Element is the natural replacement for Skype for Business Server.
It offers the same data ownership model, but with the added protection of end-to-end encryption and a complete messaging and collaboration platform with VoIP and enterprise-grade functionality.
“64% of technology decision makers expect their organization's need to give partners access to air-gapped or isolated environments to grow over the next three years.”
— The Future of Secure Communications, a report conducted on Element's behalf by Forrester Consulting
“One idea behind choosing Element as a chat tool was that it is based on an open protocol to enable collaboration with other clients. It also reduces lock-in effects, which is an advantage if one of the services lags behind the others in terms of development speed.”
— Anna Engström, Försäkringskassan
With the Skype for Business End of Life deadline fast approaching, it's crucial to explore the best alternatives and make an informed decision about your organization's communication needs.
Manage the uncertainty around Skype’s future with our new resource hub.
“Organisations need a secure, neutral way to communicate. Matrix is the most advanced platform to provide that missing communication layer.”
— Skype co-founder Jaan Tallinn backs Element and Matrix, through his investment fund Metaplanet.
“63% of technology decision makers are planning to introduce secure real time communication across their value chain as a high or critical near-term priority.”
— The Future of Secure Communications, a report conducted on Element's behalf by Forrester Consulting
Offers open federation, but all parties have to be Skype users. So like traditional vendor-hosted platforms, and most modern on-premise alternatives, Skype is a walled garden.
This provides an additional IT burden if it will be used to connect outside of the organization.
Element is based on the Matrix open standard, so it’s instantly interoperable with any other Matrix-based messenger.
The University of Innsbruck chose Element over Microsoft Teams to be its university-wide real time collaboration platform for 5,000 employees and 27,000 students; all hosted on-premise.
Choosing an on-premise platform that has been independently researched is a powerful validation when building the business case for a secure and compliant collaboration platform.
Download Forrester Wave™: Secure Communications, Q3 2022.
Element is a decentralized solution that supports on-premise and self-hosted cloud deployment, as well as private (and open if desired) federation.
Deployed at an enterprise level, Element supports the business with essentials such as Single Sign-On, auditing, moderation and antivirus tools.