Microsoft has announced that starting January 12, 2026, Teams will automatically enable messaging safety features by default to enhance protection against malicious content.

This update will be applied to tenants who still use the default settings and have not modified their messaging safety options previously.

“To bolster messaging security within Microsoft Teams, we are implementing critical safety measures by default,” stated Microsoft in a communication to administrators via the Microsoft 365 message center. “This enhancement is designed to protect users from harmful content and offers capabilities to report any false detections.”

As part of this update, three essential security features will be launched: protection against weaponizable file types, malicious URL detection, and a feature for reporting false positives. Organizations that have previously customized their settings will be unaffected by this change.

Once messaging protections are activated, users could observe warning labels on messages with suspicious URLs and have the option to report incorrect security markings. Additionally, messages containing potentially harmful file types will be completely blocked.

For administrators who wish to keep their current settings, it’s crucial to check the Teams admin center configurations before the January deadline. Those organizations wishing to set different security parameters must adjust and save their settings by January 12 to avoid automatic implementation.

The company has recommended that IT admins update internal documentation and relay these updates to helpdesk personnel. Administrators can import current configurations by navigating to Messaging > Messaging settings > Messaging safety in the Teams admin center.

These modifications are a response to heightened concerns regarding cybersecurity risks. This also includes a feature that alerts admins to suspicious traffic from external domains, as cybercriminals increasingly target Teams users in phishing attacks and malware campaigns.

Recently, Microsoft has also introduced a new Teams feature that automatically thwarts screen-capture efforts during meetings and announced developments for a new call handler to enhance the performance of the Teams desktop client, improving speed and launch times on Windows 11.

At last year’s Enterprise Connect conference, Microsoft disclosed that over 320 million users access its Teams collaboration platform each month.

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