Ensure external spaces in Google Chat and Hangouts are restricted (Manual)
Description
Control whether users can create or join spaces within your organization that include external people outside of your organization.
Rationale
Restricting external spaces to only approved domains potentially limits the spread of company information.
Impact
Users with this setting turned off or who have editions that don't support external spaces can't create these spaces, but they can join existing spaces with external people.
Audit Procedure
Using Google Workspace Admin Console
- Log in to https://admin.google.com as an administrator
- Select
Apps - Select
Google Chat and classic Hangouts - Select
External Spaces - Under
Setting, verifyAllow users at <domain> to create and join spaces with people outside their organizationis ON - Verify
Only allow users to add people from allowlisted domainsis checked
Expected Result
Allow users at <domain> to create and join spaces with people outside their organization should be ON, and Only allow users to add people from allowlisted domains should be checked.
Remediation
Using Google Workspace Admin Console
- Log in to https://admin.google.com as an administrator
- Select
Apps - Select
Google Chat and classic Hangouts - Select
External Spaces - Under
Setting, setAllow users at <domain> to create and join spaces with people outside their organizationto ON - Set
Only allow users to add people from allowlisted domainsto checked - Select
Save
Default Value
Allow users at <company> to create and join spaces with people outside their organizationis ONOnly allow users to add people from allowlisted domainsis unchecked
CIS Controls
| Controls Version | Control | IG 1 | IG 2 | IG 3 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| v8 | 3.3 Configure Data Access Control Lists | x | x | x |
| v7 | 14.6 Protect Information through Access Control Lists | x | x | x |
Profile
Level 1