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By Christopher Williams, Google Workspace Consultant · Elite Web Professionals · Updated March 2026
Google Workspace includes a robust set of security tools, but they only protect your organization if they are configured correctly. The default settings Google applies when you first create a Workspace account are not sufficient for most businesses — they are starting points, not security baselines.
This guide covers the admin-level security settings that matter most, based on Google’s own published best practices for Workspace administrators.
The administrator account in Google Workspace has the highest level of access in your organization. A compromised admin account does not just expose one person’s email — it gives an attacker the ability to read any user’s email, reset any password, download any file, modify DNS records, and disable security protections for the entire organization.
Google’s security best practices for admin accounts are explicit about this risk. The recommendations are not suggestions — they are the minimum configurations that Google considers necessary.
2-Step Verification (2SV) is the single most impactful security setting in the Admin console. When 2SV is enforced, every user must provide a second form of authentication when signing in.
How to enforce 2SV: In the Admin console, go to Security > Authentication > 2-Step Verification. Set the enforcement policy to “On” for your entire organization.
Security keys are the strongest 2SV method. Google recommends physical security keys (like YubiKey or Google’s Titan Security Key) for admin accounts. Security keys are resistant to phishing attacks because they verify the identity of the website you are signing into.
Backup codes. Every user should generate and securely store a set of backup codes when they enroll in 2SV. These codes are the fallback if the primary 2SV method is unavailable.
Google’s security documentation explicitly recommends that super admin accounts should not be used for daily email, calendar, and browsing activity. Every email you open, every link you click, and every website you visit with your admin account is an opportunity for credential theft or session hijacking.
The recommended approach: Create a dedicated super admin account that is only used for administrative tasks. This account should have a strong, unique password and a security key for 2SV. Your daily work account should be a separate Workspace account with standard user permissions.
Google recommends having at least two super admin accounts in every Workspace organization. If your organization has only one super admin and that person loses access, recovering admin access requires going through Google’s account recovery process, which can take days.
Best practice: Maintain two to three super admin accounts. At least one should be a dedicated admin-only account. Store the credentials for the backup admin account in a secure location (a password manager or a physical safe).
Google Workspace includes built-in mobile device management. Basic device management is enabled by default and provides visibility into which devices are accessing your data. Advanced device management (Business Plus and Enterprise) allows you to enforce passcode requirements, require encryption, and remotely wipe devices.
For most organizations, the minimum recommended configuration is: require a screen lock on all devices, enable device inventory, configure remote wipe capability, and block access from non-compliant devices.
The Admin console includes several monitoring tools that help you detect suspicious activity.
Admin audit log records every action taken in the Admin console. Login audit log shows sign-in activity for all users, including IP address, device, and location. Email log search allows you to trace the delivery path of specific messages. Alert center provides automated alerts for security events like suspicious login activity and government-backed attack warnings.
To access these tools, go to Reporting > Audit and investigation in the Admin console.
Security is not just about preventing breaches — it is also about recovering from them. Every Workspace organization should have a documented recovery plan covering:
Admin account lockout. If the primary super admin loses access, how does the organization regain admin control? The answer should involve a second super admin account, not a call to Google support.
User account compromise. The admin response should include: immediately reset the user’s password, revoke all active sessions, review recent activity for data exfiltration, and re-enroll 2SV.
Domain or DNS compromise. Maintain access credentials for your domain registrar and DNS provider separately from your Workspace admin credentials, and monitor DNS records for unexpected changes.
If your Workspace environment was set up without a security review, or if you are unsure whether 2SV is enforced, admin accounts are separated, and recovery plans are documented, we can audit your configuration and close the gaps.
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