How HCLSoftware works safer with Google Workspace security controls

“User productivity and security are traditionally at odds with each other — the more secure you are, the less productive you are. With Google Workspace, that no longer holds true. Our team can achieve both at the same time.”
— Adam Currie, CISO & Head of IT Engineering, HCLSoftware

Snapshot: HCLSoftware is the software development arm of global IT consulting company, HCLTech. Building software solutions for enterprise organizations requires a well-connected, international team. Read more to learn how HCLSoftware is using Google Workspace to:

• Securely classify and grant proper access to sensitive information

• Adhere to stringent compliance frameworks and data privacy laws

• Future-proof its teams’ workflows with Gemini for Google Workspace

The mission and challenge

How do you choose technology that helps you do more, faster, without losing sight of security?

Software development calls for specialized teams to build, test, and launch quickly. To address these needs, HCLSoftware was created from the larger HCL Technology Limited’s traditional IT organization, with a laser focus on innovation, speed, security, manageability, usability, and adoption.

To move faster and improve security, HCLSoftware decided to migrate to a web-based collaboration solution. “We also wanted to minimize disruptions to our existing workflows,” says Adam Currie, CISO & Head of IT Engineering, HCLSoftware. “Many of our users were already familiar with Google Workspace, and it’s modern, adaptable, and secure, so our transition to the platform was pretty seamless.”

The switch to Google Workspace and Gemini

During the migration to Google Workspace, HCLSoftware found new ways to shift away from monolithic, legacy solutions. This included using Google Workspace as a way to appeal to a new generation of talent excited about technologies like generative AI. 

“Human beings are creatures of habit, so we often need catalysts to break those habits for the better. For us, that catalyst was Google Workspace,” shares Currie. “Recently, we transformed some of our workflows by moving away from a traditional spreadsheet format and into a database and querying engine in Google Sheets, and we see teams across the organization adjusting and accelerating every day.”

This acceleration is due in part to the flexibility of Google Workspace, which helps people uncover new and innovative ways of working. “Our users can easily personalize their work experience with Gemini for Workspace,” says Currie. “I use it to make my emails more succinct or adjust my tone. And at an organizational level, we’re seeing wider adoption.” Teams are currently using Gemini for a wide range of workflows such as writing, presentation creation, and data analysis.

Improving company security with Google Workspace

While the company’s approach to productivity and collaboration continues to evolve, Currie is also focused on how Workspace supports HCLSoftware’s security posture. This is especially complicated in a diverse environment made up of a wide range of operating systems, applications, and hardware. “We have environments that contain vulnerabilities to test and validate our products which require complex microsegmentation,” he says. “To protect all of that, we have to trust tools that reinforce our zero trust security strategy to safeguard our intellectual property.”

With Google Workspace, the team has implemented controls to secure company IP by preventing developers from accessing critical files from development laptops. “By connecting Workspace with our identity provider, we have greater control over access permissions and can automate access management,” shares Currie. Automating access and authorization processes also frees up service desk teams to focus on more complex service tickets. 

With more granular access management, HCLSoftware can even safely extend access to its sensitive data to trusted partners. “We can also grant fine-grained access to external partners without giving them access to our entire environment, whether it's a one-time use case or an ongoing partnership.”

These granular controls ensure HCLSoftware adheres to data regulations, such as GDPR, and fulfills its contractual security requirements with its customers to secure shared data. “The flexibility in role-based access, individual device controls, and variety of data loss prevention (DLP) controls mean we can easily protect our data no matter where it lives,” Currie says.

Looking ahead

Going forward, the company sees opportunities for individual users to leverage more advanced Gemini functionality. “Be it with gen AI spam analysis or adaptive DLP controls, we’re looking to gain even greater confidence in our security with solutions that automatically grow and evolve alongside our business,” Currie concludes.