Control the default policies in Skype for Business Online

In case you were unaware, we can now use the Set-CsClientPolicy cmdlet in Skype for Business Online. The cmdlet allows us to control features such as disabling the conversation history, contact photos, HTML or RTF in IMs, file transfer encryption, and few others.

You can only use the cmdlet to edit the default policy in your tenant, the one named “Global”. Any attempt to make changes with one of the other policies will result in an error:

122216 0826 Controlthed1

Another important note is that not all parameters can used, for example trying to configure the AutoDiscoveryRetryInterval will result in:

122216 0826 Controlthed2

Here’s the list of parameters we can configure currently, for their description consult the TechNet article above:

  • DisableCalendarPresence
  • DisableEmoticons
  • DisableFreeBusyInfo
  • DisableHtmlIm
  • DisableRTFIM
  • DisableSavingIM
  • DisableInkIM
  • DisablePoorDeviceWarnings
  • DisablePoorNetworkWarnings
  • DisablePresenceNote
  • DisplayPhoto
  • EnableAppearOffline
  • EnableCallLogAutoArchiving
  • EnableClientAutoPopulateWithTeam
  • EnableClientMusicOnHold
  • EnableExchangeContactSync
  • EnableIMAutoArchiving
  • EnableSkypeUI
  • EnableUnencryptedFileTransfer
  • EnableURL
  • MusicOnHoldAudioFile
  • PlayAbbreviatedDialTone
  • ShowManagePrivacyRelationships
  • ShowSharepointPhotoEditLink
  • TracingLevel

Notable omissions in the list above are thing such as the ability to control Event logging, the maximum number of contacts and DGs, the maximum photo size, etc. Here’s the list of parameters we cannot configure:

  • BlockConversationFromFederatedContactsk
  • DisableFederatedPromptDisplayName
  • DGRefreshInterval
  • DisableFeedsTab
  • DisableMeetingSubjectAndLocation
  • DisableOneNote12Integration
  • DisableOnlineContextualSearch
  • DisablePhonePresence
  • DisableContactCardOrganizationTab
  • DisablePICPromptDisplayName
  • EnableEventLogging
  • EnableExchangeDelegateSync
  • EnableFullScreenVideo
  • EnableHighPerformanceConferencingAppSharing
  • EnableHighPerformanceP2PAppSharing
  • EnableHotdesking
  • EnableMediaRedirection
  • EnableNotificationForNewSubscribers
  • EnableServerConversationHistory
  • EnableSQMData
  • EnableTracing
  • EnableVOIPCallDefault
  • MaximumDGsAllowedInContactList
  • MaximumNumberOfContacts
  • MaxPhotoSizeKB
  • P2PAppSharingEncryption
  • PolicyEntry
  • RateMyCallAllowCustomUserFeedback
  • RateMyCallDisplayPercentage
  • RequireContentPin
  • SearchPrefixFlags
  • SupportModernFilePicker

One last thing, most of the settings are listed with their default value ($null), make sure to not overwrite them without noticing.

8 thoughts on “Control the default policies in Skype for Business Online

    1. Ghassan says:

      Hello Art,
      Have you managed to change the default policy of new user on online SFB?
      thanks

      Reply
  1. Art Alexion says:

    This appears to also be true for Set-CsConferencingPolicy as well, but…

    If you run,
    Get-CsConferencingPolicy
    the first policy to come up is BposSAllModality. No policy called “Global” appears.

    When I license a new user, they get the “BposSAllModality” policy, not “Global”

    When I try to
    Set-ConferencingPolicy BposAllModality -AllowExternalUsersToSaveContent $false
    I get an error because you can’t modify anything but the “Global” policy.

    When I try
    Set-ConferencingPolicy -AllowExternalUsersToSaveContent $false
    there is no error, but no changes are made to “BposSAllModality”

    When I try
    Set-ConferencingPolicy Global -AllowExternalUsersToSaveContent $false
    the command succeeds, and running
    Get-ConferencingPolicy Global
    confirms the existence of the “Global” policy, and also confirms that the change was made, but when I license a new user, he gets “BposSAllModality”, not the hidden “Global” policy.

    By the way, I can assign BposSDataProtection to all users with a small script, and run it periodically, but changing the attributes of the default policy is more efficient because, if my organization’s needs change, I can edit the default policy to apply to all users. This is more efficient than changing the policy applied to everyone. Additionally, I can create a truly custom policy.

    I appreciate any insights you might have.

    Reply
      1. Art Alexion says:

        Thanks Vasil. Your ENow article provides great news, but I still have the question as to why I can only edit the Global Conferencing Policy, but the Global Policy is not the default. The ENow article suggests that we can set the default policy for the organization. Is it possible to make that hidden Global policy the default?

        Reply
        1. Vasil Michev says:

          Not sure about that, sorry. Open a case with support, the should be able to give you (official) answer?

  2. Matt Blanch'e says:

    Skype for Business Basic MSI desktop client provides presence, instant messaging and conferencing features. If you are licensed for Office 365 ProPlus, Office 365 Enterprise E3 or Office 365 Enterprise E4, you are also licensed for the full Skype for Business Windows desktop client, which includes additional features including advanced telephony support, archiving & compliance features. Please download full Skype for Business Windows desktop client.

    Reply

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