Google Vault

Google Vault is an integrated cloud-based archiving, retention, and eDiscovery solution built for organizations using Google Workspace. Designed for legal, compliance, and governance needs, it allows administrators to manage electronically stored data efficiently. Through Vault, authorized users can retain data across Gmail, Google Drive, Google Chat, Google Meet, Groups, Voice (text messages, voicemails, call logs), and Google Sites. Vault supports customizable retention rules and legal holds, ensuring critical information is preserved beyond user actions. It also enables precise searching, previewing, and exporting of data—complete with metadata—to support investigations, audits, or litigation processes. Administrators organize workflows into “matters,” which collect saved search queries, holds, exports, and audit logs for easy management. Access to Vault is restricted to Workspace administrators or users with explicit Vault privileges to maintain data security. Importantly, Vault is not a backup or recovery tool; while you can export data, there is no function to restore content back into user accounts. Governance remains seamless through Vault’s audit reports, which track user activity within the tool. Vault is available as part of certain Google Workspace Business, Enterprise, and Education plans, or as a paid add-on for editions where it's not included.