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Privacy enhancing measures for Microsoft 365 apps

Privacy enhancing measures for Microsoft 365 apps

A privacy enhancing change has been made to a section of Microsoft 365 Apps for employees and students. Microsoft 365 Apps is the new name for Microsoft Office; this suite includes Outlook, Excel, Word and PowerPoint. Currently, both linked experiences (also known as connected experiences) and optional linked experiences (also known as optional connected experiences) are both activated by default with UM Microsoft licences. From 22 September 2023, optional connected experiences will be disabled for employees and students.
 

What are linked and optional linked experiences?

Linked experiences in Microsoft 365 Apps add additional functionality that users find valuable and useful and also actually use. These connected experiences are part of the data processing agreement with Microsoft where Microsoft is the 'data processor'. For this reason, it was chosen to allow linked experiences.

However, optional added experiences are not part of the processing agreement with Microsoft. To ensure the privacy and information security of employees and students, the use of optional linked experiences will be disabled as of from September 22, 2023.

What does this mean?

In practice, it means that some additional features will no longer work using a UM Microsoft licence. Examples of these functions are 'Insert Online Video', 'Research' and 'Office add-ins. UM is aware that this may be perceived as restrictive or inconvenient. After careful consideration, privacy is preferred over functionality.

The functionalities listed below are no longer available due to this measure:*

  • URL preview service
  • 3D Maps
  • Map chart in excel
  • Research
  • Similarity checker
  • Smart Lookup
  • Insert Online 3D Models
  • Insert Online Pictures
  • Insert Online Video
  • Interesting Calendars in Outlook for iOS and Android
  • Location suggestions in Outlook for iOS and Android
  • PowerPoint QuickStarter
  • Researcher in Word
  • Travel time estimates in Up Next in Outlook for iOS and Android
  • Weather Bar/ Weather in the calendar
  • Feedback (web portal)
  • various Office add-ins
  • Help- Contact Support in Outlook for Ios/Android

 * But not limited to these functionalities

For more information on the above mentioned functionalities please visit https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/office/dev/add-ins/concepts/privacy-and-security#optional-connected-experiences