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CRT Blogs (1)
May 20, 2025

Spotlight On: The Browser Insights Feature in the ChromeOS Readiness Tool

One of the standout capabilities of the ChromeOS Readiness Tool is Browser Insights, a feature designed specifically to evaluate and understand your organization’s web environment.

This feature offers a comprehensive overview of browser and extension usage across your organization. It provides statistics on browser popularity, version distribution, and average usage trends. This information helps IT teams make informed and confident decisions regarding their current web setup and its compatibility with ChromeOS and the Chrome Enterprise Browser.

What kind of data does it capture?

The Browser Insights feature includes browser usage data, browser version information, and extension details. On the dashboard, you can see key statistics such as the Total Device Count, Unique Browsers identified, the Total Browser Versions in use, and the Total Extensions found across the organization. It shows the usage of the most used browsers within the organization, listing browsers like Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Firefox, Opera, Vivaldi, and Brave, along with their usage percentages. The dashboard also presents the average usage between browsers and applications.

Furthermore, you can find detailed information on different browser versions used and the number of devices running them, as well as an organization-wide overview of extensions, including their names, IDs, and version information. A list of devices is displayed, followed by the extension names for each browser on that device.

Here's how this feature specifically benefits your organization:

  • Centralized Visibility: The feature provides a single location to view browser and extension data from all managed devices.

  • Improved Security Posture: By identifying unauthorized or potentially risky extensions and outdated browser versions, IT teams can effectively reduce security risks within the organization.

  • Transition Readiness: The insights gained are crucial for assessing your current web setup and supporting a smoother move to ChromeOS and the Chrome Enterprise Browser.

Data collection for the Browser Insights feature is Admin-Controlled & Compliant. This means the process is transparent, requiring administrator approval before data is collected.

You can explore the data captured by this feature on the intuitive web-based dashboard. The dashboard provides detailed insights into device readiness for ChromeOS, including valuable browser information, offering a clear view of compatibility status and assessment results. The dashboard allows you to see a company readiness overview, device readiness statuses, and various reports.

By using the Browser Insights feature, organizations gain crucial visibility into their web environment. This enables better security practices and streamlined management, and provides a clearer path for transitioning to Chrome Enterprise Browser.

Methasha Silva

Business Analyst

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May 19, 2025

How Secure Is the ChromeOS Readiness Tool?

In an era where cyber‑threats are ever‑present, ensuring secure planning for a ChromeOS transition is critical. The ChromeOS Readiness Tool is designed with robust security measures to ensure that your organization's sensitive information remains protected throughout the migration assessment process.

Multi-Layered Data Encryption

ChromeOS Readiness Tool employs advanced encryption techniques to safeguard your data:

  • AES Encryption: All log files generated by ChromeOS Readiness Tool are encrypted using the Advanced Encryption Standard (AES), ensuring that data at rest is secure.

  • RSA Encryption: The AES encryption keys themselves are further protected by encrypting them with the server's RSA public key, adding an additional layer of security.

These encryption methods ensure that even if data is intercepted, it remains unintelligible to unauthorized parties.

Controlled Access with Private Keys

Access to the assessment details on the web dashboard is restricted:

  • Private Key Requirement: Only the user who deployed the tool and possesses the corresponding private key can decrypt and view the assessment data.

This ensures that sensitive information is accessible only to authorized personnel within your organization.

Secure Storage Options

ChromeOS Readiness Tool offers flexible storage solutions to align with your organization's security policies:

  • Network Shared Folder: For organizations preferring on-premises data storage, the ChromeOS Readiness Tool allows encrypted data to be stored in a designated network shared folder. Access to this folder is restricted to authorized IT personnel, ensuring secure data handling within your internal infrastructure.

  • Google Cloud Platform (GCP) Storage: For organizations utilizing cloud services, ChromeOS Readiness Tool supports storage on GCP. This option leverages Google's robust security measures, including role-based access controls, to protect your data in the cloud.

Certifications, Compliance, and Best Practices

In addition to encryption and access controls, the ChromeOS Readiness Tool follows strict compliance standards and best practices to meet the needs of enterprise IT teams:

  •  SOC 2 Type 2 Certification

The ChromeOS Readiness Tool, along with its development and operational processes at Codimite, has been independently audited and awarded SOC 2 Type 2 certification. This validates that the tool meets rigorous standards for security, availability, and confidentiality over time — not just at a single point. The certification reflects a proven track record of secure practices, giving organizations assurance that the tool operates under a compliant and secure framework.

  • Digitally Signed Scripts with Sectigo

All deployment scripts for the ChromeOS Readiness Tool are digitally signed by Sectigo, a globally trusted certificate authority. This signature ensures the integrity and authenticity of every script — so organizations can verify that the deployment packages have not been altered or tampered with. It’s a key safeguard that adds confidence to enterprise-scale rollouts.

  • GDPR Compliance

The ChromeOS Readiness Tool is designed in alignment with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Its data collection and processing mechanisms follow best practices for transparency, user privacy, and lawful handling of information — particularly for EU-based organizations. While not certified, the tool’s architecture reflects a thorough internal analysis to ensure GDPR-aligned operation.

Enterprise-Grade Deployment Flexibility

ChromeOS Readiness Tool  is designed to accommodate various organizational structures:

  • PowerShell Script Deployment Ideal for both small teams and large enterprises, PowerShell scripts enable quick, customizable deployment across user devices. These scripts are digitally signed by Sectigo, ensuring authenticity and guarding against tampering during distribution or execution. IT administrators can easily roll out the tool while maintaining strict governance and security policies.

  • Active Directory (AD) Integration For enterprises with centralized user and device management, ChromeOS Readiness Tool supports seamless integration with Active Directory. This allows IT teams to deploy the tool in a controlled, authenticated environment, ensuring only trusted endpoints are included in the assessment process. AD integration also makes it easier to apply role-based access controls, further strengthening security.

These deployment options ensure that ChromeOS Readiness Tool can be tailored to meet the specific security and operational needs of your organization.

Centralized Reporting with Security in Mind

ChromeOS Readiness Tool’s ability to generate centralized reports from multiple devices provides comprehensive insights while maintaining data security:

  • Encrypted Data Collection: All data collected from user devices is encrypted, ensuring that sensitive information remains protected during aggregation and analysis.

  • Secure Dashboard Access: The web dashboard, used for displaying readiness reports, requires proper authentication and possession of the private key, ensuring that only authorized users can access the compiled data.

By integrating these comprehensive security measures, the ChromeOS Readiness Tool ensures that your organization's data remains protected throughout the migration assessment process. Whether you choose on-premises storage or cloud-based solutions,  ChromeOS Readiness Tool provides the flexibility and security necessary for a confident transition to ChromeOS.

For more information and to get started with the ChromeOS Readiness Tool, visit the official website.

What is the ChromeOS Readiness Tool, and Why Your Business Needs It (4)
May 9, 2025

Understanding Readiness Statuses of ChromeOS Readiness Tool

Switching to ChromeOS? Wondering if your apps and devices are up for the task? The ChromeOS Readiness Tool  takes out the guesswork with clear, actionable readiness statuses. In this blog, we’ll unpack what each status means—so you know exactly where you stand and what steps to take next for a seamless transition.

When preparing to migrate to ChromeOS, one of the key challenges organizations face is ensuring their apps and devices are fully compatible. The ChromeOS Readiness Tool (CRT) simplifies this process by clearly classifying the readiness of both applications and devices—helping you take the right action at the right time.

In this blog, we’ll break down exactly what these readiness statuses mean and why they matter.

Device Readiness Statuses

ChromeOS Readiness Tool categorizes devices into three clear statuses:

  • Ready to Switch: The device is fully compatible and ready for transition to ChromeOS without any issues.

  • Ready with Verification: The device is compatible with ChromeOS, but additional verification or testing is recommended to ensure full functionality and performance.

  • Blocked from Switching: The device has critical applications that prevent it from being compatible with ChromeOS. Switching is not recommended at this time.

Application Readiness Statuses

For applications, ChromeOS Readiness Tool provides the following classifications:

  • Chrome Ready: The application is fully compatible and ready to run on ChromeOS without any issues.

  • Possibly Ready: The application may work on ChromeOS, but it might require additional configuration or adjustments.

  • Blockers: Significant issues prevent the application from running on ChromeOS. These issues need to be addressed before the app can be used.

  • Unknown: The ChromeOS Readiness Tool team is continuously working on enhancing the tool by updating its database with new solutions and compatibility data to improve accuracy and provide better guidance over time.

 Why Are These Statuses Important?

These readiness statuses give IT teams a clear roadmap for ChromeOS migration:

  • You’ll know which devices and apps are fully ready to deploy right away.

  • You can identify items that need extra testing to ensure smooth operation.

  • You’ll be alerted to critical blockers that must be resolved or replaced to prevent disruptions.

By following these statuses, you can minimize surprises and confidently manage your transition to ChromeOS.

What is the ChromeOS Readiness Tool, and Why Your Business Needs It (3)
May 8, 2025

5 Ways ChromeOS Accelerates Digital Transformation

Digital transformation has become a critical imperative for businesses seeking agility, security, and competitive advantage in today’s fast-evolving landscape. ChromeOS, Google’s cloud-native operating system, is emerging as a powerful catalyst for this transformation, enabling organizations to modernize operations, enhance productivity, and reduce costs with remarkable efficiency.

Here are five key ways ChromeOS drives digital transformation:

1. Cost-Effective Modernization and Sustainability

ChromeOS enables organizations to extend the life of existing hardware through solutions like ChromeOS Flex, which can be installed on legacy PCs and Macs. This reduces e-waste and cuts down on the need for expensive new hardware purchases. ChromeOS devices also consume 46% less energy than comparable devices and receive up to 10 years of automatic updates, supporting both financial and environmental sustainability goals.

2. Enhanced Security by Design

Security is a cornerstone of ChromeOS digital transformation. The operating system employs a multi-layered defense strategy, including sandboxing, verified boot, and automatic updates, which dramatically reduce the risk of malware and cyber threats. ChromeOS's architecture eliminates the need for many third-party security solutions, streamlining IT management and boosting organizational security posture.

3. Seamless Cloud Integration and Collaboration

ChromeOS is built for the cloud, which means employees can access their work from anywhere, on any device. Integration with Google Workspace enables real-time collaboration, live editing, and unified communication through tools like Google Meet, Gmail, and Google Chat. This fosters a dynamic, collaborative environment essential for remote and hybrid work models.

4. Rapid Deployment and Simplified Management

Organizations can deploy ChromeOS devices quickly and at scale, thanks to features like zero-touch enrollment. IT teams benefit from centralized cloud-based management, reducing administrative overhead and allowing for faster onboarding and device provisioning. ChromeOS’s intuitive interface also minimizes the learning curve, making it accessible for users of all skill levels.

5. Scalability for Growing Enterprises

With cloud-based device management and zero-touch enrollment, organizations can provision and deploy hundreds or even thousands of devices with minimal manual effort. Whether onboarding new employees across multiple locations or transitioning to remote work, ChromeOS allows IT teams to apply consistent policies, manage updates, and monitor endpoints all from a centralized console. Its seamless integration with cloud services and virtual desktop infrastructures (VDIs) ensures that enterprises can scale operations without being bogged down by legacy systems or hardware limitations. This agility is essential for any enterprise navigating digital transformation in a fast-paced, competitive environment.

ChromeOS is more than an operating system. It’s a strategic accelerator for digital transformation. By combining cloud-native agility, enterprise-grade security, cost efficiency, and workforce flexibility, it empowers businesses to innovate with confidence. As organizations worldwide embrace cloud-first strategies, ChromeOS stands out as the optimal platform to drive sustainable growth in the digital age.