Google Search Appliance heads for the cloud

Google has updated its search appliance, allowing users to search cloud and on-premise sources for documents from a single search box.

Cloud Connect for the Google Search Appliance 6.8 displays personalised results from Google Docs and Google Sites alongside results from more traditional repositories, like file shares and content management systems.

Rajat Mukherjee, group product manager for enterprise search at Google, explained in a blog post that the search function provides easier access to collaborative documents, spreadsheets and presentations.

Cloud Connect also lets users search content from Twitter, as well as blogs and industry web sites via Google Site Search.

Another feature is People Search, which makes it easy to find experts and contact co-workers when a query is submitted.

Organisations can index personal information like department, interests, expertise and location, and an LDAP connector can get People Search up and running quickly, Google said.

Dynamic Navigation also allows users to find information faster by drilling down into search results using categories tailored to the search result set, while Active-Active Mirroring improves reliability by spreading search traffic across multiple boxes, according to Google.

"Dynamic Navigation was a top user request and we're glad to be able to add it. In addition, the Search Appliance now supports Microsoft SharePoint 2010 content without the need for additional connectors," Mukherjee wrote.

"As you move your business to the cloud, the Google Search Appliance's new features can be an important bridge between on-premise and cloud-based systems, while enhancing employee collaboration."