Hi !
When you, as a municipality and controller invest in a solution like Google Workspace for Education, you're not buying something static. You're investing in a continuously evolving platform, with updates being rolled out regularly. Most of these updates are minor, often related to user interface tweaks.
However, some updates might have unforeseen implications. For instance, an update might inadvertently activate an additional service that you had previously decided against using.
Occasionally, the changes might be so significant that they require extra attention. From time to time, there might for instance be updates to the data processing agreement or its appendices.
Addressing these changes can be resource-intensive, both in terms of expertise and time. While major updates are typically announced well in advance, it's not enough to be aware of them; you need to actively assess and address them.
Simply identifying a change might not be enough; the change might requires follow-up actions on your part. Perhaps the system's Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) needs an update? Other changes might mean you're now processing new personal data, prompting you to determine if you have a legal basis for doing so.
Keeping track of these changes isn't easy, especially if you're tackling it alone. That's why we've made a guide (in Norwegian) on how you as a municipallity and controller can stay up to date on the changes in Google Workspace for Education, and how to handle these changes.
In this newsletter, we'll walk you through the essentials of change management.
Stay informed on what changes are rolled out
Your first step is to familiarize yourself with how to detect updates in Google Workspace for Education. Changes are frequent, and it's crucial to be aware of them to assess any potential implications.
The admin panel in Google Workspace for Education will announce new updates and give you an overview on what changes to expect. Additionally, Google has its own blog on these changes, and a calendar where upcoming changes are listed.
You can also set up an account for faster rollout previews, allowing you to familiarize yourself with updates before they're released to all users.
Our guide provides detailed information on effectively tracking these changes.
Seek assistance when you need to assessing the impacations of the changes
Once you're aware of the updates, you need to review them and determine if any actions are necessary. If you're unsure about the implications of a change, it's wise to consult other experts in your organization.
Does the update apply to your version of Google Workspace for Education? Is it just a UI tweak, or could it mean new personal data is being collected? Evaluating these aspects can be challenging on your own, so we recommend interdisciplinary collaboration. Perhaps you have an IT consultant or legal advisor who can assist?
As our guide suggests, it's beneficial to tackle these issues collaboratively. If you're a smaller municipality, you might need to collaborate with other municipalities on change management.
Systematically address the changes
After identifying and assessing a change, you must decide if actions are needed and how to implement them.
If possible, you might choose to disable a particular update. The key is to handle changes systematically, actively addressing them, assessing any risks, and determining risk mitigation strategies.
Our guide offers advice and recommendations on what this process might look like.
Invitation to LinkedIn Live on change management
We'll be introducing our change management guide in a LinkedIn Live session (in Norwegian).
In our work on guiding municipalities through Google Workspace for Education updates, we've focused on articulating the administrative costs associated with using such a solution.
Join us live to ask questions or share feedback on how you've managed changes in your municipality.
When and where? LinkedIn Live on Monday, 06.11.2023, from 12:00 to 13:00!
Can't make it at that time? No worries! You can watch the recording later via the link above.
I wish you a wonderful, privacy-friendly week-end!
Best regards,
Ida Thorsrud
Project manager national DPIA
This newsletter was translated from Norwegian to English with assistance from ChatGPT by OpenAI. While it guided our translation, we made independent editorial choices. Any discrepancies result from this combined approach.