Smarsh & Google partner to archive encrypted RCS messages

Data capture and archiving solutions firm Smarsh has established a partnership with Google to provide capture and archiving of Rich Communication Services (RCS) messages for regulated organisations.

Unlike legacy SMS messages, encrypted RCS content cannot be captured via traditional carrier networks. Smarsh said this development has posed significant compliance challenges, especially in sectors subject to strict regulatory oversight.

The new solution, known as Android RCS Archival, is integrated with Smarsh Capture and can be deployed on Google Pixel and other Android Enterprise devices. It utilises a secure Google API to collect RCS message content at the device level. This process ensures that messages, including media and metadata, are securely retained for investigative and supervisory purposes.

Compliance capabilities

The Android RCS Archival solution enables organisations to centrally control the capture of encrypted messaging across all managed Android devices. Automated notifications are displayed to employees when archival is active, supporting transparency and awareness of compliance measures in effect.

As AI technologies become standard across business workflows, there is growing pressure on regulated institutions to capture both human and machine-generated communications. Smarsh's systems have been developed to support oversight of both, helping organisations adhere to evolving compliance demands as digital collaboration and communication continue to evolve.

"This is a defining moment for compliant communications. RCS is the future of mobile messaging, offering modern, encrypted capabilities. Our partnership with Google means regulated organizations no longer have to choose between modern communication and compliance-they can confidently enable both," said Kim Crawford Goodman, CEO, Smarsh.

The system is designed to ingest captured communications not only into the Smarsh archive, but also into other archival platforms. These features allow compliance teams to conduct supervisory reviews and respond to potential regulatory enquiries or litigation.

"Archiving these communications isn't just best practice - it's essential for meeting stringent regulatory requirements, successfully navigating legal discovery (eDiscovery) during lawsuits, and responding to data requests like FOIA. That's why we're introducing RCS message archival, a new capability for fully managed Google Pixel devices," said Ian Marsanyi, Senior Product Manager, Pixel for Business at Google.

Broader partnership

Smarsh's collaboration with Google extends beyond RCS to include Google Workspace products. Smarsh Capture already supports data retention for Gmail, Google Chat, Meet, Drive, and Docs, covering comments, threaded discussions, document edits, and AI-generated insights.

Storage of this information is managed to meet jurisdictional standards, including SEC Rule 17a-4, Rule 18a-6, and CFTC §1.31, with write-once-read-many (WORM) compliance.

The integration enables organisations to use AI-enhanced productivity features in Workspace, such as Gemini, without compromising audit or regulatory requirements.

Marsanyi also announced that Google RCS's third-party vendors, including Smarsh, Celltrust, and 3rd Eye, have integrated Google Messages for RCS archival, with more archival apps arriving next year.