In a significant upgrade to its Workspace offering, Google announced the rollout of a new and straightforward file locking feature for Google Drive files. As per the company’s recent blog post, the feature has started to deploy to Rapid Release domains and will be available on Scheduled Release domains starting September 20th, with a 15-day rollout period for both.

“Document security just got simpler. Now, Workspace customers can effortlessly lock Google Drive files at any time with just a few clicks, making them read-only until manually unlocked,” Google stated.

While a file is locked, users with any level of access—be it editing or commenting—will only be able to view the document. The file essentially turns into a read-only mode, preventing any edits, comments, or suggestions until it is unlocked by the owner.

The key advantage of this feature over existing Google Drive API or file approval systems is its ease of use. Users can quickly lock a file by right-clicking on it, navigating to File Information, and selecting “Lock.”

The announcement is part of a string of new features Google has been incorporating into its Workspace suite to compete with rivals like Microsoft. The company has recently launched Duet AI, an AI assistant for Workspace applications available for a monthly subscription, as well as native eSignature support.

The introduction of the file locking feature comes at a time when the need for simpler yet secure data protection tools is evident. “Sometimes, it’s the simple features like file locking that provide the most satisfaction. Workspace customers no longer have to navigate complex, convoluted processes for something as fundamental as document security,” the blog post added.

As businesses increasingly migrate their operations online, Google’s new feature is expected to provide an extra layer of security, ensuring that confidential files remain untouched when needed, all with the ease of a few clicks.