Starting in September, Microsoft will require its employees in China to use iPhones for work-related activities, effectively banning Android devices from work use, according to a new report. And of course the irony of a new policy stating that Microsoft employees in China must use Apple devices isn’t lost on us.
Microsoft orders Chinese employees to use iPhones instead of Android devices
An internal Microsoft memo showed that Chinese-based staff will soon be limited to Apple devices for identity verification when accessing work computers or phones, Bloomberg reported Monday.
Part of Microsoft’s global Secure Future Initiative (SFI), the new policy impacts hundreds of workers across mainland China. It aims to standardize the use of Microsoft Authenticator and Identity Pass app for security purposes.
Hacks lead to emphasis on security
The Redmond, WA tech giant’s mandate that Microsoft employees in China must use iPhones comes as part of the company’s broader efforts to enhance security worldwide following multiple attacks from state-sponsored hackers. A notable Russia-linked breach in January affected numerous US government agencies, including the State Department, leading to increased pressure from legislators to improve security measures.
In May, Microsoft’s Charlie Bell, an executive vice president, emphasized security as the company’s top priority.
“We are making security our top priority at Microsoft, above all else — over all other features,” he wrote.
SFI represents Microsoft’s most ambitious security overhaul in two decades, Bloomberg said. It includes measures like faster cloud vulnerability responses, improved credential-theft prevention and automatic enforcement of multifactor authentication for employees.
Lack of Android app store cohesion
The decision also appears to underscore the lack of cohesion among Android app stores in China, as well as the contrast between Chinese and foreign mobile ecosystems. Unlike Apple’s iOS App Store, Google Play isn’t in China. That means local smartphone manufacturers like Huawei and Xiaomi operate their own stores. Microsoft cited the lack of Google’s mobile services on these devices as the reason for blocking access to corporate resources.
To facilitate this transition, Microsoft will provide iPhone 15 devices as a one-time purchase to staff currently using Android handsets. The company plans to distribute these iPhones at various locations across China, including Hong Kong, where Google services are accessible.
Microsoft has not publicly addressed this policy change and declined to respond to Bloomberg‘s inquiries.
