MC987329 – (Updated) Microsoft Teams: Enhanced compliance and security in voicemail messages (archived)

Product:

Entra, Exchange, Outlook, Skype for Business, Teams

Platform:

Online, US Instances, World tenant

Status:

Change type:

Admin impact, Feature update, Updated message, User impact

Links:

MC1028317

Details:

Summary:
Microsoft has postponed the rollout of enhanced compliance and security features for voicemail messages in Microsoft Exchange to late May 2025. The updates include changes to the "From" field to comply with RFC 6854 and the addition of "Unverified" and "External" tags for messages from external PSTN calls and federated tenants. No admin action is required.

Details:
Updated May 14, 2025: We have postponed this release to ensure the proper customer experience. The rollout timeline has been updated below. Thank you for your patience.
We are pleased to inform you that we will roll out two improvements to enhance compliance and security for voicemail messages in Microsoft Exchange.
This change is related to three products: Microsoft Teams calls, Microsoft Outlook/Exchange, and Microsoft Skype for Business calls. Results will be visible in Outlook/Exchange email messages.
[When this will happen:]
General Availability (Worldwide, GCC): We will begin rolling out late May 2025 (previously early May) and expect to complete by mid-June 2025.
General Availability (GCCH, DoD): We will begin rolling out early June 2025 (previously mid-May) and expect to complete by late June 2025 (previously mid-June).

Change Category:
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Scope:
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Release Phase:

Created:
2025-01-24

updated:
2025-05-15

Task Type

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summary for non-techies**

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Direct effects for Operations**

Voicemail Message Format Change
Users may be confused by the new 'From' field format in voicemail messages, leading to potential miscommunication or missed messages.
   - roles: End Users, Customer Support
   - references: https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc6854

Trust and Security Perception
The addition of 'Unverified' and 'External' tags may lead users to distrust legitimate voicemails, impacting their response rates.
   - roles: End Users, Sales Representatives
   - references: https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc6854

Documentation and User Training
Lack of prior notification may result in outdated documentation, leading to user frustration and increased support queries.
   - roles: IT Administrators, Training Coordinators
   - references: https://www.rfc-editor.org/rfc/rfc6854

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Opportunities**

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Potentional Risks**

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IT Security**

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explanation for non-techies**

Microsoft is making some changes to how voicemail messages are handled in their systems, specifically focusing on compliance and security. Imagine your voicemail messages as letters you receive in the mail. Currently, these letters might come with just a phone number on the envelope, making it hard to know exactly who sent them. Microsoft is updating this process to make it clearer and more secure.

In the world of emails and voicemails, there are standards that dictate how messages should be formatted. One such standard is called RFC 6854, which is like a set of postal rules for how the sender's address should appear on the envelope. Microsoft is updating their systems to follow these rules more closely. This means that when you receive a voicemail, it will now come with a clearer indication of who sent it. For example, instead of just seeing a phone number, you might see a message from "noreply@skype.voicemail.microsoft.com," making it clear that it's an automated message.

Additionally, Microsoft is adding labels to these messages to help you quickly understand their origin. If a voicemail comes from someone outside your organization or from an unknown source, it will be tagged as "External" or "Unverified." Think of this like receiving a letter with a stamp that says "From Outside" or "Unknown Sender." This helps you quickly assess whether the message is from a trusted source or if you should be cautious.

These changes will happen automatically, and there's no need for you to do anything. It's like the postal service updating their systems to improve how mail is delivered without you needing to change your address or how you receive mail. However, it might be a good idea to let your team know about these updates so they aren't surprised when they see the new labels on their voicemail messages.