspace management. It focuses on efficient user lifecycle management, from onboarding to offboarding, streamlining processes to save time and resources. CloudM ensures users are set up in compliance with organizational policies, automating tasks like email setup, data migration, and access controls. 

Its features include seamless integration with Google Workspace, enhancing user experience and administration efficiency.

Features:

– Dashboard

– Data Aggregation and Publishing

– Data Management

– Reporting/Analytics

Pricing:

– CloudM’s pricing is not publicly listed, however, our analysis suggests that costs may vary between £10 to £30, influenced by factors such as industry specifics and the particular CloudM Module selected.

Free Trial:

– CloudM offers a free trial for new users​

gPanel by Promevo

As a comprehensive administration console, gPanel facilitates streamlined management of user settings, drive management, and accountability through automation and bulk operations. It includes support for admins to create custom reports and delete phishing emails, to safeguard company assets and ensure operational integrity. 

Features:

User Management

– Email Management

– Drive Management

– Groups and Calendar Management

Pricing:

gPanel’s pricing varies by plan and sector: 

– Starter plan at $4/$10 

– Standard Plan at $6/$19 per user/year for Govt./Business and Edu./Non-profit, with bundle discounts for GWS. 

– Enterprise pricing is available upon contact with sales.

Free Trial:

– gPanel offers a free trial for new users​

Google Workspace Management Tools Recap
At a Glance
Product
Focus
Strength
Weakness
SOC2 Certified
Price
Minimum Charge
GAT Labs
Google Mgmt, Reporting/Audit, Endpoint monitoring/verification
No. of features
Complexity
Vary from $14 to $30 user/year, based on the selected Plan.
$600 per year
BetterCloud
3rd party SaaS Mgmt
3rd party app support
Less focussed on Google
Vary from $3 to $10 user/month, based on the selected Plan.
$15,000 per year
NetSkope
Network Security, Cloud/On-prem DLP, Endpoint monitoring
Full stack security
Limited admin automation
Starting from $2 to $30 user/month, based on the selected Plan.
Unknown
Patronum
Google Mgmt
Flexible workflows
Limited reporting capabilities
Vary from $2 to $8 user /year, based on the selected Plan.
Unknown
CloudM
Google Mgmt
Simplicity
Limited features, and no Drive management capabilities
May vary between $10 to $30
Unknown
gPanel by Promevo
Google Mgmt
Ease of use
Limited flexibility, customisation and high manual effort for bulk Drive management tasks
Starting from $4 to $19 depending on plan and type of organization
Unknown
What are the Key Features of Google Workspace Management Tools

The best Google Workspace Management Tools offer a combination of features that are easy to set up and use. Here are some key features to consider while comparing different Google Workspace Management Tools.

– User Lifecycle Management: Centralizes onboarding, offboarding, and account changes, ensuring users have the right access at the right times.

– Data Migration and Synchronisation: Facilitates the movement of data between systems, maintaining consistency and availability of information across platforms.

– Security and Compliance Monitoring: Continuously scans for vulnerabilities, ensuring that the organization meets regulatory standards and protects sensitive data.

– Application and Extensions Management: Allows admins to control which third-party apps can be installed, reducing the risk of data breaches through unvetted software.

– Reporting and Analytics: Provides deep insights into how the organization uses Workspace, identifying trends and areas for improvement.

– Customizable Admin Dashboards: Offers personalized views of system statuses and alerts, enabling admins to focus on critical issues first.

– Automated Workflows and Policies: Saves time by automating routine tasks like password resets and permissions granting, reducing the likelihood of human error.

– Access and Identity Management: Manages user credentials and permissions, ensuring employees only have access to the data and tools necessary for their roles.

What are the Benefits of a Google Workspace Management Tool

– Efficient Resource Management: Automates and streamlines administrative tasks, allowing IT staff to focus on more strategic projects.

– Enhanced Security Posture: Proactively manages risks and responds to security incidents, safeguarding organizational data.

– Actionable Data Insights: Empowers decision-makers with data-driven insights to optimize processes and resource allocation.

– Application and Extensions Management: Allows admins to control which third-party apps can be installed, reducing the risk of data breaches through unvetted software.

Best Practices for Google Workspace Management Tools

– Consistent Policy Enforcement: Apply uniform security policies across the board to maintain a secure and compliant environment.

– Proactive User Training: Regularly update users on new features and best practices to maximize the benefits of Google Workspace.

– Regular Audits: Conduct periodic audits to ensure policies are being followed and to identify any potential security gaps.

Best Practices in Implementing Google Workspace Management Tools

– Determine Your Goals: Identify specific objectives for your Google Workspace management, such as improving data security or streamlining user provisioning.

– Set Clear Policies: Establish detailed guidelines for access control, data handling, and security protocols within your Google Workspace.

– Define Administrative Roles: Assign clear responsibilities to your IT team to ensure efficient management and support.

– Automate Onboarding and Offboarding: Use management tools to automate the onboarding of new users and the offboarding of departing employees.

– Optimise Workflows: Develop workflows for user management and data security that are consistent with your organizational needs.

– Regularly Review and Adapt: Continually assess your management tool’s effectiveness and adapt your strategies to meet evolving requirements.

– Save time: Implement efficient processes and utilize automation within Google Workspace Management Tools to minimize manual effort, allowing staff to focus on strategic tasks rather than routine administration.

Choosing the Right Google Workspace Management Tool

– Integration and Compatibility: Ensure the tool integrates well with your current systems and Google Workspace.

– Support and Training: Evaluate the level of support and training provided by the vendor.

– Flexibility and Scalability: Select a tool that can adapt to your organization’s growth and changing needs.

– Reliability and Security: Prioritise tools with a strong track record of reliability and robust security features.

– Cost-Effectiveness: Consider the total cost of ownership, including setup, operation, and potential scalability.

– Security: Opt for tools with strong security features, including SOC 2 certification, indicating adherence to stringent data protection and privacy standards.

Experience GAT Labs: Your Ultimate Google Workspace Management Tool

As a SOC 2 certified solution, GAT Labs elevates your Google Workspace management, offering a suite of powerful tools that provide unparalleled insights and control. Seamlessly integrate and automate your workflows, enhance security, and gain comprehensive data visibility.

Discover the impact of GAT Labs on your operations by signing up for a free trial and see firsthand how it can elevate your business’s Google Workspace experience.