In the realm of digital collaboration, privacy remains a paramount concern. Microsoft Teams, a cornerstone of workplace collaboration, is set to elevate this priority with its latest feature aimed at enhancing attendee privacy during webinars and meetings. This blog post delves into the upcoming feature that will revolutionize the way attendee information is displayed, ensuring a more private and focused meeting environment.
What’s New in Teams?
Microsoft Teams is rolling out a feature that will change how attendee information is displayed during meetings and webinars. Traditionally, participants could see the names, emails, and profile photos of other attendees. With the new update, however, attendee identities will be masked, providing an added layer of privacy.
This feature will be particularly useful in settings where confidentiality is crucial, such as educational webinars, HR discussions, or sensitive business meetings. Attendees’ names will appear simply as “Attendee” on various interface elements like the participant pane, chat, and stage, reducing distractions and focusing on content and discussion.
Exclusive to Teams Premium
It’s important to note that this feature will be exclusive to Teams Premium. Organizers, co-organizers, and presenters will retain the ability to see the full identity of each participant, ensuring they can manage the meeting effectively while respecting attendees’ privacy.
Rollout Timeline
Microsoft has outlined a phased rollout for this feature:
- Targeted Release: Beginning in early November 2023, with completion by mid-November.
- Standard Release: Starting in late November 2023, with full rollout by early December.
- Government: Commencing in late December 2023, with final deployment by late June 2024.
Impact on Your Organization
To leverage this new feature, meeting organizers need to enable it in Meeting Options by activating the “Hide attendee names” setting before the meeting starts. It’s crucial to configure the “Who can present” setting appropriately to ensure that only designated individuals can see the full attendee list.
Preparation for Admins
For administrators, this capability will be enabled by default upon rollout. If there’s a need to disable this feature, it can be managed through PowerShell using the AttendeeIdentityMasking policy.
Conclusion
Microsoft Teams’ new attendee identity masking feature represents a significant step forward in balancing effective collaboration with privacy. As organizations continue to navigate the complexities of digital communication, such enhancements are vital for maintaining trust and confidentiality in virtual environments. Keep an eye on your Microsoft 365 Roadmap, specifically ID 119153, for more updates on this feature and prepare your organization to embrace this new level of privacy in Teams meetings and webinars.