G-suite is considering to implement a malware and virus detection. How would you evaluate the decision?

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G-suite is considering to implement a malware and virus detection. How would you evaluate the decision?

Asked at Google over a year ago

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Nicole2021 · Answer 1 · 2021-02-27T22:37:35+0000

Clarify

When we say implement malware and virus detection, does that mean we might automatically scan emails for viruses and notifiy users of suspicous emails? [yes]
Do we not have a feature like that currently [Assume we don't]
When we refer to G-suite, with the primary products of focus be gmail and chrome? [yes]

Let's talk about those product lines, look at pros and cons of the option, and then I'll make a recommendation.

Overview of Chrome

Chrome is a leading web browser and a flagship product for Google

Overview of Gmail

Gmail is a leading email application for web and mobile and is another flagship product for Google
There has been an increase in suspicious activity related to email and viruses sent by email could be key concern for users - both enterprise and personal

Pros and cons of implementing virus and malware detection

Potential Revenue - Pro
- price - We could consider charging for this functionality to enterprise users and perhaps even to personal users of Gsuite. Virus and malware detection software is a popular product for enterprise users and segments of personal users, notably older users who have some fear about the internet and scams.
- volume - It is likely that our enterprise users would find this feature attractive. I'm not sure what percentage of our Gsuite user base is enterprise, but it's likely significant
Costs - Con
- Implementation cost of this software will vary depending on if we are building it or buying it. I will assume we are building it, given our deep strength in software engineering and knowledge of the internet.
- In that case, the cost associated with this decision are likely to be higher on the fixed vs variable side. The fixed costs will be engineering time to develop and a key consideration is always what other projects could our team be working on.
Pro - Key diffentiator that may enable us to drive adoption of flagship products by giving users peace of mind in usage
TBD if pro or con - User experience - Imaginging that a user clicks on an email and google has a banner indicating that it may contain a virus. Assuming that the software is accurate, there may be a postive impact to the user experience, but if the software has too many False negatives, that could frustrate the user and lead to a poor user experience.

Recommendation

In assessing the options that we laid out for pros and cons of virus and malware detection, the potential revenue is likely much higher from at minimum enterprise customers than the costs. Additionally, the key differentiation of this feature could enable us to use it to gain market share from our competitors. One important thing to keep in mind is the accuracy of the prediction. If it not accurate, it could detract from the user experience. Overall, I recommend we proceed with implementation.

jcmacintosh · Answer 2 · 2021-02-05T06:39:51+0000

Interesting question. Let me try doing a situational analysis ..

Company - Google is a very recognizable brand in itself. Almost everyone uses Google products for something or the other, if not anything Search is right now synonymous with Google. so much so that "google" is a verb in the english lexicon. People associate with Speed, trust, ease of use. The G-Suite products encompasses, Google Docs, Forms, slides, chat, calendar, gmail, meet, etc., Some of the products within G-Suite are recognizable and have wide user base like gmail, some other products like Google Docs, Forms etc are still on a growth trajectory.
Competition - there is a wide variety of competition
1. Enterprise level Office Products-
  1. Microsoft Office has probably the largest market share. It has wide acceptance on all Platforms and across big organization. Microsoft has been in this business for a very long time and has had big established relationships. Also since most users are on Windows platform, Office products , Internet Explorer and the entire Microsoft ecosystem is easy to buy into. There is also a wide integration with multiple other applications / platforms i.e. PDF etc. Microsoft Excel is a pretty neat tool used for variety of uses. Many enterprise level systems etc use Excel as an input, reports are on excel etc.
  2. Apple Products are also present, but apple is a pretty locked in platform. In other words a user for Apple Pages, slides, keynote is more likely an Apple MAC user
2. Open source products - Evernote, This is still nascent and doesnt have a huge buzz in the users G-Suite is targeting.
3. Individual Products - Zoom, Slack
4. Malware detection and antivirus products - companies like Norton, McAfee arent competitors now, but if G-Suite were to incorporate these features they will become competition.
Customers - The G-Suite customer is different than MS Office customer. Small to Medium businesses primarily and enterprises which are interested in reducing the cost of ownership for these products. They arent looking for a heavy organic install, they arent expected to work on desktops / laptops rather on tablets. The workforce is expected to be largely mobile. Many of these businesses are new and growing and they arent at a point where the workforce numbers are stable, it could increase / decrease. Buying into an expensive eco system which has a cost to disengage is discouraging. These are also the companies that depend on the internet for the majority of their technology infrastructure. The G-Suite presents them with a unique opportunity to reduce the IT footprint, and provides them a wide variety of tools to cater to every needs.
Climate - In todays world as more and more businesses are going online, it is also opening everyone up to digital threats and hacking. This a very real need that is serviced by applications such as Norton / McAfee / Kapersky / AVG etc.
Opportunity -
1. Reducing Technology footprint - Given the customer profile, and the likely needs of these businesses, addition of a malware detection and antivirus will go further in reducing the cost of ownership. Today, there will most likely be a Norton / McAfee / Antivirus install on every Windows laptop. The customers will see this as a one stop shop for all Technology needs related to office workspace, and will potentially drive adoption.
2. updates and maintenance - Furthermore the current installation of Antivirus requires routine updates to the library and the antivirus has to be "taught" to recognize friendly pop-ups vs unfriendly. Google already has a very rich spam filter on Gmail and is in a position to have a library of its own for malware and virus. G-suite can have a single update that can auto run and patch applications as well as virus definitions requiring no user over head
3. Cross Sell - it will also position the Chromebook which comes with G-Suite to have a leg up with secure and protected features.
4. Competition - traditional workspace providers i.e. Microsoft doesnt have this all in package with an antivirus so this will be a completely new differentiator. For all other features in G-Suite Microsoft Office 365 has an equivalent, except the antivirus

Summarizing - Google should implement the G-Suite with Malware and Antivirus detection, it will strengthen the G-Suite positioning as a one stop shop for all office related features as well as become a differentiator to major competitors like Microsoft.

Would truly love to hear some feedback.