Microsoft tells Chinese employees to use iPhones instead of Android
Microsoft has notified all employees in China that from September 2024, they will be restricted to using only iPhones for work purposes.
Microsoft Orders China Staff to Switch From Android Phones to iPhones for Work - Bloomberg
Microsoft bans China-based employees from using Android devices for work, mandates switch to iPhones | TechSpot
Microsoft, which was hit by a cyberattack by a Russian government-backed hacking group in January 2024, is strengthening its security around the world.
As part of this, Microsoft has announced that it will eliminate Android devices from its China bases from September 2024. Microsoft has notified Chinese employees that it will require them to use their iPhones to verify their identity when logging in to work PCs and smartphones.
Employees will be required to use the password manager app Microsoft Authenticator and the Microsoft Identity Pass app as part of the company's Secure Future Initiative , a company-wide effort to harden Microsoft products and services against cyberattacks.
Microsoft said, 'Android devices cannot connect to Google's mobile services in China, so access to corporate resources can be blocked. In other words, since Google's app store 'Google Play' is not available in China, users will inevitably have to use the App Store to download apps required for identity verification.
Employees in China who use Android devices from Huawei, Xiaomi and other companies will be given an iPhone 15 each. A similar initiative will be implemented in Hong Kong, a special administrative region of China where Google's mobile services are available. The use of personal Android devices will continue to be permitted.
'Google Mobile Services is not available in these regions, so we are considering providing employees with alternative ways to access the apps they need, such as iOS devices,' a Microsoft spokesperson said.
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