Microsoft Employees in China Required to Replace Android Phones with iPhones

Microsoft has mandated that its employees in China switch from Android devices to company-supplied iPhone 15s as part of its cybersecurity strategy. This shift requires all China-based staff to abandon Android phones and adopt Apple iPhones for work-related purposes to enhance security measures.

The change, outlined in an internal memo, affects hundreds of employees who must now use Microsoft’s Authenticator password manager and Identity Pass app on their new iPhones to verify their identities and access work devices. Consequently, Android access will no longer be permitted, effectively banning the use of mobile phones from brands like Xiaomi, Huawei, Redmi, OnePlus, and Oppo for work purposes.

Microsoft explained that the necessity for this switch arises because the required security apps are only available on Google’s Play Store and Apple’s App Store. Since Google Mobile Services are not accessible in China, Microsoft opted to provide iOS devices to ensure employees can use these essential apps. Microsoft’s representative clarified this to PCMag, emphasizing the unavailability of Google services in the region.

This move is part of Microsoft’s Secure Future Initiative, launched in November 2023 to revamp the company’s cybersecurity standards. However, despite these enhanced security measures, Microsoft has faced significant breaches. Earlier this year, Russian hackers managed to infiltrate Microsoft’s corporate email systems. Additionally, a third-party cybersecurity firm accessed internal Microsoft data on an Azure cloud server that lacked a password in February.

In response to these security lapses, US federal regulators conducted a seven-month review, concluding in April that Microsoft needs to implement “fundamental” reforms to its cybersecurity policies. The review board attributed a China-backed email hack, involving the forging of Microsoft authentication tokens to breach US government Outlook accounts, to Microsoft’s corporate culture.

As part of the transition, impacted employees will receive an iPhone 15, which they can collect from designated locations in Mainland China or Hong Kong. This significant policy shift underscores Microsoft’s commitment to bolstering its cybersecurity framework in a region where Google’s services are restricted, highlighting the broader challenges the company faces in securing its global operations.