When it comes to Google (News - Alert) employees, they do not appear to have the same freedom of technology selection in the workplace that consumers typically have in the wider marketplace.

For instance, there appears to be a ban on employees using a Dropbox (News - Alert). It is out of concern for security risks.

In addition, there are restrictions in place on Google employees using Windows operating system computers, tablets or smartphones, rather than the ones using the Android (News - Alert) OS from Google.

Their employees need permission to use a Windows-based device. It has to be shown it is preferable for the employee’s job. Similar requests need to be made for iWork or Microsoft (News - Alert) Office licenses.

Google employees also are banned from using their own laptops in the workplace—unless they are Chromebooks.

“The overwhelming philosophy of my organization is to empower Googlers with world-leading technology,” Google CIO Ben Fried told All Things D in a recent interview. “But the important part is that we view our role as empowerment, and not standard-setting or constraining or dictating or something like that. We define our role as an IT department in helping people get their work done better than they could without us. Empowerment means allowing people to develop the ways in which they can work best.”

There is a rationale behind the laptop ban and preference for Chromebooks. “We still want to buy you a corporate laptop, get the benefits of our corporate discounts, and so on. But even more importantly: Control,” Fried added. “We make sure we know how secure that machine is that we know and control, when it was patched, who else is using that computer, things like that that’s really important to us. I don’t believe in BYOD when it comes to the laptop yet.”

All Things D acknowledges there is some justification for the restrictions. “Google is a huge company, with a ton of highly sensitive and confidential information about its own strategy and operations, and that of its five-million-plus Google Apps enterprise productivity suite customers. Google can’t be cavalier about security and it can’t let its employees take too many risks,” All Things D reported.

When it comes to outside tools, Google does apparently use Salesforce, Smartsheet and ServiceNow. It is also interesting how Google develops some internal technology. For instance, one option is Beyond Corp., where all network traffic is scrutinized.

For outsiders, Google may seem to be a bit harsh and very nervous about outside technology. Yet, the company sees the precautions as a way to ensure its security and success into the future. Remember, last year IBM (News - Alert) also chose to ban its employees from using Dropbox on its corporate network.