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Microsoft employees in China are not allowed to use Android phones
Microsoft has banned its staff in China from using Android devices on its network, requiring them to use Apple iPhones on the work network instead.
In response to previous data breaches and as part of its new Secure Future initiative, Microsoft has informed its staff in China that when authenticating identity and accessing the corporate network or logging into work machines, Android devices will no longer be permitted and Apple iPhones will be required.
As noted by one Bloomberg According to a report, the Google Play Store is not available in China, meaning Android device users have to download their apps directly or through marketplaces operated by device makers like Huawei and Xiaomi. This means that apps are not reviewed and authenticated in the same way for security reasons and users are at risk of downloading malware.
According to the memo sent to Microsoft staff in China, the lack of Google services prompted Microsoft to ban Android devices. The move is also aimed at increasing the use of Microsoft Authenticator and Identity Pass apps.
Apple’s iOS store is available in China.
According to Bloomberg According to a report, Microsoft is planning to offer its employees in China who own Android devices, including those from Xiaomi and Huawei, an iPhone 15 as a one-time purchase. These phones will be distributed through various hubs across the country, including Hong Kong.
As part of its Secure Future initiative, Microsoft plans to strengthen its security posture in several ways, including delivering software with a higher level of security, releasing cloud patches more quickly, and managing identity signing keys more quickly.
The company also plans to strengthen its network security and increase the security of its tenant environments, ensuring that only secure and healthy devices have access to tenant environments and removing pivots for lateral movement of entities between them and cloud environments.
The company also intends to protect its networks and production systems with this new initiative.
Daniel Croft
Born in the heart of Western Sydney, Daniel Croft is a passionate journalist who understands and writes about technology. After studying at Macquarie University, he joined Momentum Media in 2022, where he has written for a number of publications including Australian Aviation, Cyber Security Connect and Defence Connect. Outside of writing, Daniel has a keen interest in music and spends his time playing in bands around Sydney.