When we're talking about government messaging apps, what are we talking about? Messaging has become a popular mode of communication because of the desire for ease, real-time conversations, and access from anywhere, at any time. In fact, Gartner's 2022 Channel Benchmark and other research studies show that instant messaging platforms have surpassed email as the primary mode of internal workplace communication.

In April 2024, Microsoft unbundled MS Teams from the rest of the Office package globally. This news comes almost six months after Microsoft unbundled Teams in Europe. Microsoft says that the global unbundling made sense to make pricing easier for global organizations operating in Europe.

As we enter another quarter, our momentum continues to surge forward. In this product roundup, we'll delve into Rocket.Chat's latest features with a spotlight on the enhanced personalization of the live chat widget. We'll navigate through key usability upgrades and notable bug fixes, all tailored to provide a superior and customizable Rocket.Chat experience. Let's explore what's new and improved!

Businesses are investing in robust communication tools to foster quick exchanges among team members, vendors, customers, clients, and more. Skype for Business has remained one of the popular video conferencing tools for several years. However, Skype for Business was retired on January 9, 2024. This has motivated businesses to look for an effective Skype for Business replacement that offers similar capabilities or exceeds them.

Governments across the world are digitalizing their services to better connect and serve citizens. To cater to the evolving demands, they rely on text messages for internal and citizen communication. Security is of utmost importance as they often deal with sensitive information regarding public safety, military, and diplomacy. Let us understand how you can build a secure messaging platform for military messaging, digital public service delivery, citizen communication, self-service, etc.

Our world is more connected than ever. For many, this has accelerated knowledge exchange and advanced world economies and living conditions. However, it has also made our digital presence more complex. Data security and privacy are at stake, and in some industries, like Government and Defense, this presents significant challenges.

Since its initiation in 2014, Skype for Business has been one of the most valuable tools for millions of people worldwide in terms of calling, instant messaging, and video. Microsoft had finally decided on Skype for Business retirement by July 31, 2021. It intended to transition all Skype customers to Microsoft Teams. Teams, the cooperation hub, combines chat, video, phone, and document collaboration into a single, integrated software.

Federal agencies deal with sensitive data and critical infrastructure while executing their public functions. They are naturally vulnerable to malicious attacks and data breaches. While strategic use of technology and cloud-based systems is important to delivering their mission, security monitoring is crucial. The federal zero-trust strategy calls for a holistic approach to protecting data and systems. Doing so helps mitigate safety concerns and service disruptions.

Picture this; a virtual coffee shop, where ideas, thoughts, and perspectives merge to form a vibrant community. Just like in any coffee shop, there are rules to ensure a harmonious environment — you shouldn’t litter or disrespect others’ space. Similarly, in our digital platforms, moderation serves as these essential ground rules. Message moderation in a communication platform involves overseeing and managing user content.

Protecting sensitive data is critical, particularly in the defense and government sectors. The defense sector handles sensitive information that, if disclosed, might jeopardize national security. Additionally, Ransomware as a Service (RaaS) is becoming big business. So, the digital battleground is just as important as its physical equivalent. One option to ensure safe mission communication is to use a self-hosted, air-gapped environment.