Users with paid Zoom accounts can now authenticate the identity of meeting attendees in end-to-end encrypted meeting with Okta Authentication for E2EE.
The feature essentially allows Zoom users to leverage the identity and access management technology from Okta to authenticate a meeting attendee’s identity by email in end-to-end encrypted (E2EE) meetings.
According to Zoom, users will know when a meeting attendee is authenticated when a blue shield appears next to their name in the meeting participant list. Other attendees can hover over the icon to see a pop-up window that displays authenticated information about that person, including their company domain and corresponding Okta-verified email address. Users can then use that information to verify that it matches the person they were expecting.
Aurora Brigham, Zoom’s lead product manager for privacy, says in a blog that Okta has become a core component of a modern zero trust approach.
“By weaving its technology into E2EE meetings, Zoom is striving to add an extra layer of security to virtual communication while maintaining our seamless and consistent experience,” Brigham says.
According to Brigham’s blog, Okta Authentication for E2EE in Zoom can be enabled by account administrators in the security tab of the Zoom web portal. Admins also need to download the Zoom E2E app from Okta and enable the feature flag called Okta Authentication for Zoom E2E Encryption, the company says.
Once the feature is turned on, a user can choose to enable the sharing of their identity in E2EE meetings by turning it on in settings. Depending on a user’s settings, they may get authenticated automatically or redirected to the Okta webpage to finish authentication with their credentials for two-factor authentication.
Once an attendee is authenticated, the blue shield will give other participants reassurance that the person they’re communicating with is the right person.
Brigham says this can help cut back on the toggle tax, which is defined as the time wasted by switching between apps to get work done.
“With Okta’s robust identity technology available right in your meeting, you can focus on meaningful communication without having to sacrifice effective security,” Brigham writes. “That way, you get to work when and where you want, all while keeping your information safe.”
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