Microsoft is shaking things up for its China-based employees by mandating a switch from Android to Apple iPhones for work-related tasks. The reason? Cybersecurity, of course. This means no more Xiaomi, Huawei, Redmi, OnePlus, or Oppo phones for these workers. Instead, they will be equipped with the latest iPhone 15 models and will have to use Microsoft’s Authenticator password manager and Identity Pass app to access work devices.
According to reports from Bloomberg, hundreds of Microsoft employees in China received an internal memo detailing the change. They will need to pick up their new iPhones at designated locations in Mainland China or Hong Kong. The move is part of Microsoft’s Secure Future Initiative, established in November 2023 to bolster cybersecurity measures within the company.
But despite these efforts, Microsoft has faced its fair share of security breaches, including Russian hackers infiltrating corporate email systems earlier this year. In April, US federal regulators called for “fundamental” reforms to Microsoft’s cybersecurity policies following a China-backed email hack that targeted US government Outlook accounts.
It’s clear that Microsoft is taking cybersecurity seriously, and this latest switch to iPhones for its China-based employees is just one step in the right direction. Stay tuned for more updates on how the tech giant is working to protect its data and users.
