The Blubber

Microsoft, $MSFT, has told employees in China that starting in September they’ll only be able to use iPhones for work, effectively cutting off Android-powered devices from the workplace.

Microsoft will require its employees in China to use only iPhones due to their enhanced security features.

The decision comes as part of a major cybersecurity overhaul by Microsoft. This project, internally known as the Secure Future Initiative, follows scrutiny over the company's security practices. The new policy, effective in September, mandates that employees in China must use iPhones for work, as initially reported by Bloomberg. This measure aims to significantly reduce the number of Android phones used by Microsoft's Chinese employees.

Microsoft will also require employees to verify their identities and use two-factor authentication when logging into their work phones.

The company chose to mandate iPhones because specific security apps, such as Microsoft Authenticator and the Identity Pass app, are unavailable on other operating systems in China. While these apps are accessible on Google Play in the U.S. and other countries, Google Play does not operate in China. This limitation means Microsoft's employees can only access the necessary security apps on an Apple iPhone.

“Due to the lack of availability of Google Mobile Services in this region, we look to offer employees a means of accessing these required apps, such as an iOS device,” a Microsoft spokesperson told Fortune via email.

Employees in China who do not own an iPhone will be provided one by Microsoft, according to Bloomberg.

Chinese Android phones made by companies like Huawei and Xiaomi operate on their own platforms. Microsoft's ban on Chinese smartphones reflects a growing digital divide between China and the U.S., where both governments and their affiliated corporations have become increasingly cautious about allowing access to sensitive materials.

China has its own search engines and social media platforms, where U.S. giants like Facebook are banned. Its internet censorship is notorious for its extent and strictness. Meanwhile, in the U.S., the White House has restricted exports of advanced semiconductor technology to Chinese companies. Congress has also passed a bill that could force the sale of the Chinese-owned TikTok to an American buyer over concerns the platform could be used to influence public opinion.

Cybersecurity became a top priority for Microsoft after its cloud systems were breached by state-backed Chinese hackers last year. The cyberattack occurred ahead of Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s visit to Beijing in June 2023, further straining U.S.-China relations. The hack highlighted significant issues in Microsoft's security practices. In April, a federal agency released a critical report stating that “Microsoft’s security culture was inadequate.”