Microsoft has mandated that its employees in China switch from Android phones to company-supplied iPhone 15 devices as part of its enhanced cybersecurity measures. This directive aims to bolster the security of work-related communications and data.
The company announced that all China-based staff must transition to iPhones for work purposes and discontinue using Android devices. Additionally, employees are required to utilize Microsoft's Authenticator password manager and Identity Pass app on their new iPhones to verify their identities when logging into work devices. Android access will no longer be supported.
This decision impacted hundreds of employees who were informed via an internal memo. Each affected employee will receive an iPhone 15 for pickup at designated locations in Mainland China or Hong Kong. This policy change means popular Android brands such as Xiaomi, Huawei, Redmi, OnePlus, and Oppo will no longer be allowed for work use.
In a statement to PCMag, Microsoft explained the necessity of the switch, citing the availability of the required security apps only on Apple's App Store and Google's Play Store. Due to the unavailability of Google Mobile Services in China, the company opted for iOS devices to ensure access to these critical apps.
This initiative is part of Microsoft's Secure Future Initiative, launched in November 2023 to overhaul its cybersecurity protocols. Despite these efforts, Microsoft faced significant breaches earlier this year, including a Russian hacker attack on its corporate email systems and a third-party cybersecurity firm accessing internal data on an unsecured Azure cloud server.