Microsoft Teams (MS Teams) is a secure collaborations hub allowing both internal and external participants in 1:1 or group audio/video meetings. Whilst we recommend Webinars or Townhalls for large events, particularly with external audiences, a Teams meeting will allow up to 1000 interactive participants. Additionally, Teams allows inline co-authoring of documents, private & persistent chat, and seamlessly integrates other Microsoft 365 apps too. Microsoft Teams Notice BoardService Availability StatusFind out about the University's updates on the following page:University of Edinburgh Service AlertsTeams UpdatesFind all Product Updates, including those in development, rolling out or launched, at the Microsoft 365 Roadmap:View the Microsoft 365 Roadmap Teaching RemotelyWe recommend using Teams to hold meetings or for group chat, but if you are looking to teach remotely then you should refer to Teams for Teaching for more details:Teams for TeachingUnsure which tool to use for your meetings or events?If you are unsure which tool best fits your needs as a host or organiser, you may find the Online and Digital Events Service helpful. Here you will find advice and guidance about safely and securely hosting your meetings and events online, supported tools, and a selector to help you choose the right tool for your type of meeting or event:Online and Digital Events Service Limits and SpecificationsMicrosoft Teams has various limits, specifications and requirements that apply to it. Microsoft provide up-to-date information on these limits and specifications on their website. This gives information on how many people can be in a Team, how many Teams you can create, how many attendees can join a meeting and other information. Limits and Specifications for Microsoft Teams (Microsoft site)IMPORTANT: Security, Data Protection and PrivacyHelp avoid disruptions to your eventsThe biggest cause of unwelcome disruption to an online meeting or event is because of sharing the meeting join link on social media platforms. Avoid sharing your meeting link beyond the participants you wish to attend and if you require a public event, choose a Webinar or Townhall format instead, as this will limit the level of engagement of participants by default.SecurityPlease review the University of Edinburgh's policies on Information Security which applies when using the Online and Digital Events platforms:University of Edinburgh Information Security PolicyIf you are sharing research data through the Online and Digital Events platforms, please refer to the Research Data Service webpage for information:Research Data ServiceData ProtectionDPIADPIAs have been completed at the University of Edinburgh for each of the Online and Digital Events services.Please access the files using Your University Login:Microsoft Teams DPIAUniversity Data Protection policyYou can also review the Universities policy on Data protection:University of Edinburgh Data Protection PolicyPrivacyRecording Online and Digital EventsPlease read the following privacy notices on recording online and digital meetings and events:Recording privacy statement (external collaborators) (Word)Recording privacy statement (internal – staff and students) (Word)Please also read through the information and guidelines we provide for recording Online and Digital Events:Guiding Principles - Recording online and digital eventsFurther Privacy InformationTemplates and guidance on privacy notices, including for students, employees, visitors etc:Privacy Notice GuidanceMore informationIf you have concerns about security, data protection or privacy in any of the Online and Digital events service platforms, please contact the IS Helpline below:Contact the IS Helpline HTML Get Started Guidance and videos introducing Microsoft Teams to help you get started using Teams. Teams FAQs On this page you will find frequently asked questions about Microsoft Teams. Getting the most out of Hybrid Meetings Guidance for hybrid meetings with Microsoft Teams. New Features in Teams On this page, we list key new features including recent additions to Teams, and updates which are coming soon. Teams for Teaching Good practice guidance about Course-based Teams for Teaching. Teams Meetings Guidance on how Teams meetings work, features available in Teams meetings, etiquette, and privacy. Breakout Rooms Breakout Rooms have now been implemented in Microsoft Teams. These allow meeting organisers to create and name separate rooms during a meeting, and assign attendees to these rooms. Teams Webinars Webinar introduces features including attendee registration and capacity for 1000 interactive and live-streaming attendees or up to 10,000 view-only attendees. Teams Town Halls For large audience events online, Microsoft Town Halls has replaced Live Events on Teams since September 2024. Whether you're new to Town Halls or looking to refresh your knowledge, this page should tell you everything you need to know to successfully host large meetings. Chat, Teams, Channels, Apps and Settings Guidance and videos about using chat, teams channels and connecting apps. Teams Meeting Recordings on SharePoint and OneDrive Recordings are now saved automatically to either SharePoint or OneDrive. Calls Here you can find guidance about how to initiate an audio or video call using Microsoft Teams. This article was published on 2024-10-08