Best practices for Chrome Enterprise admins to enable a remote workforce

As more businesses consider how to enable their teams to work remotely, IT admins are increasingly thinking through how to best support a distributed workforce. Earlier this week we shared some tips and best practices, but if you’re an admin that uses Chromebooks or Chrome Browser in your environment, you might be wondering what specific steps you should consider. 

You can check out all the Chrome Enterprise benefits for working from home on our website, but here are a few additional ideas admins should think about to keep their workforce secure and productive:

Configure settings and policies to keep devices and data secure

Chromebooks have built-in security, but Chrome Enterprise administrators also have access to a wide range of settings to further mitigate risks from malware, phishing, and lost devices. 

First, we recommend checking Google Safe Browsing settings across your Chrome devices and managed browsers to ensure it’s enabled to warn users of malicious sites that might contain malware or be known for phishing. For Chrome devices, you then can check screen lock settings to make sure they automatically lock after being idle to reduce the likelihood of someone using the device when the employee is away. If needed, you can remotely disable a Chrome device directly from the Google Admin console in case a device is lost or stolen, and even post a message that lets the finder know where to return it.

Help employees stay productive with the right apps, network policies, and remote support

It’s a good idea to make sure Chrome devices have the right policies for Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and virtual private network (VPN) access, as well as the appropriate network certificates so employees can access corporate data from home. You can pre-install apps, extensions, and pre-load bookmarks so employees have easy access to sites such as internal intranet or HR pages when not in the office. Employees can also use VDI solutions on Chrome devices such as Citrix or VMware if they need remote access. If Chrome device users are having issues, they can agree to receive remote support with Chrome Remote Desktop. This feature enables you to access a user’s device and help resolve issues quickly.

Manage Chrome browser across platforms or use Cloudready

If you have multiple platforms in your organization, you can use the Google Admin console to manage Chrome Browser across Windows, Mac and Linux from the same console as Chrome OS, at no additional cost. Using Chrome Browser Cloud Management, you can set and enforce policies, manage extensions, and get insights into your browser deployment. The policies can be applied across private and public networks for added controls in remote working environments. You can also use Cloudready to get a Chrome device environment on almost any device without replacing hardware.

Looking ahead

We’ll continue to share our learnings and best practices to enable your remote workforce. In the meantime, you can learn more in our Help Center.