GCP – Securely deploy ChromeOS Flex – from anywhere

Just three years ago, ChromeOS Flex was born with a mission to breathe new life into existing hardware, offering a modern, sustainable, and secure experience in the process. Today, we’re proud to have over 600 certified devices, and millions of ChromeOS Flex devices being used around the world every day. But we aren’t resting on our laurels. I’m happy to share some much anticipated features coming to ChromeOS Flex that will further empower businesses to modernize their fleet.

You may have seen stories like Strawberry Hotels, who recovered from a ransomware attack in less than 48 hours by repurposing their existing Windows devices with ChromeOS Flex, or Foundations Health Solutions, who saved $1 million while improving patient care by adopting ChromeOS and ChromeOS Flex. These stories highlight how ChromeOS Flex is helping organizations of all sizes extend the lifespan of their hardware, reduce IT costs, and enhance security. And now with tools like remote deployment and expanded network security and VPN application support, it’s even easier for businesses to take advantage of ChromeOS Flex.

Upgrade your fleet with ease

The first advancement we’re introducing is ChromeOS Flex remote deployment. We understand that for large organizations with many globally distributed devices, relying solely on USB drives to migrate to ChromeOS Flex can be cumbersome and time-consuming. This new tool changes that, allowing most managed Windows devices to automatically convert to ChromeOS Flex, from anywhere, with no complex IT requirements.

This tool is designed to offer significant efficiency gains, and streamline ChromeOS Flex deployment across your organization. The best part? It’s simple:

1. Configure: Create a ChromeOS Flex package
2. Deploy: Push the package with your preferred Windows management tool, leveraging your existing infrastructure
3. Convert: On execution, the package will automatically convert your devices to ChromeOS Flex, join predefined Wi-Fi networks, and automatically enroll your device in the Google Admin console

To ensure the security and stability of your existing environment, we’ve designed this tool with administrator-level access in mind, giving IT admins complete control throughout the migration process. For a deep dive into the technical details and how to get started, click here to learn more about ChromeOS Flex remote deployment.

Enhanced security with Android network security and VPN application support

We recognize the critical need for businesses to secure data and access to remote resources, corporate networks, and sensitive information, no matter where work happens. Given that VPN platforms are already the most popular Android applications for our enterprise ChromeOS customers, we’re thrilled to share that Android network security applications from leading providers are now also supported on ChromeOS Flex.

This enhancement boosts ChromeOS Flex’s security capabilities, making it an even more robust solution for repurposing legacy hardware. Businesses and end-users alike will benefit from the seamless compatibility with leading enterprise network security providers such as Cisco, Zscaler, and Fortinet. This enables consistent security policies and a unified approach to network connectivity and data protection across both ChromeOS and ChromeOS Flex devices, ensuring your data is protected at all times, no matter where you get work done.

Three years in, ChromeOS Flex is not just a solution for repurposing hardware–it’s a strategic tool for modernizing your IT infrastructure and strengthening security as well. With ChromeOS Flex remote deployment and Android network security application support, ChromeOS Flex is ready to meet the demands of large organizations, hybrid work environments, and unique security needs.

Interested in learning more about ChromeOS Flex remote deployment? Visit our website.