This week, we are announcing a couple important updates coming straight to us from Google.

Action required: Important changes to Google Sites

Google is making some changes to the way their Sites service works. If you currently have a Google Site within the Miami domain, please read carefully!

Last year, Google started the transition away from an older interface of Sites. Now, if you go to sites.google.com, you will see the new interface. It’s sleeker, more streamlined, and easier to use. That means, however, that the Classic Sites interface is going away.

If you have a site that was built in the Classic Sites interface, your site will need to be manually migrated to the new Sites interface. Follow Google’s instructions at this link for converting your site.

You will need to convert your site by the end of September 2021. After that time, no one will be able to view your content on the old sites, so make sure to migrate it!

Google making security enhancements to Drive links

Google is once again making changes to some Drive functionality that you should be aware of.

As of September 13, 2021, Google will be applying a security update to Drive that will make file sharing more secure.

This update changes the links used for some files. For these files, folks who have already viewed them or who have direct access won’t be impacted; but others might need to request access. You will get a notification of any impacted files.

The bottom line is: Google is making a change to improve security for file sharing. You may have to request access for some files, or may have people reaching out to you for access to files you own. Other than that, you won’t have to do anything!

Wrapping up

To reiterate, here are the dates you will have to remember for upcoming Google changes:

• September 30, 2021: You will need to convert your Google Site to the new Sites interface by the end of September. After that time, no one will be able to view your content on the old sites, so make sure to migrate it!
• September 13, 2021: Google will be applying a security update to Drive that will make file sharing more secure.

Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns about either update. Call IT Help at 513-529-7900 or initiate a live chat session at MiamiOH.edu/ITChat. Thank you!