Every laptop, phone and desktop that touches your business data is a door. Leave one unlocked and it only takes a single lost phone or reused password to put your whole organisation at risk. For New Zealand businesses running on Google Workspace, Google Endpoint Management is the tool that locks those doors from one place, without slowing your team down.
This 2026 guide covers what Google Endpoint Management does, which Workspace plan you need, how to set it up, and where it fits alongside the rest of your security stack. OxygenIT sets this up for businesses across New Zealand, so we have kept it practical rather than theoretical.
Why device security is now a board-level issue for NZ businesses
Research from the Ponemon Institute found that 68% of organisations have experienced at least one endpoint attack that successfully compromised data or IT infrastructure. That number has not improved as work has spread across home offices, personal phones and cafe wifi.
For a small or mid-sized business here, the maths is simple. A breach does not just cost money and downtime, it costs the customer trust you have spent years building. Endpoint management is how you shrink that risk without hiring a security team, by making sure every device that reaches your data meets a minimum standard first. It sits alongside Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) and managed cybersecurity and antivirus as one of the core layers of a modern defence.
What Google Endpoint Management actually does
Google Endpoint Management is built into Google Workspace. From the admin console you can see, secure and manage every device signed into your organisation, whether it is company owned or a staff member’s personal phone. In practice it gives you three things.
1. One place to manage every device
Whether you run company laptops, a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) policy, or a mix, you can:
- Enforce security policies across every device at once.
- Secure Windows, macOS, ChromeOS, Android and iOS from a single console.
- Require screen locks and device encryption before a device can access company data.
- Remotely wipe a lost or stolen device, or wipe only the work account on a personal phone.
2. Security that works with Workspace, not against it
Because it is native to Workspace, endpoint management ties into the tools your team already uses. You can:
- Keep shared calendars, Gmail and Drive files protected on every device.
- Apply advanced mobile management to control Android work profiles and managed iOS apps.
- Use context-aware access to block any device that does not meet your rules, for example an unencrypted laptop or a phone on an out-of-date OS.
3. Real-time control and visibility
Endpoint management gives your administrator live oversight:
- Enforce stronger password and passcode rules.
- See every device, its status and its compliance from the admin console.
- Block unauthorised devices through endpoint verification before they ever reach your data.
Which Google Workspace plan do you need in 2026?
This is where most businesses get stuck, because the endpoint features you get depend on your Workspace edition. Here is how it breaks down in 2026.
- Fundamental (basic) mobile management is included with every Google Workspace edition, from Business Starter up. It covers the essentials: require a screen lock, wipe a lost account, and enforce basic policies on mobile devices.
- Advanced mobile management unlocks the stronger controls most businesses actually want: managed Android work profiles, managed iOS apps, device approval, and detailed policy enforcement. This is available on Business Standard, Business Plus and the Enterprise editions.
- Context-aware access and Windows device management sit on Business Plus and Enterprise. These let you set access rules based on the device, its security state and location, and manage Windows machines the same way you manage everything else.
- Enterprise-grade tooling such as the security investigation tool and the most granular endpoint rules lives in the Enterprise editions.
Plan names and pricing change, so confirm the current edition detail with your provider before you commit. The practical point is this: if you want more than a screen-lock policy, you almost certainly need Business Standard or above. If you are unsure which edition you are on or whether it is configured correctly, our productivity and cloud optimisation team can audit it for you (yes, we do the same for Google Workspace as we do for Microsoft 365).
How to set up Google Endpoint Management
At a high level, a sound rollout looks like this:
- Turn on the right management level in the admin console for each platform (mobile, Windows, ChromeOS).
- Build your policies by organisational unit so different teams can have different rules without disrupting anyone’s work.
- Set your baseline: mandatory screen lock, device encryption, minimum OS version, and remote wipe enabled.
- Enrol devices, company owned and BYOD, and confirm each one reports as compliant.
- Add context-aware access rules so non-compliant devices are blocked automatically rather than caught after the fact.
- Review and tune monthly as staff, devices and threats change.
Done well, this is invisible to your team and a wall to an attacker. Done in a hurry, it either locks people out of their own tools or leaves gaps you think are covered. This is exactly the kind of ongoing configuration our managed IT services handle so you do not have to.
Common device-management challenges (and how to beat them)
As you grow, endpoint complexity grows faster. Businesses with lots of remote or BYOD devices carry the highest risk of an endpoint attack. With Google Endpoint Management you can:
- Enforce policy across organisational units without interrupting workflows.
- Give staff secure access to their data from anywhere, on any approved device.
- Standardise security across a mixed fleet of Windows, Mac, Android and iOS.
One caution: device management controls access, it does not detect an active threat on the device. That is the job of EDR. For the difference, and why you want both, see our explainer on endpoint protection versus antivirus and our guide to managed EDR for NZ SMBs.
Ready to secure every device?
Your business is only as secure as its weakest endpoint. Whether that is a director’s laptop or a new starter’s phone, taking control of your device fleet is one of the highest-value moves you can make this year.
OxygenIT sets up and manages Google Endpoint Management for businesses across New Zealand. We will get your Workspace configured properly, close the gaps, and keep it that way. Talk to an expert and we will make sure you are using Google’s security features to their full potential.
Frequently asked questions
What is endpoint management?
Endpoint management is the practice of overseeing and securing every device that accesses your company network, laptops, desktops and phones, so your data stays protected and compliant no matter where staff work.
How does Google Endpoint Management integrate with Google Workspace?
It is built directly into Workspace. From the admin console you manage devices, enforce policies and secure data without any separate product, which is why it is the natural choice if you already run Google Workspace.
What is the difference between basic and advanced mobile management in Google Workspace?
Basic (fundamental) mobile management, included on every edition, covers screen locks and account wipe. Advanced mobile management, on Business Standard and above, adds managed work profiles, managed apps, device approval and much stronger policy control. Most businesses that want real security need advanced.
Can Google Endpoint Management manage Windows devices?
Yes. Windows device management is available on Business Plus and Enterprise editions, letting you manage Windows machines alongside your Android, iOS, macOS and ChromeOS devices from the same console.
Can I use Google Endpoint Management for BYOD policies?
Yes. It works for both company-owned and personal devices. On a staff member’s own phone you can secure and, if needed, wipe only the work account, leaving their personal data untouched.
Is device encryption mandatory?
It is not forced by default, but enabling and requiring encryption is strongly recommended, and you can make it a condition of access through context-aware access rules.
Does endpoint management replace antivirus or EDR?
No. Endpoint management controls which devices reach your data and how they are configured. It does not detect malware or active attacks on a device, which is what antivirus and EDR do. You want both layers.
