Microsoft is mandating that all employees based in China must switch from Android phones to Apple iPhones for work-related activities

Microsoft is mandating that all employees based in China must switch from Android phones to Apple iPhones for work-related activities to enhance cybersecurity. This policy, announced via an internal memo to hundreds of staff, requires employees to use Microsoft's Authenticator password manager and Identity Pass app on their iPhones to verify identities for logging into work devices. Android phones will no longer be permitted for work access.

The switch is part of Microsoft's broader Secure Future Initiative, launched in November 2023 to overhaul cybersecurity standards. Microsoft highlighted that the necessary security apps are only available through Google Play Store and Apple App Store. Given the absence of Google Mobile Services in China, the company decided to provide iPhones to employees, ensuring access to these critical apps.

Each affected employee will receive an iPhone 15, which they can pick up at designated locations in Mainland China or Hong Kong. This policy excludes devices from local manufacturers such as Xiaomi, Huawei, Redmi, OnePlus, and Oppo.

Microsoft's efforts to bolster security come despite recent breaches. Earlier this year, Russian hackers compromised Microsoft's corporate email systems, and a third-party cybersecurity firm accessed internal data on an unprotected Azure cloud server. US federal regulators, after a seven-month review, called for fundamental reforms to Microsoft's cybersecurity policies, citing a China-backed hack where Chinese hackers forged Microsoft authentication tokens to breach US government Outlook accounts.

Microsoft's shift towards using Apple devices and enhanced security applications aims to mitigate such vulnerabilities and strengthen overall cybersecurity measures.

Given the absence of Google Mobile Services in China, the company decided to provide iPhones to employees, ensuring access to these critical apps