Microsoft is releasing the public preview of organizational messages for Windows 11 to allow IT admins to communicate natively with employees on devices running Windows 11.
According to Microsoft, this feature is designed to help IT admins connect with employees in organizations embracing a distributed work model by leveraging Intune to configure and send branded messages to help onboard new employees or help existing employees ramp up for new roles. IT admins can also use the feature to notify users about organizational updates and training.
The Redmond, Wash. IT giant says feature was developed as a result of “ongoing conversations” with IT admins who have said they need better tools to onboard, connect and engage end users in hybrid work environments.
Messages can be delivered to appear just above the taskbar or in the Windows notifications area to keep users informed of important information. Messages can also be sent in the Get Started app to help onboard employees to a new device.
Microsoft says the public preview allows IT admins to enable always-on device onboarding messages, with 12 message types available via the Get Started app. In the Taskbar area and Windows notifications, admins can choose from seven message types to send messages about important updates.
The feature also allows IT to update corporate logos for branded messages, deliver users to a custom destination URL, schedule time and frequency for messages, select who can see a message via Azure AD, track the engagement of messages and configure a new Intune or Azure AD built-in role for Organizational Messages Manager or Writer, respectively, according to Microsoft.
The admin preview includes messages localized in 15 languages that are displayed in a dark or light theme, depending on user settings, according to Microsoft.
Admins can configure organizational messages in the Microsoft Endpoint Manager admin center beginning with the 2211 release of Intune.
Microsoft says organizational messages are supporting on devices running Windows 11 2252 or later, and the feature is included with Microsoft 365 E3 and E5, and Endpoint Management + Security E3 and Windows Enterprise E3 and Endpoint Management + Security E5 and Windows Enterprise E5 licenses.
According to Microsoft, admins must be assigned as an Azure AD Global admin, an Intune admin, an organizational messages manager in Intune or in Azure AD.
The feature has other prerequisites, which are listed in this documentation. Read this Tech Community blog to learn more.
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