What Google’s new Gmail encryption means for your email signatures

Google recently announced support for end-to-end email encryption in Gmail, using client-side encryption (CSE). This update gives businesses more control over data privacy.

While this brings enhanced security for some organizations, it also introduces changes for those using Exclaimer’s email signature management with Google Workspace.

This blog explains what the update means for Exclaimer customers and how to prepare.

About Google's client-side encryption functionality

Google’s CSE feature allows organizations to fully encrypt emails before they leave the sender’s device. When enabled, Gmail users can send end-to-end encrypted messages, even to recipients outside their organization.

This feature is:

• Opt-in, and not enabled by default

• Available to customers on Google Workspace Enterprise Plus, Frontline Plus, Education Standard, and Education Plus plans

Client-side encryption prevents Google’s servers—or any third-party services like Exclaimer—from accessing or modifying email content. This can affect your email signature management options.

The impact on email signatures

Here’s how Google’s client-side encryption update affects your ability to apply and manage email signatures with Exclaimer:

• Server-side signatures will no longer work if you enable CSE. Since the email body is locked before it reaches Exclaimer’s platform, we can’t apply a signature after the fact.

• Client-side signatures still function normally, because they’re added before the message is encrypted. Consider whether this approach would suit your organization’s needs.

Organizations interested in Google’s client-side encryption should weigh the trade-offs between added security and reduced control over branded content.

Who will be affected?

At this stage, only organizations on eligible Google Workspace plans who actively enable encryption will be impacted.

Based on our analysis, this is likely to affect larger Google customers (300+ seats) who opt into the feature. Most small to mid-size businesses using Business-tier plans will see no change.

Recommended actions for customers

If you’re considering enabling client-side encryption in Gmail, it’s important to understand how it could impact your current email signature setup.

• If you enable encryption:

  • Be aware that server-side signatures will not appear on encrypted messages.

  • Explore client-side signature options if you need basic contact info or disclaimers included.

• If you don’t enable encryption:

  • Nothing changes. Your server-side signatures will continue to work as expected.

Exclaimer is monitoring the adoption of Google’s encryption features and evaluating long-term solutions for client-side signatures.

We’re here to help

Exclaimer remains committed to helping you maintain consistent, compliant, and on-brand email signatures, regardless of platform changes. We’ll continue adapting alongside updates from Google and other providers, and we’re here to guide you through any changes that affect your configuration.

For further reading:

• See Google’s blog post about this change

• Learn how to enable client-side signatures with Exclaimer

Have questions? Get in touch with us—we’re here to help.