SaaS Updates Summary: November 2 – 6

Last week, Google announced that you can now accept multiple knocks in Meet. Rejoice! Additionally, it said that rooms in Google Chat will be unthreaded by default starting on November 16th. Plus, a new partnership to improve context-aware access. Read more about these updates and more in the links.

Google for Education Transformation Reports Window Open, Availability Expanded Worldwide
Google Workspace Updates | Google for Education transformation reports are now available for K-12 G Suite for Education and G Suite Enterprise for Education customers worldwide, at no additional cost. Note that transformation reports are only available in English at this time.

Replace Your Background in Google Meet
Google Workspace Updates | You can now replace your background with an image in Google Meet. You can either use Google’s hand-picked images, which include office spaces, landscapes, and abstract backgrounds, or upload your own image.

Introducing Two BeyondCorp Alliance Partner Integrations for Improved Context-Aware Access
Google Workspace Updates | Google is announcing new integrations with our BeyondCorp Alliance partners Check Point and Lookout. The integrations, initially available in beta, are built using the Devices API and enable customers to use third party signals in context-aware access decisions.

Accept Knocks in Bulk in Google Meet
Google Workspace Updates | You can now accept all pending knocks in bulk in Google Meet. Admitting participants or students all at once helps limit interruptions during the video call. Note, only the meeting organizer can see or approve requests to join a meeting.

Rooms in Google Chat to Be Unthreaded by Default Starting November 16
Google Workspace Updates | Starting November 16, 2020, new rooms created in Google Chat will be unthreaded by default. Today, conversations in rooms must be grouped into threads. This change introduces a simpler type of conversation, without threads—giving you greater flexibility in your discussions.

For last week’s SaaS updates (and beyond), click here for our archive.