Why has Microsoft decided to provide iPhones to Chinese employees who use Android smartphones?

Tech giant Microsoft has asked its employees working in China to use only iPhones for work. According to Bloomberg, the Bill Gates-founded company asked hundreds of its employees to verify their identities through the Microsoft Authenticator password manager and the Identity Pass app, available on Apple devices. As Google's mobile services, including its Google Play app store, are not available in China, the company blocked employees from using Android devices to access its corporate platforms. Consequently, Apple's App Store remains the only place for Microsoft employees in China to download and use the Microsoft Authenticator and Identity Pass apps.

Microsoft tightens security practices

At the same time, Microsoft said that the employees could continue using their personal Android devices and that it would provide them with an iPhone 15 for work. According to 'Business Insider', Microsoft took steps to tighten its security practices after Russian and Chinese hackers targeted it. A US Cyber Safety Review Board report published in March described a "cascade" of "avoidable errors" at the company.

Hackers target Microsoft

It also said that hackers made sporadic forays and somehow cracked Microsoft Exchange Online mailboxes of individuals across 22 organizations last year. They also downloaded about 60,000 emails from the State Department.


Talking to 'Business Insider', a Microsoft spokesperson said that "recent events have demonstrated a need to adopt a new culture of engineering security in our own networks."

Microsoft said in May that it would expand the scope of the Secure Future Initiative to include recommendations from the board. The company also saidd that it would protect accounts with phishing-resistant multifactor authentication.

FAQs

When did hackers target Microsoft recently?
Last year Russian and Chinese hackers cracked Microsoft Exchange Online mailboxes of individuals across 22 organizations last year. They also downloaded about 60,000 emails from the State Department.

Why has Microsoft tightened its security practices?
Microsoft tightened its security practices after a US Cyber Safety Review Board report published in March described a "cascade" of "avoidable errors" at the company.