Microsoft is enhancing its Teams chat collaboration platform by adding guest access capabilities, allowing users to invite people from outside their organisations to access team chats, meetings, and files. This feature, previously only available to users with Azure Active Directory accounts, is now open to anyone with a business or consumer email address. Microsoft’s move is seen as a response to the growing demand for more flexible and inclusive collaboration tools in the workplace, driven by the increasing trend of remote working.
The addition of guest access in Teams is part of Microsoft’s broader strategy to make its services more competitive against rivals such as Slack, which already offers similar features. The company is also planning to roll out additional functionalities, including support for audio conferencing in Microsoft Teams, later this year.
While this update may enhance Teams’ appeal, Microsoft faces the challenge of managing security risks associated with allowing external users to access internal communications and files. To address these concerns, Microsoft has implemented a variety of security measures, including conditional access policies and multi-factor authentication. Despite these efforts, some experts warn that the new feature could still potentially expose sensitive information to outsiders.
Overall, Microsoft’s latest update to Teams signifies its commitment to meeting the evolving needs of modern workplaces, while also highlighting the ongoing challenge of balancing convenience with security in the digital age.
Go to source article: https://www.techworld.com.au/article/627156/microsoft-adds-guest-access-capabilities-teams/