The new release of Skype for Business for Mac is a really good first release from Microsoft. I love that Skype meetings now go straight into Skype for business rather than having to login to the separate Skype for Business Meetings application.
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Office Insider releases for Skype for Business on Mac. Skype for Business. Offline indicator on the Dock icon Skype for Business on Mac will display a warning indicator on the app icon in the Dock when the app is signed out or not able to reach the Skype for. Peer-to-peer file transfer is enabled for Skype for Business Online Ring 0, 1.
Two features that I are lacking in this version are
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Skype for Business on Mac finally got file transfer capability in April. Then, just last week, a co-worker asked me about a thorny issue theyâve had with file transfers intermittently failing. (Iâll cover this in its own post once weâve fully diagnosed and fixed the problem.)
Both these items led me on a stroll through the technology behind file transfer in Skype for Business. I consider the ability to send/receive files a fundamental functionâ¦and Iâm certainly not the only one. Comments on SkypeFeedback.com and Office 365â² Feedback Forums echo its importance among my fellow Skype4B users.
Letâs take a dive into what goes into file transfer, shall we? It doesnât need much configurationâ¦but like air, you notice when itâs not there!
Where Can You Transfer Files in Skype for Business?
File Transfer is a basic part of Skype for Business, both Server and Online. As the Skype admin, you control whether users can or cannot send files to one another, and through which tools.
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The most common file transfer method is through Instant Messaging (or âP2P File Transferâ). However, you can also share files in a Skype Meeting.
File Transfer is enabled by default. But in case yours is turned off and you want it on, hereâs how.
How to Enable File Transfer
Whatâs the fastest way to enable Skype for Business file transfer isâ¦use a PowerShell cmdlet! Specifically, this one: Set-CsFileTransferFilterConfiguration â TechNet
Once enabled, you can customize file transfer options through PowerShell, or through the Control Panel. I like the Control Panel myself.
File transfer in Skype Meetings is enabled by default, as part of the Conferencing Policy with the Set-CsConferencingPolicy cmdlet. If you want to turn it off, run the cmdlet with the â-EnableFileTransfer $Falseâ parameter.
Set-CsConferencingPolicy â TechNet
Going back to IM file transfers, the main option you have in the Control Panel is whether to block all files (essentially disabling file transfer) or block specific file types. Predictably, you find this option under âIM and Presenceâ in Skype for Business Server.
Skype for Business wonât let you send certain file types, due to malware risk. Hereâs the full list of files Skype for Business (Server and Online) blocks:
.ade, .adp, .app, .asp, .bas, .bat, .cer, .chm, .cmd, .com, .cpl, .crt, .csh, .exe, .fxp, .grp, .hlp, .hta, .inf, .ins, .isp, .its, .js, .jse, .ksh, .lnk, .mad, .maf, .mag, .mam, .maq, .mar, .mas, .mat, .mau, .mav, .maw, .mda, .mdb, .mde, .mdt, .mdw, .mdz, .msc, .msi, .msp, .mst, .ocx, .ops, .pcd, .pif, .pl, .pnp, .prf, .prg, .pst, .reg, .scf, .scr, .sct, .shb, .shs, .tmp, .url, .vb, .vbe, .vbs, .vsd, .vsmacros, .vss, .vst, .vsw, .ws, .wsc, .wsf, .wsh
Note the bolded examples. Nobody can send .exe files? Thatâs because theyâre blocked by default! (Donât try to ZIP it up either; Skype will see into the ZIP and refuse to send.)
Once file transfer is enabled and blocked file types are set, youâll need to make sure the appropriate ports are open on the firewall. Standard configurations will open the ports necessary (but itâs always good to test!).
The default ports used by Skype for Business file transfers are:
(Server) 1024-65535 TCP 6891-6901 TCP
(Online)
443 TCP [Destination] 50040 â 50059 UDP and TCP [Source] 443 TCP, 50000 â 59999 TCP [Destination] Allow: *.infra.lync.com *.online.lync.com *.resources.lync.com Office 365 URLs and IP Address Ranges When to Turn File Transfer Off: When Compliance Demands
Surprisingly, there IS a situation where you would want to turn File Transfer off, and leave it off. When you have to maintain a regulatory compliance standard.
In Skype for Business Online, file transfers within Instant Messaging are considered a ânon-archived feature.â That means the feature isnât captured when you have an In-Place Hold set up in Exchange. Thus the data you would send via file transfer doesnât get recordedâ¦which can jeopardize compliance.
(Shared OneNote pages and PowerPoint annotations are also non-archived features.)
This option is controlled at the user level. In the Skype for Business Admin Center, under Users, youâll find the option for turning off non-archived features. Youâre supposed to âselect this option if youâre legally required to preserve electronically stored information.â
A more detailed explanation for this setting is at: Demystifying a User Compliance setting in Skype for Business Online â Curtis J..
File Transfers Take Some Consideration, But Carry High Value to Users
In most deployments, file transfer is âjust another part of the process.â Given the pieces involved though, file transfers do merit a little extra thought during setup. Mostly to make sure they function correctly for all users. Because when they donât, it doesnât matter if itâs 50 users or oneâ¦youâll hear about it!
The next post may be a little delayed. I have a special review in the worksâ¦a popular third-party app got an upgrade, and I get to test it out!
Whatâs your File Transfer story? Did you run into a strange problem, or need to change its default setup? Please comment or email. And join us again next time!
Whatâs Involved in a Skype for Business File Transfer
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January 2023
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