View Categories

Identify Externally Owned Files Shared into the Domain with GAT+

GAT+ provides a granular overview of a domain’s Google Drive. It allows Google Workspace Admin to view all files shared out from their domain and those shared from outside. In this article, we explain how the tool lets identify externally owned files shared in the domain, and view and download them with just a mouse click.

 

Identify external files #

First, navigate to Drive -> Files -> and click on Files owned by others shared in.
External files are the ones with the orange/yellow background.

Identify external files

View and download external files #

An Admin can view and download the content of the externally owned files if any user in the domain has Edit/Contributor OR/AND View rights to the file in question. GAT+ can use those permissions and allow an Admin to view or download the files in question.
For security reasons, the process requires GAT Unlock functionality and a Security Officer who can approve the request.

Request access permission #

To view the content of external files or download them, the Admin needs to Create new access permission.

Security Officer must approve the request.

To request access, first select external files and use the File operations button to select the option Create new access request.

Request access permission

Request new access window shows up, where you can specify the date ‘Request access until’, as well as a ‘Message’ to the Security Officer, e.g. a message explaining the reason/purpose of this request.

Request new access

When it is ready, Send request to the Security Officer.

As a result, the confirmation message will appear: ‘New permission request sent‘.

New permission request sent

 

New permission request sent #

Security Officer receives an email notification of the new access permission you requested.

New permission request created

After clicking on the link included in the email, Security Officer is automatically sent to the Access Permissions tab in GAT+, where can approve or deny the request. Security Officer must find the relevant request, go to the Action column on the right-hand side and click the little arrow facing down (next to the ‘eye’ icon), as shown below:

New permission request sent

When Security Officer approves the request, a requestor/Admin gains the access to the files you selected. Access to these files will be permitted until the time you specified in the previous steps.

New access gained

 

View the content or download the file #

By clicking on the open padlock located under the Actions on the right-hand side of the dashboard, the Admin can view the content of the file or download the file itself.

View the content or download the file

Then, if the file has been downloaded, it is saved in the requestor’s MyDrive.

Restriction #

If the external file is ‘Restricted’ (read: Flags – Restricted), there is NO access to the file.
It happens when only View rights are given to the user inside the domain. As a result, the user cannot view or download the file.

 

Related Posts #

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website