Microsoft Adds Teams Controls to Identify and Approve External Bots
Summary
Microsoft announced a Teams admin policy that detects external bots, identifies them in the meeting lobby, and requires organizer approval before admission. Admins can assign the policy to users or groups, and Microsoft is retiring CAPTCHA verification.
Key points
- Admins can assign the external-bot policy to individual users or groups in the Teams Admin Center.
- By default, Teams detects potential bots, places them in the lobby, and asks organizers to approve admission; admins can disable detection.
- Microsoft says Teams distinguishes bots from people using behavioral and infrastructure signals.
- ISVs can register bots and include a self-identification marker in meeting join requests.
- Teams labels lobby groups as “Waiting” or “Suspected threats” and adds confirmation prompts and warnings to reduce accidental bot admission.
- Microsoft is retiring the existing CAPTCHA verification.
Article Details
- Event Type
- Microsoft announced new Microsoft Teams admin controls for managing external bots in meetings.
- Impact
- Organizations can assign a policy to users or groups that detects potential bots, places them in the meeting lobby, identifies them, and requires organizer approval before admission. Teams also distinguishes verified individuals and registered bots from suspected threats, adds confirmation and warning steps to reduce accidental admission, and allows admins to disable bot detection. Microsoft is retiring the existing CAPTCHA verification.