Prevent the downloading, printing, or copying of files by all users with Enhanced IRM for Google Drive Data-Loss Prevention

What’s changing 

Google Drive’s Information Rights Management (IRM) capability protects documents from data exfiltration actions, specifically downloading, printing, and copying. This is useful for making sure that sensitive content is protected from data leakage.

Historically, this feature has only been applicable to users with either the “viewer” or “commenter” role, which has left administrators unable to apply the setting to users with write permissions (see here for more information on Drive roles). To address this, we’re expanding IRM to be applicable to all users, including file writers and owners, when it is applied by a Data Loss Prevention (DLP).

Additional details 

When an editor or owner is affected by IRM, they will retain the ability to copy and paste document content, but they may only do so within that document. Attempting to paste content outside of the document will not succeed. For more information, please refer to the help center content.

Getting started 

• Admins: DLP rules and CAA levels are applied per-file based on  how these rules are configured..
• End users: Only administrators can set IRM for all user roles on a file. File owners may still only set IRM for viewers and commenters. If a file has both an administrator-applied IRM setting and a file owner setting on it, the administrator setting takes priority. Once this feature is enabled, all entry points for downloading, printing, and copying will be removed from Google Drive, Docs, Sheets, and Slides on all platforms. Visit the Help Center to learn more about stopping, limiting, or changing how your files are shared..

Rollout pace

• Rapid and Scheduled Release domains: Gradual rollout (up to 15 days for feature visibility) starting on January 9, 2025

Availability

• IRM controls are available for all Google Workspace customers
• Data Loss Prevention Rules and Context-Aware Access conditions are available for Google Workspace:
  • Enterprise Standard and Plus
  • Education Fundamentals, Standard, Plus, and the Teaching and Learning add-on
  • Frontline Standard
  • Enterprise Essentials and Enterprise Essentials Plus

Source: Gimasys