Google Workspace announced the launch of a new AI-driven ransomware detection and file restoration capability in Google Drive for desktop. This initiative aims to provide enterprises with a robust layer of protection against ransomware attacks, helping organizations safeguard critical files and ensure business continuity.
Ransomware continues to pose a significant threat to businesses across industries including healthcare, retail, education, manufacturing, and government, often resulting in substantial financial losses, operational downtime, and compromised data. To address this growing challenge, Google has enhanced Drive for desktop with AI-powered ransomware detection that automatically halts file syncing when threats are detected and allows users to restore files quickly and efficiently.
Unlike traditional antivirus solutions, which focus on detecting malicious code before activation, Google’s AI model identifies core ransomware behavior, such as mass file encryption or corruption attempts. This protective system places a “bubble” around affected files to prevent the spread of ransomware, ensuring organizational data remains secure.
Also Read: Databricks Launches Data Intelligence for Cybersecurity
The AI model, trained on millions of real-world ransomware samples, continuously adapts to emerging threats by analyzing file changes and incorporating threat intelligence from VirusTotal. Users receive alerts via desktop notifications and email, guiding them to restore files through an intuitive web interface. This approach minimizes workflow disruption and data loss, even when using traditional software like Microsoft Windows and Office.
Administrators retain full visibility and control, receiving detailed alerts in the Admin console and leveraging the security center to review audit logs. The ransomware detection and restoration feature is enabled by default across Workspace commercial plans, with no additional cost, and consumer users also benefit from file restoration capabilities.
“By seamlessly integrating AI-powered ransomware detection and restore capabilities into Drive, Google is helping organizations with an innovative way to avoid an increasingly common and increasingly dangerous threat while also giving end users the ability to continue working. This is great not only for Google Workspace users but individuals and companies who may use other office productivity suites as well,” said Bob O’Donnell, President and Chief Analyst, TECHnalysis Research.
The new capability is currently rolling out in an open beta, reinforcing Google Drive’s position as a secure and resilient platform for enterprise productivity.