Zoom for Government 5.0 is here!

With robust security enhancements and to prepare you for the upcoming transition to GCM encryption. Here’s everything you need to know to start updating today.

Zoom is now GCM Encrypted!

To join meetings, older clients must be updated to the latest Zoom client.

AES 256-bit GCM encryption provides increased protection for meeting data and resistance against tampering.

Update Experience

If using an older Zoom client, a user will see this prompt to update upon joining a meeting:

Note: If a user does not have permission to install Zoom, they can still join their meeting using a browser.

Zoom Users

To update your Zoom app, please visit zoomgov.com/download.

If Zoom is managed for you by an administrator, they will manage this update for you.

Zoom Administrators

Learn more about how to manage this update in your environment for various endpoints.

Learn More

Security Enhancements included in Zoom 5.0

User Experience & Controls

Security controls are now grouped together and found by clicking the Security icon on the host meeting menu bar. These controls allow the host to enable or disable the ability for participants to:

Screen share
Chat
Rename themselves
  • “Report a User”

    Hosts can report users to Zoom’s Trust & Safety team, who will review any potential misuse of the platform and take appropriate action.

  • Enable Waiting Room

    All hosts may now turn on the Waiting Rooms while their meeting is already in progress.

  • Lock Meeting

    Lock your meeting after everyone has arrived to prevent any unwanted disruptions.

  • Remove Participants

    The host may remove a participant and they will be unable to re-enter the meeting.

Additional Meeting Safeguards

  • Waiting Room enabled by default

    Waiting Room, an existing feature that allows a host to keep participants in individual virtual waiting rooms before they are admitted to a meeting, is now on by default for education, Basic, and single-license Pro accounts. It is recommended best practice for all customers to turn on Waiting Rooms.

  • Complex Meeting IDs

    Eleven digit unique meeting IDs are now in place. Meeting IDs are also removed from the content sharing window to prevent accidental sharing of meeting information.

  • Passwords & Password complexity

    Meeting passwords are now more complex and enabled by default for most customers, including all Basic, single-license Pro, and K-12 customers. For administered accounts, account admins now have the ability to define password complexity (such as length, alphanumeric, and special character requirements).

  • Meeting Registration

    Registration for meetings will allow you to have your participants register with their email, name, and other details to know more about attendees.

  • Meeting Authentication

    Enable meeting preset profiles that only allow entry to authenticated users, or restrict to specific email domains for Business, Enterprise or Education accounts.

  • Recording Security

    All cloud recordings are encrypted with complex passwords on by default.

  • Audio Watermarks

    Turn this on to embed a user's personal information into the audio as an inaudible watermark if they record during a meeting. If the audio file is shared without permission, Zoom can help identify which participant recorded the meeting.

  • Screen Share Watermark

    Superimposes the image of a meeting participant’s email address onto shared content in the event a participant takes a screenshot.

  • Message Preview Options

    Users can now enable Zoom Chat notifications to not show chat content while screen sharing.

  • Secure Account Contact Sharing

    Zoom 5.0 supports a new data structure for larger organizations, allowing them to link contacts across multiple accounts so people can easily and securely search and find meetings, chat, and phone contacts.

  • Control Profile Picture

    Host or account admin can disable the ability for participants to show their profile picture or change it in a meeting.

  • Data Center Information

    Hosts can now select which data center regions they would like their in-meeting traffic to use when scheduling a meeting, and participants can see which data center they are connected to by clicking on the info icon at the top left of the client window.