Microsoft Teams is set to introduce a new feature aimed at bolstering security during meetings. The Enhanced Meeting Protection feature is designed to prevent users from taking unauthorized screenshots during calls, providing a much-needed safeguard for sensitive company information.
With this new feature on track to roll out by July 2025, here’s a breakdown of what Enhanced Meeting Protection will offer and how it will work.
What Is Enhanced Meeting Protection?
Enhanced Meeting Protection is a security feature aimed at preventing users from capturing sensitive content during Microsoft Teams meetings.
Once implemented, the feature will block screenshots by turning the meeting window black if an attempt is made to take a screen capture. This ensures that sensitive or confidential information shared during the meeting cannot be easily snatched via a screenshot.
This feature is part of Microsoft’s broader effort to increase security and privacy in business communications, providing companies with better tools for protecting sensitive data.
Supported Platforms and Restrictions
Enhanced Meeting Protection will be available across multiple platforms, including:
- Windows (desktop client)
- Mac (desktop client)
- iOS (mobile app)
- Android (mobile app)
However, users who try to join a meeting from a platform with Enhanced Meeting Protection enabled will face some restrictions. Those users may only be able to join the meeting in audio-only mode, which ensures that no sensitive content is exposed visually.
While this feature is likely to be beneficial for those looking to safeguard their company’s confidential information, the restrictions may limit the functionality of Teams for some users.
How Does It Work?
The Prevent Screen Capture functionality is designed to kick in if someone tries to capture the screen during a meeting.
Microsoft explains that if a user attempts to take a screenshot, the screen will turn black, preventing the capture of any meeting content. This provides an added layer of protection for sensitive materials that may be shared during Teams calls.
Despite its capabilities, it’s worth noting that this protection does not extend to photos taken with smartphones. Users can still use their phones to capture content on the screen, a loophole that Microsoft has yet to address.
Admin Control and Default Settings
Details about whether Enhanced Meeting Protection will be enabled by default or controlled via admin settings remain unclear.
Given that this feature is still in development, Microsoft may provide organizations with the option to turn it on or off based on their security needs. The implementation might also include settings that allow administrators to toggle the feature on specific meetings or for particular users within their organization.
Additional Features: Migration Tool for Teams
Along with Enhanced Meeting Protection, Microsoft is also planning to roll out a new Migration Tool for Teams.
This tool will make it easier for users to migrate content from third-party platforms into Teams’ standard channels. This tool, set for release in July 2025, is designed to streamline the transfer of data from both public and private channels in external tools to Microsoft Teams, creating a more seamless experience for users switching to or integrating with Teams.
Limitations of Enhanced Meeting Protection
While the Enhanced Meeting Protection feature will undoubtedly enhance security within Teams, it does have certain limitations:
- No Protection Against Smartphone Photos: Users can still take photos of their screens with their smartphones, making it nearly impossible to fully safeguard content shared in a meeting.
- Audio-Only Mode Restrictions: Some users may find themselves relegated to audio-only mode during meetings if Enhanced Meeting Protection is enabled, which could affect their ability to fully participate in a video call.
- No Clear Default Settings: It remains uncertain whether the feature will be turned on by default or require manual configuration, adding a layer of complexity for users and admins alike.
When Will Enhanced Meeting Protection Be Available?
Enhanced Meeting Protection is currently in the development stage and is expected to be released in July 2025.
While it’s still in the early phases of rollout, it’s on track to be launched across desktop and mobile clients for Microsoft Teams, offering enhanced security for businesses.
Conclusion
With the upcoming launch of Enhanced Meeting Protection, Microsoft Teams is taking a big step toward securing sensitive company data during virtual meetings.
By preventing unauthorized screenshots and introducing the Migration Tool, Microsoft is making it easier for businesses to manage and protect their communication.
However, the feature still has limitations, particularly in preventing users from taking photos with their smartphones. As Microsoft continues to refine its security offerings, it will be interesting to see how the company addresses these gaps in future updates.