Microsoft China Staff to Switch to iPhones in Security Overhaul

Microsoft mandates all China-based staff to switch to iPhones by September 2024, enhancing security and app access. Learn more about this strategic shift.

Key Points

• Microsoft mandates iPhone switch for all China-based staff by September 2024.
• Replacing Android devices from Huawei and Xiaomi with iPhone 15 models.
• Establishing iPhone collection points across facilities in China and Hong Kong.
• Google Play Store’s unavailability in mainland China prompts the switch.
• Microsoft apps like Authenticator and Identity Pass to be used on iPhones.
• Microsoft’s largest subsidiary and R&D center outside the US is in China, employing over 6,000 engineers and scientists.
• Approximately 800 local employees were asked to consider relocating to other countries, including the US.
• The switch also aligns with recent passkey support for enhanced security.

In a significant shift, Microsoft has mandated that all its staff in China switch to iPhones by September 2024, as part of a broader security drive. This move comes amid various reports about China’s stance on iPhones, ranging from outright bans to mixed messages.

According to a memo obtained by Bloomberg, Microsoft will replace Android smartphones, including those from Chinese manufacturers like Huawei and Xiaomi, with iPhone 15 models for its employees. To facilitate this transition, Microsoft is establishing collection points for iPhones across its facilities in China and Hong Kong.

One of the main reasons behind this switch is the unavailability of the Google Play Store in mainland China. Android users there have had to rely on app platforms run by Huawei or Xiaomi. In contrast, the Apple App Store is accessible in China, ensuring that employees can use essential Microsoft apps such as the Microsoft Authenticator password manager and the Identity Pass app.

Microsoft has been operating in China since 1992, with its largest subsidiary and R&D center outside the United States located there. This center employs over 6,000 engineers and scientists. Despite not disclosing the total number of employees in China, Microsoft has asked about 800 local employees to consider relocating to other countries, including the US, according to a Wall Street Journal report in May 2024.

The move to switch all staff to iPhones also extends to Hong Kong, highlighting the importance of consistent and secure app access. Microsoft’s decision to block access to Huawei and Xiaomi app platforms further underscores the company’s focus on security.

This strategic shift aligns with Microsoft’s recent addition of passkey support in May 2024. Passkeys allow apps to use biometric authentication methods like the iPhone’s Face ID, offering a more secure alternative to traditional passwords and regular authentication methods.