Last updated: April 2015
In order to understand the data collection and use practices relevant for a particular Microsoft Lync product, we recommend you read both this Privacy Statement and any applicable supplement.
General
Microsoft is committed to protecting your privacy, while delivering software that brings you the performance, power, and convenience you want in your personal computing. This privacy statement explains many of the data collection and use practices relevant for the Microsoft products listed in the Supplements section of this document. It focuses on features that communicate with the Internet. It does not apply to other online or offline Microsoft sites, products, or services.
Supplements – Lync 2013 Product Releases
Collection and Use of Your Information
The information we collect from you will be used by Microsoft and its controlled subsidiaries and affiliates to enable the features you are using and to provide the service(s) or carry out the transaction(s) you have requested or authorized. It may also be used to analyze and improve Microsoft products and services.
We may send certain mandatory service communications such as welcome letters, billing reminders, information on technical service issues, and security announcements. Some Microsoft services may send periodic member letters that are considered part of the service. We may occasionally request your feedback, invite you to participate in surveys, or send you promotional mailings to inform you of other products or services available from Microsoft and its affiliates.
In order to offer you a more consistent and personalized experience in your interactions with Microsoft, information collected through one Microsoft service may be combined with information collected through other Microsoft services. We may also supplement the information we collect with information obtained from other companies. For example, we may use services from other companies that enable us to derive a general geographic area based on your IP address in order to customize certain services to your geographic area.
Except as described in this statement, personal information you provide will not be transferred to third parties without your consent. We occasionally hire other companies to provide limited services on our behalf, such as answering customer questions about products or services or performing statistical analysis of our services. We will provide those companies only the personal information they need to deliver the service, and they are prohibited from using that information for any other purpose.
Microsoft may access or disclose information about you, including the content of your communications, in order to: (a) comply with the law or respond to lawful requests or legal process; (b) protect the rights or property of Microsoft or our customers, including the enforcement of our agreements or policies governing your use of the services; or (c) act on a good faith belief that such access or disclosure is necessary to protect the personal safety of Microsoft employees, customers, or the public.
Information that is collected by or sent to Microsoft by products listed in the Supplements section of this document may be stored and processed in the United States or in any other country/region in which Microsoft or its affiliates, subsidiaries, or service providers maintain facilities. Microsoft abides by the safe harbor framework as set forth by the United States Department of Commerce regarding the collection, use, and retention of data from the European Union.
Collection and Use of Information about Your Computer
When you use software with Internet-enabled features, information about your computer ("standard computer information") is sent to the web sites you visit and online services you use. Microsoft uses standard computer information to provide you Internet-enabled services, to help improve our products and services, and for statistical analysis. Standard computer information typically includes information such as your IP address, operating system version, browser version, and regional and language settings. In some cases, standard computer information may also include hardware ID, which indicates the device manufacturer, device name, and version. If a particular feature or service sends information to Microsoft, standard computer information will be sent as well.
Security of Your Information
Microsoft is committed to helping protect the security of your information. We use a variety of security technologies and procedures to help protect your information from unauthorized access, use, or disclosure. For example, we store the information you provide on computer systems with limited access, which are located in controlled facilities.
Changes to This Privacy Statement
We will occasionally update this privacy statement and/or its supplements to reflect changes in our products, services, and customer feedback. When we post changes, we will revise the "last updated" date at the top of the page. We encourage you to periodically review this statement and its supplements to be informed of how Microsoft is protecting your information.
For More Information
Microsoft welcomes your comments regarding this privacy statement and its supplements. If you have questions or believe that we have not adhered to these documents, please contact us using this Contact Form for Privacy Feedback, or by mail, at the following address:
Microsoft Privacy – Lync
Microsoft Corporation One Microsoft Way Redmond, Washington 98052 USASpecific Features
Microsoft Error Reporting
What This Feature Does: Microsoft Error Reporting provides a service that allows you to report problems you may be having to Microsoft and to receive information that may help you avoid or solve such problems.
Information Collected, Processed, or Transmitted: For information about the information collected, processed, or transmitted by Microsoft Error Reporting, see the Microsoft Error Reporting privacy statement at Privacy Statement for the Microsoft Error Reporting Service.
Use of Information: The error reporting data that you submit may be used to solve customer problems and to improve Microsoft software and services..
Choice/Control: You will be offered the opportunity to participate in Microsoft Error Reporting the first time an error is encountered. When you choose to enable it, Microsoft Error Reporting will automatically report problems you encounter to Microsoft.
In rare cases, such as problems that are especially difficult to solve, Microsoft may request additional data, including sections of memory (which may include memory shared by any or all applications running at the time the problem occurred), some registry settings, and one or more files from your computer. Your current documents may also be included. When additional data is requested, you will have an opportunity to view the information contained in the error report before choosing whether to send the report to Microsoft.
Important Information: Enterprise customers can use Group Policy to configure how Microsoft Error Reporting works on their computers. Configuration options include the ability to turn off Microsoft Error Reporting. If you are an administrator and want to configure Group Policy for Microsoft Error Reporting, technical details are available at the Windows Server Group Policy TechCenter.
Microsoft Lync Server Push Notification Service
What This Feature Does: The Lync Server Push Notification Service is the service used to push update notifications – such as instant message notifications and invitations, message-waiting notifications, and missed call notifications – to mobile devices that have the Microsoft Lync 2010 or newer mobile client installed and configured to receive push notifications.
Information Collected, Processed, or Transmitted: All instant message notifications and invitations; message-waiting notifications; and missed call notifications sent to Microsoft Lync installed on mobile devices is routed through the Lync Server Push Notification Service for delivery to the intended mobile recipient. Additional information that passes through the Lync Server Push Notification Service may include the sender display name, message preview, and the conversation ID. Once an instant message conversation is established between participants, instant messages no longer use the Lync Server Push Notifications Service.
Use of Information: Information sent to the Lync Server Push Notification Service is used to process and deliver instant message, message waiting, and missed call notifications to the intended recipient. Microsoft does not save or store data sent to the Lync Server Push Notification Service. Notifications will be delivered to the users’ mobile phone via third party Push Notification Services depending upon the mobile device of the user; for example, messages sent to or from an Apple device will pass through the Apple Push Notification Service. Microsoft has no responsibility for data collected by these third party push notification services. For information on their data collection and use policies, please see the Privacy Supplement specific to your mobile device (listed at the top of this page).
Choice/Control: Use of the Lync Server Push Notification Service is required in order to take advantage of the push notification capability of Microsoft Lync deployed on mobile devices within your organization. To find out if this capability has been enabled in your organization contact your enterprise administrator. If push notifications are enabled in your organization and your specific device is capable of receiving and displaying them, you will be able to enable or disable them on your device however disabling them only disables the popup notification or chime your device uses to alert you it does not stop your device from actually receiving new messages and notifications.
Online Feedback
What This Feature Does: Online Feedback allows you to provide feedback about products and services directly to Microsoft.
Information Collected, Processed, or Transmitted: If you choose to use Online Feedback, the content of your message and standard computer information will be sent to Microsoft.
Use of Information: The information you submit may be used to improve Microsoft sites, products, or services. The information that we collect from you may also be used to request additional information about feedback that you provide about the product or service that you are using.
Choice/Control: Use of Online Feedback is optional.
Online Help
What This Feature Does: Clicking Online Help or Help connects you to online support materials, providing you with the most up-to-date content available.
Information Collected, Processed, or Transmitted: When you use Online Help or Help, your request is sent to Microsoft, as well as any rating or feedback you choose to provide about the help topics presented to you. If you type any personal information into the search or feedback boxes, the information will be sent to Microsoft but will not be used to identify or contact you.
Use of Information: Online Help and Help use the information in your search to return the most relevant results, develop new content, and improve the existing content.
Choice/Control: Do not click Online Help or Help if you do not wish to connect to online support materials.