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What’s changing
We’re expanding the availability of AI Classification in Google Drive to Google Workspace for Education customers with the Gemini Education Premium add-on

Even though data security is paramount in today’s digital world, organizations struggle to label their data at scale, rendering label-based data protections less useful. This problem is solved by AI classification, automatically applying labels to both new and existing files in Google Drive. 

Powered by privacy-preserving AI models that can be uniquely trained on specific customer needs, AI classification automatically identifies, classifies, and labels files in Google Drive.. This helps organizations standardize data classification and achieve labeling consistency at scale. Labels can then be used to trigger rules on files that can and cannot be shared through data loss prevention (DLP) controls, lifecycle management policies, as well as audit and reporting use cases


AI Classification in the Admin console

AI Classification in Google Docs






Getting started


Rollout pace

Availability
  • Available for Google Workspace for Education customers with the Gemini Education Premium add-on.
This feature is already available to customers with the Gemini Enterprise add-on, and via the AI Security add-on for select Google workspace customers.

What’s changing
We’re introducing several changes to make labels more discoverable and flexible for organizations:

1. Label Manager’s New Location: The Label Manager interface is moving from a standalone UI into the Workspace Admin console. Prior to this change, Label admins had to navigate to https://drive.google.com/labels to manage labels in their organization. Going forward, admins can access the Label Manager tool by going to Security > Access and data control in the Admin console. 

Label Manager’s New Location
2. Combined Label Types: Currently, there are two label types: Badged and Standard. Badged labels are single-field option lists with prominent visual display and coloring. Standard labels support complex metadata structures with up to ten fields of various formats. To make labels more adaptable, we’re combining these label types together, and going forward, every label will support up to 10 fields, one of which can be set as a “Badged list”. 

Combined Label Types

3. Label Ordinality: With the combination of label types, organizations will now be able to create many labels with badge fields. As a result, there will be scenarios in which multiple badges are applied to a single file. Some UI surfaces only support the display of a single badge, so to address this, admins will now be able to configure label ordinality in the Label Manager list view. The ranking of label ordinality will govern which label is prominently displayed when there are multiple badged labels on the same file. 

Label Ordinality
Getting started 
  • Admins: To access the Label Manager in the Admin console, go to https://admin.google.com/ac/dc/labels or Security > Access and data control > Label manager). 
  • End users: There is no end user setting for this feature. 

Rollout pace 

Availability
Available for Google Workspace: 
  • Business Standard, Plus
  • Enterprise Standard, Plus 
  • Essentials Starter, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Essentials Plus 
  • Education Standard, Plus 
  • Frontline Starter, Standard
  • Nonprofits

Resources 

What’s changing
Admins can create classification labels for users to apply to files in Google Drive. These classification labels are useful for many common workplace scenarios, including records management, classification, structured finding, reporting, auditing, and more. 

To improve granularity in enabling & governing labels, we are replacing and improving the existing “Labels” setting within Apps > Google Workspace > Drive & Docs and adding label-level application toggles to the Label Manager tool. 

Classification labels can be applied to a Workspace application once it's selected during the setup process. A lock icon will be displayed in line with the application toggle when the label is referenced by a policy, such as a DLP rule. To remove all rules that reference a specific label, go to the Data protection section of the Admin console > Security > Access and data control. 

The active labels in your Workspace domain will continue to function and will be auto-enabled for Drive & Doc as a result of this update.
  Getting started 
Rollout pace
  • This feature is available now 
Availability 
Available for Google Workspace: 
  • Business Standard, Plus 
  • Enterprise Standard, Plus 
  • Essentials Starter, Enterprise Essentials, Enterprise Essentials Plus 
  • Education Standard, Plus 
  • Frontline Starter, Standard
Resources 

What’s changing
We're updating the way Google Meet hardware devices are re-enrolled to provide a more intuitive experience for administrators.


Previously, if a device was re-enrolled without first being deprovisioned, the Admin console would reuse its existing record and device ID — this is changing


Starting July 17, 2024, if you re-enroll a device without first deprovisioning it, the Admin console will create a completely new record with a new device ID. The old record will still be there, and you'll need to deprovision it to free up its license. Settings from the old record won't automatically carry over to the new one.

Getting started
Rollout pace
Availability
  • This update impacts all Google Workspace customers with Meet Hardware devices.

Resources

What’s changing 
We’re pleased to announce Google Workspace extensions for Gmail, Google Drive and Google Docs are available for Gemini (gemini.google.com). When enabled, Gemini will be able to cross reference these apps as data sources to better inform its responses.

View of Google Workspace extensions from the Gemini Extensions page




This feature is available in open beta for Google Workspace customers with the Gemini Business, Enterprise, Education, and Education Premium add-ons — no additional sign-up is required.


Who’s impacted

Admins and end users


Why you’d use it

Google Workspace extensions enhance Gemini's capabilities by allowing it to access information from your Gmail, Docs, and Drive. This enables Gemini to locate, reference and incorporate this additional data, leading to even more informed and relevant responses. This deeper integration helps bring Gemini’s capabilities more seamlessly into your daily workflows, helping enhance productivity. For example, referencing a Doc that outlines your target audiences while performing customer research in Gemini (gemini.google.com).


Additional details
  • During the open beta period, Context-Aware Access (CAA) for Gmail, Drive and Docs isn’t supported with Google Workspace extensions. Context-Aware Access gives you control over which apps a user can access based on their context, such as whether their device complies with your IT policy. Learn more about Context-Aware Access.
  • Google Workspace extensions honors access control settings for files within Drive, meaning users can only access files that they own or have been shared with them (excluding files shared via Shared Drive).
  • Google Workspace extensions is not available to Google Workspace users accessing Gemini as an additional Google service.
  • Note that Google Workspace personal content that Gemini Apps get from extensions is not reviewed by anyone to improve AI models, not used to train AI models, and not shared with other users or institutions. Visit the Help Center for more information.
Getting started
  • Admins: 
    • This feature will be OFF by default and can be enabled at the OU or Group level. During the open beta period, Drive, Gmail and Docs must be enabled to use Google Workspace extensions.



Rollout pace

Availability
Available for Google Workspace customers with the:
  • Gemini Business, Enterprise, Education, or Education Premium add-on

Resources


What’s changing
In November 2023, we announced the ability to purchase and distribute iOS apps to user-enrolled devices through Apple’s Volume Purchase Program. Beginning today, we’re expanding this functionality to include device enrollment and company-owned iOS devices.




Who’s impacted
Admins and end users


Why you’d use it 
Admins can use the Volume Purchasing Program to efficiently curate a suite of work-related apps—both free and paid—for their team. This streamlined process not only simplifies the deployment of essential business apps but also ensures that employees have access to the right apps they need to be productive and efficient, all within the secure perimeter of our MDM platform. To further streamline the enrollment and app distribution process, we’re automatically installing mandatory apps during enrollment for company-owned devices. This latest update makes it easier for admins to deploy apps across various device types in their organization.


Additional details
Please note that Apple ID sign-in won't be needed in the company-owned iOS devices flow after configuring apps with VPP.


The automatic installation of mandatory apps during onboarding applies to all enrollment types and devices that violate mandatory apps compliance will be immediately blocked until the required app(s) are installed. 


Getting started

Rollout pace

Availability
Available to Google Workspace
  • Business Plus
  • Enterprise Essentials and Enterprise Essentials Plus
  • Enterprise Standard and Plus
  • Education Standard and Plus, and the Endpoint Education Upgrade add-on
  • Frontline Starter and Standard
  • Cloud Identity Premium

What’s changing 
We know that compliance and data controls are paramount for our customers, both in understanding Google Workspace’s policies and configuring compliance-relevant features according to the needs of their business sector and geographical region. To help our customers navigate these complexities, we’ve centralized some of these relevant features and information into a single location in the admin console: Data.


Within this section, admins can:
  • Find a centralized hub containing all data and compliance-related features such as data regions, access transparency, and more.
    • Access Approvals, Access Management, Access Transparency, Client Side Encryption, Data Regions can now be found under Data > Compliance. Please note that Access Transparency can still be found under Menu > Reporting.

  • Data Export, Data migration, and Google Takeout can now be found under Data > Data import & export.

  • Find a dedicated compliance node containing guides and resources to help them configure their settings within various regulations and standards such as IL4, CJIS, and FedRAMP High.
Data > Overview



Data > Compliance > Guides and Resources


Getting started
  • Admins: You can access the new Data node compliance center in the Admin console by navigating to Menu > Data. From here, you will find the Overview page, as well as the Compliance and Data Import & Export categories. 
  • End users: There is no end user impact or action required.
Rollout pace

Availability
  • Available to all Google Workspace customers
    Resources

    What’s changing 
    Access Management is now also generally available in the European Union — these controls allow customers to select the physical location from which Google support teams can access organizational data during support activities. Customers can now restrict support personnel to EU Google staff in EU locations. If necessary, non-EU Google staff may access data through virtual desktops that are located in EU locations.




    Who’s impacted
    Admins


    Why it’s important
    Google Workspace Assured Controls enables customers to meet strict regulatory information governance requirements. With Access Management, customers can limit the Google staff who can take support actions related to their data. Additionally, since Assured Controls is available on Google Workspace’s native platform, you don’t need to move to a separate GovCloud environment for access to these capabilities. This update gives our customers another way to configure how and where their data is accessed by Google staff.


    Getting started

    Rollout pace
    Availability
    • Assured controls are available as a paid-add on for Google Workspace Enterprise Plus. For more information, contact your Google account representative.

    What’s changing 
    We’re pleased to announce several new enhancements to Google Workspace data regions: 


    For the first time, admins will be able to specify not only the region (EU or US) where their data is stored, but also the region in which it is processed, with granular controls to allow administrators to easily refine the region and level of compliance needed as appropriate for their organizational groups. Workspace customers have the flexibility to select multiple geographies to suit their needs, versus being restricted to one region mandated by billing address.


    Also, based on customer feedback, we have re-architected our reporting dashboard to both deliver new functionality and simplify the experience for administrators. These include:
    • A simplified experience that focuses on the status of your data region's posture. 
    • Streamlined reporting for Google Workspace Enterprise Plus customers.
    • Advanced reporting for Assured Controls customers.


    Who’s impacted
    Admins


    Why it’s important

    Assign data processing to the United States or Europe
    Although customers are not required to use the sovereignty offerings within Workspace in order to comply with the GDPR, we make advanced data residency controls available so that customers can proactively leverage digital sovereignty best practices and keep pace with regulatory legislation. 


    Putting the emphasis on status
    We’ve heard from our customers that it’s critical to quickly determine whether their data is being stored in the proper location. Based on this feedback, we’ve simplified the dashboard to consolidate  parameters like “application” and “data type”, which were not useful to customers into a single status indicator.  


    Also, admins can now access two new reporting cards: Versions and Policies. The Versions card will tell admins how many users have each edition of data regions, while the Policies card will tell you how many users have their storage and processing settings assigned to the US or Europe.




    It’s important to note that if you’re subject to partial domain licensing, you may see a mix of users spread across different editions. A user’s feature set may vary based on their assigned Workspace editions — we recommend using our Help Center to learn more about the difference between editions.


    Advanced reporting for Assured Controls customers
    For those Google Workspace customers using Assured Controls, you can leverage more advanced reporting which will help you determine that data is being both stored and processed properly. You can also drill down into this information on an app-by-app basis.

    Getting started
    Rollout pace
    Availability
    • Enterprise Data Regions are included with Enterprise Plus, Education Standard, Education Plus, and Enterprise Essentials Plus.
    • Fundamental Data Regions are included with Frontline Starter, Frontline Standard, Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise Standard, and Enterprise Essentials. Reporting is not included with fundamental data regions — you can purchase Enterprise data regions as a paid add-on with any of these editions. 
    • Assured Controls are available as a paid-add on for Google Workspace Enterprise Plus.

    What’s changing 
    To ensure organizations’ continued access to services, we're changing the way Early Access apps transition to Additional Google Services:


    Currently, when an Early Access app becomes an Additional Google Service, it is turned on or off by default based on your new services preference in the Admin console. This occurs even if the Early Access apps service status is set to On for everyone


    Starting July 30, 2024, if you have an Early Access app service set to On, you won’t lose access to the app when it transitions to an additional service, regardless of your new service preferences. These apps will only be turned off if both settings are set to Off.


    Additional details
    Google AI Studio will transition from an Early Access app to an Additional Google Service on July 30, 2024. Access to AI Studio will be based on the information outlined above. We recommend that you double-check your settings ahead of time to ensure access to AI Studio is configured as you see fit.

    Getting started

    Rollout pace
    • The updated policy will take effect for all Google Workspace customers on July 30, 2024. 

    Availability
    • This update impacts all Google Workspace customers.

    Resources

    3 New updates

    Unless otherwise indicated, the features below are available to all Google Workspace customers, and are fully launched or in the process of rolling out. Rollouts should take no more than 15 business days to complete if launching to both Rapid and Scheduled Release at the same time. If not, each stage of rollout should take no more than 15 business days to complete.


    Your users can now express interest in Gemini for Google Workspace 
    We’re introducing a simple way for Workspace end users to request a Gemini license from their admins on the Gemini for Google Workspace homepage. To send this request, Workspace end users simply select ‘Get Started’ from the Gemini for Google Workspace marketing page, then click on ‘Ask my admin’ and complete the request form. Super admins will receive this request by email, and from there they can choose to purchase a Gemini license in the Admin console.

    Admins will have the option to disable these requests prior to this update. Admins can do so in the Admin console by going to Account > Account Settings > Gemini for Google Workspace, and deselecting the ‘User-requested upgrades’ setting— use this article in our Help Center for more information. | Rolling out now to Rapid Release domains and Scheduled Release domains. | Learn more about Gemini for Workspace, including our recent Gemini for Workspace announcements.

    Multi-account support now available for Google Keep on large screen Android devices
    Last year, we introduced multi-instance support for Google Keep on large screen Android devices. To take this a step further, we’re now allowing multiple accounts to be used at the same time on the same device in Keep. Having two windows open side-by-side enables better insight into your notes and gives you more ways to work with, display, and organize your content across multiple accounts. | Rolling out now to Rapid Release domains and Scheduled Release domains. | Available to all Google Workspace customers, Workspace Individual Subscribers, and users with personal Google accounts. 
    Multi-account support now available for Google Keep on large screen Android devices

    Updates for Gemini for Workspace usage reports in the Admin console
    Recently, we introduced Gemini for Workspace usage reports in the Admin console. Beginning today, we’re introducing additional updates for these reports: 
    • Usage reports are now available for Gemini Education and Gemini Education Premium customers. 
    • Admins can filter usage reports by OU and Groups. 
    Admins can access these reports via Admin console under Menu > Generative AI > Gemini reports. | Also available to Google Workspace customers with the Gemini Enterprise and Gemini Business add-ons. | Rolling out now to Rapid Release domains and Scheduled Release domains. | Learn more about reviewing Gemini usage in your organization.
    Updates for Gemini for Workspace usage reports in the Admin console


    Previous announcements

    The announcements below were published on the Workspace Updates blog earlier this week. Please refer to the original blog posts for complete details.


    Google Classroom add-ons now generally available to Google Workspace developers 
    Classroom add-ons generally available to all developers. These complement other Classroom API features and let educators and students experience content without having to leave Google Classroom. | Learn more about Classroom add-ons. 

    Manage access to eSignature in Google Workspace 
    The admin control for Google Workspace’s eSignature feature is live for select Google Workspace editions. Admins can control users’ ability to request signatures before eSignature rolls out to end users in the coming weeks. | Learn more about eSignature in Google Workspace. 

    Gemini in the side panel of Gmail, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides, and Google Drive is rolling out now 
    We’re pleased to announce the general availability of Gemini in the side panel of Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive. Learn more about the side panel in Docs, Sheets, Slides, and Drive and Gmail

    Bringing our Learning Interoperability Tools under one umbrella: Google Workspace LTI™ 
    Going forward, all Learning Interoperability Tools, including Assignments LTI™, and Google Drive LTI™, will be consolidated into a single category: Google Workspace LTI™. | Learn more about Google Workspace LTI™. 

    Introducing Colab Pro and Colab Pro+ for Google Workspace 
    Currently, Google Workspace admins can turn Colab on for their users, allowing them to access the free version of Colab. This week, we announced the Colab Pro and Colab Pro+ standalone subscriptions for Google Workspace customers. | Learn more about Colab for Google Workspace. 

    Grading periods API for Google Classroom is now available in Developer Preview
    Grading period endpoints and capabilities in the Classroom API are now available through the Google Workspace Developer Preview Program. | Learn more about the Grading periods API. 

    Additional admin space management capabilities in Google Chat API are now available in Developer Preview Program 
    We’re pleased to announce more space management capabilities, such as the ability to look up details about specific space, update space details, and more. | Learn more about admin space management capabilities in Google Chat API. 

    Improving calculation speed in Google Sheets 
    We recently announced the latest advancements in Sheets, including that we’ve doubled the speed of calculation in Google Sheets on Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge browsers. This update can improve the speed of actions like formulas, pivot tables, conditional formatting, and more, regardless of your file size. | Learn more about Sheets calculations. 

    Add up to 500,000 members to spaces in Google Chat 
    To provide greater flexibility and inclusiveness for larger organizations, we’re excited to announce that starting today, spaces can now have up to 500,000 members. | Learn more about large spaces in Chat.

    Completed rollouts

    The features below completed their rollouts to Rapid Release domains, Scheduled Release domains, or both. Please refer to the original blog posts for additional details.


    Rapid Release Domains: 
    Scheduled Release Domains: 
    Rapid and Scheduled Release Domains: 

    For a recap of announcements in the past six months, check out What’s new in Google Workspace (recent releases).  

     What’s changing

    Currently, Google Workspace admins can turn Colab on for their users, allowing them to access the free version of Colab. Beginning today, we’re pleased to announce the Colab Pro and Colab Pro+ standalone subscriptions for Google Workspace customers:

    • Colab Pro offers 100 compute units that grant access to additional powerful GPUs, memory, features, and productivity enhancements enabled with AI assistance.
    • Colab Pro+ gives you all the benefits of Colab Pro like productivity enhancements enabled with AI assistance, plus an additional 400 compute units for a total of 500 per month that grant access to additional powerful GPUs, along with background execution for our longest-running sessions.



    Who’s impacted

    Admins and end users


    Why it’s important

    Colab provides access to Google's powerful computational resources, which can be used to train machine learning models and perform other data-intensive tasks — all from your web browser. It can be used for a variety of data science and machine learning tasks, including:


    • Exploratory data analysis
    • Developing with the Gemini API
    • Machine learning model development
    • Natural language processing such as text classification and sentiment analysis
    • Image processing such as object detection and image classification.

    We know that many Colab users are also Google Workspace users, especially those within educational institutions. Colab Pro and Colab Pro+ can help enhance their work and research with more compute units, faster GPUs, more memory and more.


    Further, these offerings can help admins efficiently subscribe an entire team or organization to Colab, thereby minimizing the friction associated with setting up individual accounts for each user. By managing subscriptions at the group level, organizations can more effectively support collaborative workflows and ensure that all team members have access to the resources they need.


    Getting started

    • Admins: 
      • Access to the Admin console is required to initiate purchase. To purchase Workspace Colab Pro or Colab Pro+, go to Billing > Get more services > More products. Visit the Help Center to learn more about how to assign licenses to users after purchase, as well as available Google Workspace subscriptions.
      • For Google Workspace for Education K-12 customers: The access control for Colab is OFF by default and requires Admins to enable this control if they want users in their domain to access Google Colab. Before turning access to Colab ON, Admins are required to obtain parental consent for <18 users because Colab is included as an Additional Service. Consent can be requested with this notice template



    • End users: 
      • Colab is OFF by default and can be enabled by your Admin. 
      • Note that if you have purchased Colab's “Pay As You Go” offering for yourself, you can continue using it in addition with Colab Pro and Pro+. 

    What’s changing 
    Going forward, all Learning Interoperability Tools, including Assignments LTI™, and Google Drive LTI™, will be consolidated into a single category: Google Workspace LTI™. There are no functionality changes with this update, but you will notice the following: 
    • Assignments will be renamed to Google Workspace LTI™ in the Admin console and Google Workspace LTI™ in the Google Cloud console 
    • All LTI tools managed in the Admin console with the Google Workspace LTI™ service 
    • The Google Assignments Help Center will be rebranded to Google Workspace LTI™. The community forum will remain the same. 

    Getting started 
    Rollout pace
    • This is now available.

    Availability
    Available for Google Workspace:
    • Education Fundamentals, Standard, Plus, and the Teaching & Learning Upgrade

    Resources

    What’s changing
    Starting today, the admin control for Google Workspace’s eSignature feature is live for select Google Workspace editions. Admins can control users’ ability to request signatures before eSignature rolls out to end users in the coming weeks.


    To configure this setting, go to Apps > Google Workspace > Drive and Docs > eSignature in the Admin console. Admins can manage eSignature access at the Organizational Unit (OU) level or the Group level, as shown below:

    The eSignature control in the Admin console



    Why you’d use it 
    Admins can manage access to eSignature in advance of the feature rollout to end users so only the appropriate groups will have the ability to request eSignatures. Note: the admin control does not restrict users from providing eSignatures via the feature.


    Additional details
    eSignature for Google Docs is rolling out to end users soon

    In the coming weeks, we will roll out eSignature for Google Docs to end users on select Google Workspace editions. eSignature offers a variety of features to help you streamline requesting and capturing signatures, helping you stay organized and keep your work moving along. Specifically, you can:

    • Request eSignatures, including signatures from more than one user and from non-Gmail users.
    • View the status of pending signatures and find completed contracts.
    • Keep contract templates to initiate multiple eSignature requests.
    • View an audit trail of completed contracts,
    • Use custom text fields to request additional information from signers, such as job titles, email addresses and more. 
    • Sign contracts from both mobile devices and PCs. 
    Getting started
    Rollout pace
    Admin setting

    End user availability
    Availability
    • Available to Google Workspace
      • Business Standard and Plus
      • Enterprise Starter, Standard and Plus
      • Enterprise Essentials and Enterprise Essentials Plus 
      • Education Plus customers
    eSignature is already available for Google Workspace individual subscribers. 


    What’s changing 
    We’re expanding access to Google Meet add-ons, now to Android devices, so you can find, install, and use third and first-party applications right from within the Meet app. Meet add-ons were already available on desktop devices. Expansion to Android devices gives users more flexibility in accessing third-party apps while they’re using Meet on the go. Meet add-ons on Android devices can be found in the “Activities” panel, where you typically see features like polls and Q&A. If you have desktop add-ons that are not currently available on mobile, they’ll be categorized as “Unavailable.”

    Add-ons in the activity panel




    Getting started
    • Admins: 
      • The visibility of add-ons is controlled by the supplemental add-on setting, which has separate toggles for the visibility of Google add-ons and featured third-party add-ons. You can review your configuration by going to Apps > Google Workspace > Settings for Google Meet > Meet video settings.

      • Important note: this setting governs add-on availability for both the desktop and Android app. How you configure this setting will determine what types of add-ons your users will see. If you turn these settings off, they will not see any add-ons. Due to the nature of this rollout, we recommend that admins review and adjust their supplemental add-on settings after rollout has completed (about three weeks from now).

      • Visit the Help Center to learn more about the supplemental add-ons setting for Google Meet



    The supplemental add-ons setting in the Admin console
    • End users: Depending on how your admin has configured your experience, you may or may not be able to access add-ons in Google Meet using your Android device. Visit the Help Center to learn more about using add-ons with Google Meet.
    Rollout pace*
    *We will eventually add the “Featured” category and “Get add-ons” (plus sign) button to align with the desktop experience. We'll share more info on the Workspace Updates blog when available.

    What’s changing 
    Starting today, we’re introducing Gemini for Workspace usage reports in the Admin console. This report gives admins an overarching view of how Gemini is being used in their organization, specifically: 
    • Assigned Gemini licenses, 
    • Active Gemini users, 
    • And the number of users who are using Gemini over time.


    Gemini usage reports in the Admin console


    These reports will help admins understand how many users are using Gemini features and make informed decisions about expanding Gemini further within their organizations. We plan to introduce more reporting features over time, such as the ability to filter these reports by Organizational Units and Groups.


    Additional details
    Admins can access these reports via admin  console under Menu > Generative AI > Gemini reports. Visit the Help Center to learn more about reviewing Gemini usage in your organization.


    Getting started
    Rollout pace

    Availability
    • Available for Google Workspace customers with the Gemini Business and Gemini Enterprise add-ons.
    We plan to introduce Gemini reports for the Gemini Education and Gemini Premium add-ons in the coming weeks. Stay tuned to the Workspace Updates blog for more information.