New Outlook Update for Windows and Web: Folder Sharing with Specific Users Discontinued

Microsoft is set to release significant policy changes in the new Outlook for Windows and Web this October, aimed at enhancing security on the platform.

These updates, noted in Microsoft 365, will implement two key changes to improve user privacy and data protection.

The first change focuses on feedback policy checks across all accounts. The tech giant based in Redmond will tighten the feedback policy check, making it more secure. Users who cannot provide feedback due to existing policies will no longer see the Feedback button for any of their accounts.

The second change involves disabling sharing recommendations. Outlook will remove the ability for users to share folders with specific individuals. Previously, this setting only prevented users from modifying the default and anonymous sharing permissions for folders, which will remain unchanged. The policy’s impact on calendar sharing will not be affected by this update either.

These new policies are designed to bolster security for commercial users of Outlook. The changes will apply to the new Outlook for Windows and Web, which has already been made generally accessible to users.

What are your thoughts on these updates?

Updates to the Cloud Policy Service setting “Turn off sharing recommendation”will disable the ability for users to share folders with specific individuals. The existing policy will continue to restrict users’ ability to change default and anonymous permission levels for shared folders, and this will not be altered. The current policy regarding calendar sharing will also remain as is.

Currently, feedback entitlement is determined based solely on the feedback policy of the primary (global) account. Moving forward, the feedback policy check will become more stringent, enhancing security by evaluating the feedback policies of all user accounts and using the most restrictive policy found to determine eligibility. If any account has feedback disabled, the Feedback button will not be visible in the Help tab of the ribbon for any accounts.

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