Microsoft employees in China are required to use iPhones for security reasons starting this September. The use of Android devices is completely banned and staff using them will now be given funds to buy an iPhone 15 by Microsoft.
The ban on the use of Android devices also applies to staff working in Hong Kong. This drastic action was taken for security reasons after the company was involved with several serious security vulnerabilities that caused data to be hacked and customers to become victims of cyber attacks.
In China, GMS cannot be used causing some of the security features used such as Microsoft Authenticator cannot be installed on staff devices. With full use of the iPhone, Microsoft will standardize the system for verifying the identity of staff with Microsoft Authenticator having to be used all the time.
The irony here is that Microsoft used to offer Android smartphones before withdrawing from the market. When the iPhone was launched in 2007, then-Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer laughed at Apple for selling smartphones that he said were too expensive. If Microsoft itself mandates the use of the iPhone, Apple can be proud because it confirms the status of their smartphone as the most reliable level of security.