Of all the things to come out of the pandemic, it’s fair to say that “Zoombombing” was not something any of us, including Zoom, saw coming. The emergence of video conferencing as a necessary tool in almost every business in every industry brought about cyber breaches like this, and they haven't stopped since. To give you an overview of the differences in security features of the most popular video conferencing platforms, here's a comparison of Zoom vs MS Teams. Zoom vs Google Meet vs Microsoft Teams The three major collaboration platforms on the market are still Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams. However, the differences between these tools go farther than their desktop application features. When choosing collaboration tools, make sure they have strong cybersecurity features to protect meetings and data from unauthorized access. Meeting encryption is a common feature, as well as meeting PINs to prevent outsiders from entering meetings. Is Microsoft Teams like Zoom in Security? When comparing Microsoft teams vs Zoom, it's important to remember that Microsoft is a much older company with much more robust security measures in place. This isn't their first rodeo at securing cloud tools, and Teams is no exception. Experts have praised Microsoft for their attention to detail to create solid cybersecurity features for Teams. Zoom has remedied some early claims about the security of meetings by adding features like meeting PINS, waiting rooms, and other tools to verify meeting participants. However, it is still a relatively new company prone to bumps in the road. To read more about popular video conferencing platforms to compare big names like Zoom vs Webex vs Teams, check out our reviews of them here. Microsoft Teams and its History of Cybersecurity Innovation Overall, companies that have been in the online communications space longer tend to have stringer cyber protections, such as Microsoft. Microsoft Teams is very helpful tool for businesses facing more cyber attacks than ever. Not only does it allow the workforce to stay connected within work-from-home and hybrid workplaces, it accomplishes this with security in mind. Microsoft published this blog that highlights what they are bringing to the table. Due to work-from-home mandates and a new culture of remote work, Zoom usage shot up 20 times what it was pre-pandemic. With this spike in users came cybersecurity issues showing how ill-prepared the platform was for commercial primetime. Although Zoom could be a good way to keep in touch with friends or family, professional communication often involves PII (personally identifiable information). This means that security gaps that lead to Zoom meeting breaches can spell disaster if your information falls into the wrong hands. “We meet more than 90 regulatory and industry standards” is an eye-catching statement from the company. Since meetings can be highly confidential and/or contain sensitive information, security should be top of mind when choosing a cloud platform. Is Google Meet a Worthy Zoom or Microsoft Teams Alternative? Google Business Suite is a popular and cost-effective solution, but some concerns have been raised about the cybersecurity of the platform. To read a detailed comparison of Google Meet vs Microsoft Teams, check out our blog: Google Meet vs Microsoft Teams. How to Find the Ideal Video Conferencing Software for Your Business If you're ready to bring your business communications into the digital age, click the button below to speak to an expert about the best cloud platform for you.

With the increasing focus on health, and the outbreak of the most recent coronavirus, working from home is becoming more top of mind. In addition to that the need to wash your hands and stop touching your face (I seriously touch my face way more than I ever realized). Case in point? I am working from home while writing this. Rather than take my germs in to work, I decided to work remotely. There is a certain stigma that comes with remote work. Do you get enough done? Are you distracted? Do you have the tools needed to still get the job done? While I can’t help you with the first two (as it is my dog likes to heavy mouth breathe on me while I’m on conference calls), there are absolutely ways to stay connected and collaborate even from home. Our company uses Microsoft Teams for our internal collaboration, file share, and video calls. It allows me to be present for meetings, one on ones, file share, and chat for quick messages. In addition to that, an app on my cell phone to stay connected to Teams on the go. Check out this link from Microsoft themselves with some timely examples of ways you can stay busy and take care of both your physical and mental health while working from home. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/2020/03/02/working-remotely-during-challenging-times/ I loved the point about going all in. Embrace online, use it to keep connected, and those longer stints of remote work won’t seem so disjointed. I also love the idea of not just using it for work amongst teammates but also to keep morale up by sharing pictures, and videos. The ability to turn to co-workers and share thoughts and feelings is powerful and often a way to get through a hectic day. Let’s face it, working from home isn’t something that everyone has available. However, for many of us it can be a reality with tools like Teams to help keep us connected.