How to Block file downloads and message copying on Enterprise Grid in Slack
In today’s digital age, securing sensitive business data is paramount. Slack, a leading communication platform for teams, offers robust security features to protect your organization’s data. This guide will walk you through the essential security features available on Slack’s Enterprise Grid plan, ensuring that your business remains secure and compliant.
Who Can Use This Feature?
The security features discussed in this article are available to Org Owners on the Enterprise Grid subscription. These features empower Org Owners to safeguard sensitive business data by controlling file downloads and message copying across both desktop and mobile devices.
Blocking File Downloads on Desktop
To enhance security, Org Owners can block file downloads from unauthorized locations by allowing downloads only from specific IP address ranges. Here’s how to set this up:
- Access Organization Settings:
- From your desktop, click your organization name in the sidebar.
- Hover over Tools & settings, then click Organization settings.
- From the left sidebar, click Security, then choose Security settings.
- Edit Downloading and Copying Content:
- Next to Downloading and copying content, click Edit.
- Tick the box next to Block file downloads on desktop.
- Specify Allowed IP Ranges:
- Under Allowed IP ranges for downloads, enter any IP ranges you’d like and click Save.
Blocking File Downloads and Message Copying on Mobile Devices
Org Owners can also block all file downloads and message copying on mobile devices that aren’t managed by an Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) provider. Here’s how to configure this setting:
- Access Organization Settings:
- From your desktop, click your organization name in the sidebar.
- Hover over Tools & settings, then click Organization settings.
- From the left sidebar, click Security, then choose Security settings.
- Edit Downloading and Copying Content:
- Next to Downloading and copying content, click Edit.
- Tick the box next to Block file downloads and message copying on mobile and click Save.
Note: For devices managed by EMM, you can enable this setting via KV pair in AppConfig.
Blocking Jailbroken or Rooted Devices
To further enhance security, Org Owners can prevent members from accessing Slack from jailbroken iOS or rooted Android devices. Here’s how to set this up:
- Access Organization Settings:
- From your desktop, click your organization name in the sidebar.
- Hover over Tools & settings, then click Organization settings.
- From the left sidebar, click Security, then choose Security settings.
- Enable Blocking of Jailbroken/Rooted Devices:
- Find Block jailbroken/rooted devices and click Enable.
- Review the details and click Enable to confirm.
Note: Slack uses an industry-standard detection algorithm but acknowledges that it may not detect 100% of compromised devices and may have false positives.
Mobile Security Features for Enterprise Grid
Slack offers several native mobile security features to ensure sensitive business data remains secure:
- Block File Downloads and Message Copying: Prevent unauthorized access to files and messages.
- Require Secondary Authentication: Add an extra layer of security for accessing Slack.
- Require Mandatory Mobile Browser: Ensure that only approved browsers are used.
- Block Jailbroken or Rooted Devices: Prevent access from compromised devices.
- Require Minimum Mobile App Version: Ensure that only up-to-date versions of the app are used.
These features can be used independently or in conjunction with Enterprise Mobility Management (EMM) providers for comprehensive security management.
Conclusion
Securing your organization’s data is a top priority, and Slack’s Enterprise Grid plan offers robust security features to help you achieve this goal. By following the steps outlined above, Org Owners can effectively block file downloads, message copying, and access from unauthorized devices. These measures ensure that your sensitive business data remains protected and compliant with industry standards.