Throughout the last five years – and the last 6 months in particular – Zoom has risen to fame as one of the go-to resources that people rely on to connect and communicate from anywhere in the world. Millions use the service each day to stay in touch with loved ones or meet with coworkers, elements that have become a part of our everyday lives during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Unfortunately, it seems that Zoom may not have been telling users the truth about the security measures that they supposedly had in place to ensure that data was protected and conversations remained confidential. New reports shared earlier this week elaborate on Zoom's security shortcomings while officials are deciding on a proper punishment for the communication company's faults. As it stands, there currently does not appear to be any fine and the company does not have to alert users to the issue.
For those that find this news to be unsettling, the good news is that there are plenty of alternatives to Zoom, including Microsoft Teams. While Teams does not offer end-to-end encryption, Microsoft has taken and continues to take steps to ensure that every user is provided multiple levels of protection that keep them safe while they work online each day.
Coded for Advanced Security
From the very beginning, Microsoft has developed Teams in accordance with the Microsoft Trustworthy Computing Security Development Lifecycle. This requires designing and testing each feature to ensure that it is created with the latest security features in mind. While it’s impossible to create a comprehensive design that combats all security threats, Microsoft Teams incorporates plenty of industry-leading features into the foundation of its entire experience.
Deep Encryption and Protection
Within Microsoft Teams, network encryption is the default. Servers are required to use advanced security certificates alongside required OAUTH, TLS, SRTP, and 256-bit AES encryption, providing multiple layers of protection that ensures your data is secure in any situation. For high-profile users, Azure DDOS network protection provides an additional level of resistance against network denial-of-service attacks that keeps you online and protected from anyone who may try to knock you offline.
Deeper Content Encryption
Instant messages are often at the heart of the way that we communicate both personally and professionally in today’s modern space. With TLS and MTLS encryption, all server-to-server traffic is screened and protected from external sources seeking to tap into sensitive and important data. For media encryption, SRTP provides a secure way to authenticate content and generate a secure connection between clients.
These are just a few of the steps that Microsoft is taking towards ensuring that their communication and collaboration platform is updated with the latest security enhancements to combat criminals in the online space that threaten to snag sensitive data each day. As a leader in the technology space, Microsoft’s team has the knowledge and the resources to combat the constant attempts by online hackers, laying a secure foundation that provides reassurance that each user’s data is properly handled and secured.
While no company is perfect, the security features that a platform brings to the table should play a significant factor when choosing a hub for team communication. In an age where working remotely has become a significant part of business operations around the world, being able to rest with the assurance that the data transferred between your teammates is secured is something that’s worth taking time to make a smart choice.
For those interested in Microsoft Teams, it provides a comprehensive foundation for both basic and advanced users, creating a home for your team communications while also providing plenty of tools for advanced collaboration that keep your workflow optimized throughout the workweek.
