Here’s a look at major updates from Slack, Microsoft and presentation software app Pitch.Â
Slack Debuts New Security Features
Slack made a slew of new security upgrades to its channel-based collaboration solution last week. This is being done to give businesses ‘a more secure way to communicate and collaborate, both internally and across organizational boundaries.’
Slack introduced the following:Â
Data Residency: Slack’s data residency rules prevented organizations from storing Slack data outside of the U.S. until the company enables local data residency for Sydney, Frankfurt, Paris, Tokyo, London in July. The company has now introduced data residency for Montreal as well, making it the seventh location that organizations can opt for.
Information Barrier: Functionally, no major changes hover around this update, except imparting more controls over the flow of information. Information barrier will allow admins to allow or prevent specific groups from communicating with each other. The function will not, however, disbar those groups to collaborate with others within the organization. This way, admins can ensure everyone has the information and communication means necessary.
Information barrier function is expected to be available in Slack later in 2020.
Enterprise Key Management: Slack’s Enterprise Key Management enables admins to manage encryption keys using Amazon Key Management Service (KMS). Encryption is a necessary method of ensuring data integrity and confidentiality. Irwin Lazar, the VP and service director for Nemertes Research saidOpens a new window , “Enterprise collaboration leaders rate encryption and support for enterprise key management as critical business requirements.â€
Slack Enterprise Key Management now supports Workflow Builder, and will soon be available for data residency function, and Slack Connect. Support for Workflow Builder, which is available as of now, enables admins to encrypt workflows, messages, forms and form data, other data types and more.
Splunk App: The integration with Splunk App allows visualization of unstructured data, sourced from Slack. It imparts insights into trends, allows behavior monitoring and to take necessary action. The Splunk Data-to-Everything platform sources data from Slack through an Audit Logs API.Â
Splunk App for Slack is now available to integrate.
Microsoft Intune: Slack will also bring in the application management solution for mobile devices and operating systems, Microsoft Intune. It will provide admins with a higher degree of control over user devices and how data and applications are protected. The integration will allow Slack users to access corporate data from their personal mobile devices, including iOS, Android and Windows, without having these devices directly managed by the organization.Â
Microsoft Intune will be available for Slack later in 2020.
See Also: No, Slack Hasn’t Left the Room. It’s Still Working on Killing Email
Microsoft Speeds Up Whiteboard for Teams, Adds New Features
Earlier in August, Microsoft announced that they’re bringing Microsoft Whiteboard features on Windows 10, Android and iOS, to Microsoft Teams and Whiteboard for web. Simultaneously, Microsoft also announced a refurbished version of the Whiteboard web app.
Let us take a closer look:
Sticky Notes: Can be added from the toolbar or with a right-click. Sticky Notes’ function is not just taking notes, but being quick about it. They’re ideal for meetings and for places where time is of the essence. Microsoft said Sticky Note allows users to ‘quickly add ideas and feedback to the canvas, especially if you’re using a device without a digital pen.’
Text: Organize an idea, and then reorganize. Make a structured infographic, and you can later restructure it. That’s the idea behind Text objects for Whiteboard on the web. Can be added the same way as Sticky notes — through a right-click or from the toolbar.Â
Object Selection and Movement: Microsoft has made it easier for users to select and move objects, whether Text or Sticky Notes.
A New Whiteboard for Web Experience: Microsoft said that the Whiteboard app has been completely rebuilt to be in line with the above new features. The company claims that the app is now ‘faster than ever’. Whiteboard for web is accessible from PCs, Macs, Android and iOS. Users can expect additional functions in the future.
Pitch Upgrades its Presentation and Collaboration Tool
Pitch released the biggest update in August since they formally entered beta in 2019. The company said they focused on the following three goals when they initiated the process:
- Radically simplify the editing experience
- Make feedback and collaboration top of mind
- Improve the accessibility of templates and presentation styles
Users of the collaboration and presentation tool by Pitch will now have a personalized dashboard by default. The element that adds a touch of personalization is that workspaces that the user viewed/worked on recently will be shown. The company said personalization to templates and notifications will also be added in the future.
Pitch also introduced a new Editor, complete with an inline editor, and an Unsplash or Giphy integration. The inline editor allows users to switch between text styles, change the font size, adjust alignment, replace added Unsplash images, etc.
The collaboration tool’s functional appeal is further enhanced with a bubble bar on the side that has additional features for design, workflows, commenting, user reactions, notes.
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