Google is officially releasing Chrome OS Flex, its cloud-first operating system designed for PC and Macs that allows organizations to repurpose older machines with Google’s cloud-based operating system.
The company first introduced Chrome OS Flex in February in early access channels, saying the offering is essentially a new version of CloudReady, an operating system built on Chromioum OS that was developed by Neverware (acquired by Google in 2020) that helps modernize older PCs and Macs.
On Thursday, the company said it took the last few months and feedback from early access participants to improve the Chrome OS Flex experience, introducing new proactive security features, simple deployment and management via USB through a customer network, the ability to manage apps and policies from anywhere and background updates that reduce device downtime.
Another feature of the offering is the ability to reduce hardware waste by repurposing outdated PCs and Macs with Google’s cloud operating system.
In its announcements, Google introduced a case study from Nordic Choice Hotels, which used Chrome OS Flex to quickly replace the operating systems on compromised devices after a ransomware attack.
“Chrome OS Flex enabled Nordic Choice Hotels to turn a disaster into an upgrade,” Google said in a blog. “With a one-page guide and a USB drive, employees across 200 Nordic Choice hotels in Scandinavia were able to convert 2,000 computers in under 48 hours, protecting their business from a costly shutdown.”
Chrome OS Flex will also allow the hotel chain to save up to 1.5 million kilos of CO2 over the next eight years, according to the blog.
In addition to replacing the operating systems on PCs or Macs, Google says it can be used to deploy a cloud-first OS on purpose-built hardware for specialized use cases like kiosks or digital signage.
The solution also comes with built-in protection against viruses, ransomware and phishing attacks, including sandboxing technology to keep threats contained to a specific tab or app. The read-only OS blocks executables where threats hide, and Google says its Safe Browsing feature helps warn users before they open malicious sites. IT can even prevent data loss on lost or stolen devices with remote wipe.
After logging in, a user’s cloud profile is downloaded and automatically syncs their settings, bookmarks and policies, and a cloud-based Google Admin console gives IT the ability to easily manage the deployment, according to the company.
Google says Chrome OS Flex is also easy for IT to deploy and manage, taking just a few minutes to install on devices through USB or network deployment. After logging in, a user’s cloud profile is downloaded and automatically syncs their settings, bookmarks and policies, and a cloud-based Google Admin console gives IT the ability to easily manage the deployment.
Chrome OS Flex has the same code base and release cadence as Chrome OS to ensure a consistent end user and IT experience, the offering includes the official Chrome Browser, Chrome Assistant and cross-device features in the same user interface as Chrome OS.
Google says a Chrome Enterprise for Education upgrade allows IT to manage Chrome OS Flex devices and Chrome OS devices like Chromebooks side by side in the Google Admin console.
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