Use Google Drive for Your Work Files with Venn

Venn has an integration available with Google Drive that allows you to access your Google Drive files through your device's built-in file system. Files saved in Google Drive are secure and backed up in the cloud. 

If your company uses Google Drive with Venn, your work Google Drive will be located on the virtual, encrypted, local drive within the Secure Enclave on your device called Venn Disk. Venn Disk is only accessible when you’re logged into Venn. Learn more about Venn Disk.

Learn more about how to access file systems in the Venn Disk:

The Google Drive integration with Venn is only available on Windows. If you use Google Drive on a Mac, you can securely use the web version in Blue Border. You can also securely use the web version of Google Drive in Blue Border on Windows devices.

If your company uses another file storage solution such as Box or Dropbox, you can securely use the web version of your file storage solution in Blue Border. 

Set Up Google Drive for Venn

To use Google Drive as a third-party file system for Venn, an administrator must assign the file system application to you in Venn. Once assigned, Google Drive will appear in your Apps list in Venn's Workplace app.

To set up Google Drive access:

  1. From the Venn Launcher, go to the Apps page.
  2. Locate and click Google Drive.
  3. If the icon for Google Drive appears as a brown downward-facing arrow, it indicates that Google Drive is not installed on your device. You must install the Google Drive application on your computer. 

    • If your Company Manager has configured automatic and/or manual downloads for the app, you will see an Install button. Click Install. Your options will vary based on the install options your company has made available.

      • Click Install for me if prompted if you would like the app to be automatically installed by Venn using the installer configured for your company.

      • Click Get installer if prompted to be brought to the page where your company would like you to download the app.

    • If your Company Manager hasn’t configured automatic and/or manual downloads for the app, you will not see the Install button. Instead, you will see a message telling you that you need to install the app. To install the app:

      1. Open an internet browser outside of Venn.

      2. Visit the app's website and go to the download page.

      3. Locate the 64-bit Windows install file.

      4. Download and install the app.

    • After installation, it may take a few minutes for Venn to detect that the app was installed. If Venn does not detect the installation after several minutes, log out and back in to Venn.

  4. Click Launch below Google Drive to open it from the Apps page.

    Launcher_Launch Google Drive.png

  5. When the application opens, follow the instructions to sign in with your work credentials.

Accessing Google Drive on Windows

Once you have launched and signed into Google Drive from Venn's Workplace app, you will be able to access Google Drive files and folders through the Windows File Explorer.

Google Drive must be launched from Venn to connect to the cloud file system. If you open the Finder outside Blue Border (for example, from the Start Menu or Desktop), you will not be able to access the files in Google Drive.

To access Google Drive on Windows:

  1. Log in to Venn’s Workplace app.
  2. Click the Folder icon in the bottom left of the Launcher or click the app called Files or File Explorer on the Launch or Apps page of the Launcher.

    Launcher_Access Files_Windows.png

  3. File Explorer will open inside Blue Border.
  4. Double-click to open the Venn Disk (V:) drive under This PC in File Explorer.

    Venn Disk_Windows.png

  5. Double-click to open Google Drive.
Right-click Google Drive and select Pin to Quick access to make it easily accessible at the top of your File Explorer.

Available Folders in Google Drive

Venn will create a "Downloads" and "Documents" folder within your Google Drive folder if they do not already exist:

  • Documents Folder: This folder acts as the default save location when saving a file inside Blue Border.
  • Downloads Folder: This folder serves as the default location for files downloaded inside Blue Border.

You may also see folders that are available to everyone in your company or folders that have been shared with you.

Open, Edit, Save, and Delete Files in Google Drive

To open a file, navigate to the file location in Google Drive and double-click the file to open it. Venn will download the file from the cloud and open it with the appropriate application on your computer.

As you edit the file and save your changes, the updated version of the file will auto-sync with the cloud.

If you create a new file that you would like to save to Google Drive, navigate to the appropriate Google Drive location in the Save As dialog box to save the file to the appropriate location. You can only save a file to Google Drive if you have it open in Blue Border. 

If you need to move a file from a personal location such as your Desktop or Documents folder into Google Drive, you can drag and drop or copy and paste the file. Depending on your company’s Data Loss Prevention Policies, you may not be able to move files from Google Drive to a personal location on your device.

If you would like to delete a file from Google Drive, you can follow the standard process to do so in Windows File Explorer.

Create and Delete Folders in Google Drive

To create or delete folders in Google Drive, you can follow the standard process to do so in Windows File Explorer:

Share Google Drive Files and Folders

When you use Google Drive, you have the ability to share files and folders with coworkers, collaborators, clients, and more.

In order to share files and folders and manage sharing in Google Drive, you will need to open the Google Drive web app. Follow these instructions to share a file or folder from the Google Drive web application.

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