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New Feature: Secure Attachment Links for Google Sheets

January 29, 2026

Overview

We're excited to announce a new security feature for the Google Sheets integration: Secure Attachment Links. This enhancement gives you better control over who can access file attachments from your form submissions.

What's New

When you enable the "Use secure attachment links" option in your Google Sheets integration settings, attachment URLs in your spreadsheet will now link to the submission page in Basin instead of directly to the file. This means:

✅ Enhanced Security - Files are protected behind Basin's authentication system
✅ Access Control - Only users with Basin login credentials can view attachments
✅ Better Privacy - No more publicly accessible direct download links
✅ Compliance Friendly - Helps meet data protection requirements for sensitive form submissions

How It Works

When Enabled (Secure Mode)

  • Attachment columns in your Google Sheet contain links to the Basin submission page
  • Users must log in to Basin to view or download attachments
  • Perfect for forms collecting sensitive documents or personal information

When Disabled (Default)

  • Direct download links are provided (existing behavior)
  • Anyone with the URL can access the file
  • Useful for public forms or when easy sharing is required

How to Enable

  1. Navigate to your form's Integrations settings
  2. Select Google Sheets
  3. Find the Integration Settings section
  4. Check the box for "Use secure attachment links"
  5. Click Save Changes

The setting is disabled by default to maintain backward compatibility with existing integrations.

Who Should Use This?

This feature is ideal for:

  • Healthcare providers handling patient documents
  • Financial services collecting sensitive forms
  • HR departments managing employment applications
  • Educational institutions processing student records
  • Any organization prioritizing data security and compliance

Availability

This feature is available now for all Standard and higher plan users with Google Sheets integration enabled.

Questions? Check out our Google Sheets integration documentation or contact our support team.