Share this article
Improve this guide
Microsoft Teams Guest access comes now enabled by default
2 min. read
Updated onOctober 4, 2023
updated onOctober 4, 2023
Share this article
Improve this guide
Read our disclosure page to find out how can you help Windows Report sustain the editorial teamRead more
Key notes
Microsoft made yet another step towards what they’re calling aninclusive meeting experienceby enabling Guest access by default inMicrosoft Teams.
Until a few days ago, this option was deactivated and any guest had to wait for an IT admin to enable it and allow newcomers to join.
The reason behind this move,according to Microsoft, is to align all the platform’s control settings, since this one was the only one left unmodified since the beginning.
Starting on February 8th we are turning on Guest access in Microsoft Teams by default for any customers who have not already configured this setting. This will bring the control for Teams Guest capability into alignment with the rest of the suite, where the setting is already on by default.
Not only joining Microsoft teams meeting as a guest is made easier with this move, but also collaborating on shared documents.
Security concerns over privacy
Of course, this move raised concerns among users about the security of shared documents and files within existing teams.
Consequently, Microsoft further explained that by enabling this feature, guests will indeed get access to individual teams andtheir SharePoint documents.
However, team managesstillhave to control their access to these documents, depending on their needs.
Furthermore, the change doesn’t affect users that already have the option set toOnorOff. It addresses only new users and those who made no changes to the option and saw it asService default.
If, on the contrary, admins want access disabled for guests, they can revert the change by going toOrg-wide settings > Guest Accessin the Teams admin center and adjust it accordingly.
How to customize guest access in the Teams admin center?
As mentioned, the recent change will only affect a guest’s general access to a team. Further on, admins will have to also set up what the guests can see or do.
So inOrg-wide settings > Guest accessadmins need to tweak each option underCalling,Meeting, andMessagingtabs.
Consequently, the guest will only get access to the options that are turned on.
As expected, the recent change only refers to individual guests, not to entire domains.
We’d like to hear your opinion so share with us your take on this modification. Feel free to use the comments section.
More about the topics:Microsoft Teams
Sinziana Mihalache
Sînziana loves getting people to better understand products, processes, and experiences beyond a simple user guide, either in writing or making use of images. She joined the team after a long-term collaboration with one of the world’s top cybersecurity companies - Bitdefender. Outside work, Sînziana enjoys climbing mountains, backpacking around the world, and writing about almost anything on her blog.
User forum
0 messages
Sort by:LatestOldestMost Votes
Comment*
Name*
Email*
Commenting as.Not you?
Save information for future comments
Comment
Δ
Sinziana Mihalache
