In this article, we'll explain how Virtru email plugin access works and show you how to control which users in your organization can install and activate it.
Table of Contents
- How Plugin Access Works
- Manage Plugin Access
- Recommended Approach
- If Usage Exceeds Your License Count
How Plugin Access Works
Whether your organization uses Domain Sync (synced) or manages users manually (ad-hoc), the core principle is the same: anyone using a Virtru email plugin (for Google or Microsoft) needs a license. The way licenses are allocated differs slightly between these setups, but in both cases, users on your domain may be able to install and activate the plugin independently.
If your synced organization uses a provisioning group — a Google Group or Microsoft distribution group — that group controls which users are allocated a license for sending encrypted email. However, it does not prevent other users from installing or activating the plugin with limited functionality.
Additional steps are needed to fully control who can use Virtru in your organization. See the sections below for guidance.
Manage Plugin Access
To fully control which users can access the Virtru email plugin, restrict plugin installation through your email platform's admin tools. This is the most effective way to ensure only authorized users can use Virtru.
Google Workspace (Gmail + Chrome extension)
As a Google Workspace administrator, you can control which Chrome extensions are available to users through the Google Admin Console. You can allow the Virtru extension only for specific organizational units or groups.
For detailed instructions, see Google's documentation: Manage Chrome browser extensions in your organization.
Microsoft 365 (Outlook add-in)
As a Microsoft administrator, you can manage Outlook add-in availability through the Exchange Admin Center or Microsoft 365 Admin Center. You can deploy the Virtru add-in only to specific users or groups, or use Intune for more granular control.
For detailed instructions, see Microsoft's documentation:
- Specify who can install and manage add-ins for Outlook
- Manage add-ins in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center
Recommended Approach
For the tightest access control, restrict plugin installation via your Google Admin Console or Microsoft 365 Admin Center so only authorized users can install Virtru.
Alternatively, you can instruct unlicensed users to uninstall Virtru.