Teams Admins Get Power to Block External Meeting Bots

Microsoft Teams has rolled out an important security update that allows administrators to block external meeting bots automatically. This new policy will prevent unwanted participants from joining meetings, reducing the risk of cybercriminal activity.

The company previously alerted users when a bot was in the lobby, but left the final decision to meeting organizers. However, with this latest update, admins can now enable or disable the policy for users or groups, giving them more control over security.

It's worth noting that legitimate tools like AI meeting assistants and transcription tools may also be blocked by default, as Microsoft doesn't want to ban third-party bots altogether. This new policy will be disabled by default, allowing admins to choose when to enable it for their users or groups.

Microsoft is planning to introduce more admin controls in the future, including allow lists for approved bots and audit logs. The company aims to give organizations more control over security to reduce risks associated with unwanted participants.