Microsoft Teams is considered to be one of the safest and most reliable online communication platforms for businesses. It provides a great set of security features and settings, including full data encryption for your files. However, given the rising number of cybersecurity threats in the last couple of months, there could never be enough security features on an online platform that deals with business files. With people working from home and using personal devices, the risk of security threats for businesses has grown tremendously.
The social distancing rules have restricted working in closed and shared offices around the world. As a response to strict health safety measures, companies had to send their workers home and establish online communication hubs where they would proceed with their work activities. However, using online communication platforms comes with a lot of risks. The biggest concern when it comes to online collaboration tools is the vulnerability of shared data. Businesses now have to share files and sensitive information with team members located across the country.
That means sensitive data will inevitably be stored on the cloud where it might not be fully protected. Another security risk related to using tools such as Microsoft Teams is the fact that guest users who join the conversation can access the shared files, which might not be prepared for public sharing. Overall, using online communication tools brings an inevitable risk to the company’s intellectual property.
The team members or employees of the company are also facing a certain level of risk since the security concerns are present on both ends. Using personal devices to access corporate data can turn the employees into a cybersecurity target since hackers usually use unprotected computers as a backdoor to corporate files and networks. The question is, does Microsoft Teams expose its users to the said security risks?
While there will always be a certain level of risk involved with cloud storage and online communication, Microsoft is doing a great job at keeping their collaboration tool unbreachable. They offer full encryption for users’ files and a selection of security features to boost data and network protection. With that said, you can always increase the security of your online communication by practicing the basic security measures on your device, including frequent malware scanning and the use of VPNs when necessary.
When it comes to further secure your Microsoft Teams hub, consider adjusting the guest access levels by disabling access to guest users where possible. If you must allow certain guests to join in, make sure to disable critical privileges such as screen sharing to reduce the risk of exposing confidential data. Another thing you can do to further secure your experience on Microsoft Teams is to manage the apps you use. The Teams store has a wide variety of third-party applications but we recommend sticking to the original Microsoft apps to avoid any unwanted security threats.