Microsoft is working on end-to-end encryption for Teams conversations

Microsoft wants to make it possible for business Teams users to encrypt Teams conversations end-to-end. Now the conversations are encrypted, but not end-to-end. First, unscheduled one-to-one conversations must be given end-to-end encryption.

When employees want to have an end-to-end encrypted VoIP conversation with each other or with customers, both the participating users and the IT department must give permission, Microsoft writes. If two employees are on a call and one of these users has not consented to end-to-end encryption, the conversation will not be end-to-end encrypted.

This is a phased release where unscheduled one-to-one conversations can get end-to-end encryption first. Only later are online meetings with multiple users. Competitor Zoom has been offering end-to-end encryption since October.

Microsoft is also working on an invite-only lobby feature. Only people who have been invited to a meeting can participate. A user who is not invited but still wants to participate will be directed to the lobby. Here the meeting host can still invite the user to the meeting. This feature will be available to all Teams users in March. This spring it should also be possible to disable the camera of individual or all users as a host.