CloudLock Labs Launches with First Google Apps Product

With other methods of tracking usage and access to cloud services and data already on the market, it was probably only a matter of time before someone aimed to help organizations track the geographic location services that are being accessed. Enter CloudLock, which launched not only its CloudLock Labs “innovation-focused projects” brand, but also GeoFence for Google Apps, the first service being offered under the new brand.

Available in the Google Apps Marketplace, GeoFence for Google Apps provides organizations—or their trusted solutions providers—with the ability to track where their users are accessing data from, what location users are logging in from, and any changes made by admins in their domain. Say “so long” to the ability to log in from sunny beaches secretively (you didn’t really think we believed you were at home sick for a week, did you?).

Although there may seem like a Big Brother element to such technology, at least to the end user, knowing this kind of geographic information could help IT admins and channel partners in tracking what could become huge liabilities. As sensitive data becomes accessible from more and more places, many end users neglect to consider that some of that information can only be accessed within their own nations. A solution on the order of GeoFence could help solve that problem.

“We envision Labs as an innovative, adventurous, and essentially customer-driven way to drive cloud security forward. Look at the news on any given day and you’ll clearly see that the number of risks and data breaches is only accelerating; we’ve introduced CloudLock Labs as part of our commitment to innovation in helping organizations meet those challenges,” said Ron Zalkind, CTO and lead researcher for CloudLock, in a prepared statement.

For partners, there isn’t an immediate financial benefit to providing customers with GeoFence, as it’s being released as a free offering. But consider the potential opportunities around wrapping professional services and security monitoring while integrating them with GeoFence for Google Apps.

Hardly insignificant, isn’t it? Cloud security is still top of mind among many CIOs, and helping them to solve that problem could lead to swifter adoption of cloud services and a more rapidly growing market opportunity.