Google Workspace has announced the introduction of pooled storage and the rollout of shared drives for its basic users.
The new feature, designed to help teams collaborate and manage their files more effectively, will be available to Google Workspace Business Starter users starting September 23, 2024.
As part of the change, Google has moved away from 30GB of storage per user. Organizations now have a combined storage capacity of 30GB times the number of users.
Google Workspace Business Starter gets a major storage overhaul
According to Google, this change will allow administrators to manage their storage more effectively and give them the flexibility to set storage limits per user if needed.
The company also said the shared drives will simplify file discoverability, improve collaboration, and ensure files are preserved after certain employees leave: “Shared drives are an important collaboration tool, allowing users to instantly store, search, and access their team’s files.”
As of September 23, all Business Starter users will be able to create shared drives by default. However, administrators can restrict this if they wish.
“Spend less time requesting file access and searching for relevant documents because all your team’s files are in one place,” the company said in its blog in light of the ongoing global discussions about increasing worker productivity.
Shared drive admin settings will begin rolling out August 26, giving IT departments time to adjust settings to corporate policies ahead of the full product rollout. This includes adding or removing members, changing access levels, and restricting external content sharing.
