Microsoft has announced plans to provide Apple iOS devices to its employees in China so they can access authentication apps due to the unavailability of Google's Android services in the country. This move, part of Microsoft's global Secure Future Initiative, aims to mitigate security risks highlighted by recent breaches, including a high-profile hack by Russian hackers earlier this year.

Bloomberg News first reported that Microsoft, starting in September, will instruct its employees in China to use Apple devices at the workplace. The decision is driven by the absence of the Google Play Store in China, which limits employees' access to essential security apps like Microsoft Authenticator and Identity Pass.

A Microsoft spokesperson confirmed the shift, emphasising the need for reliable access to required security apps. The company, which has operated in China since 1992 and maintains a significant research and development centre there, will provide iPhone 15 models to employees currently using Android handsets across China, including Hong Kong.