(Updated) Microsoft Teams: Private chat for organizers and presenters in structured meetings, webinars, and town halls

🚨 The Signal: Microsoft Teams is adding private chat for organizers and presenters in structured meetings, webinars, and town halls. This unifies backroom chat behavior, allowing private communication without involving attendees, which could lead to unmonitored information sharing.

The Impact

Admins and security teams are affected by the introduction of a new unmonitored communication channel, increasing information spillage risk.

• Security teams: Increased risk of unmonitored sensitive information sharing.
• Admins: New communication channel to consider for information governance policies.
• Compliance officers: Potential for unrecorded discussions impacting audit trails.

The Action

1. Review existing Microsoft Teams information governance and retention policies for private chats.
2. Communicate to organizers and presenters the appropriate use of private chat channels.
3. Consider implementing Microsoft Purview Communication Compliance policies for private chats if unmonitored communication is a concern.

Domain: Teams · Impact: medium · Workload: Teams