Microsoft bans employees from using Slack, Kaspersky & Grammarly
The decision is reportedly a precaution to protect secret projects Microsoft’s been working on
Microsoft has prohibited its employees from using popular web services such as some versions of Slack, Kaspersky security software, and Grammarly while “discouraging” use of some other services such as GitHub, Amazon Web Services, and Google Docs.
Popular website GeekWire reports that they obtained an internal Microsoft list of prohibited and discouraged technology.
The services banned are popular and undoubtedly came handy to many Microsoft employees. But the organisation fears that these services may also be used as a means to getting secret information on the projects Microsoft has been working on.
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Microsoft provided the following reason with the ban of Slack.
“Slack Free, Slack Standard and Slack Plus versions do not provide required controls to properly protect Microsoft Intellectual Property (IP). Existing users of these solutions should migrate chat history and files related to Microsoft business to Microsoft Teams, which offers the same features and integrated Office 365 apps, calling and meeting functionality. Learn more about the additional features that Teams can provide your workgroup. Slack Enterprise Grid version complies with Microsoft security requirements; however, we encourage use of Microsoft Teams rather than a competitive software.”
Microsoft is still not accusing any company of stealing their information as of yet. The ban merely looks like a precaution. Because all of the services that were banned theoretically had a way for other companies such as Google and Amazon to look directly into some of the things Microsoft is working on.
