Zoom Security Update for July 2020: Changes to Passcode Requirements

The latest security update for Zoom Meetings users (both free and paid) will require all Meetings to have a Passcode or Waiting Room enabled.  This update will be enforced within the application starting July 19, 2020. If you are a free user, meeting passwords are already enforced.

This update is in direct response from customers, addressing concerns on unauthorized participants entering meetings.  After July 19th, if you have not taken steps to enable either the passcode or waiting room, the application will automatically enable the feature.

Going forward, Zoom will use the term "passcode" rather than password for meeting access in their help and documentation. Password will refer to your account password only.

If you need additional information around how to setup and use the Waiting Room feature,  click here. 

The Waiting Room feature allows the host to control when a participant joins the meeting. As the meeting host, you can admit attendees one by one or hold all attendees in the waiting room and admit them all at once. You can send all participants to the waiting room when joining your meeting or you can allow participants from your Zoom account and participants at specified domains to bypass the Waiting Room.

The follow are some of the FAQs from the Zoom Help Center, for a full list, please  click here.

How do I enable Waiting Rooms or Passcodes? Admins and users can log into their Zoom web portal and go into settings to enable a Passcode or Waiting Room. If choosing to enable Passcodes see this detailed support article. IMPORTANT: If you add Passcodes to an existing meeting, calendar invites will need to be resent to include the Passcode.

If I already have a Passcode or Waiting Room enabled, will anything change? No, your settings will remain the same for your current selection. You or your administrator can change your security preference at any time.

How will this affect my calendar invitations when scheduling meetings? If you already have a Passcode or Waiting Room on, there will be no change to how you schedule meetings. If Passcodes are added, calendar invites for any existing meeting will need to be resent to include the Passcode. New meetings will have the Passcode embedded in the meeting link automatically.

As always, if you have any questions, please reach out to us.  Also, we can help you navigate any security concerns you might have with all your Zoom applications.