We’re excited to bring you Element Server Suite (ESS) 24.07, this month’s release of our hosting software includes deployment health indicators, the experimental launch of our next generation authentication system (OIDC), and several other improvements to make your organisation’s Element experience smoother and more efficient. So stay ahead of the curve with ESS, where timely security fixes are our top priority.

Ridgeline International and Element have signed an agreement that makes Ridgeline Element’s primary partner in the US National Security market. Ridgeline, a pioneer in data privacy and secure infrastructure solutions, helps organizations operate securely in the era of ubiquitous data collection and technical surveillance. Element specializes in secure, decentralised communication. It is led by the team that created the open standard Matrix protocol.

News of Disney’s alleged Slack breach shows what can happen when organisations trust centralised communications platforms that don’t use end-to-end encryption; if an attacker gets inside, they have access to everything. By contrast, in an end-to-end encrypted system, data is instead only accessible by specific cryptographically identified users and their devices. Hopefully the master storyteller can help organisations learn that relying on popular but insecure platforms is a catastrophic risk.

Last week we highlighted a deeply concerning development in the EU’s proposed regulation to combat child sexual abuse (aka Chat Control). The Belgian Presidency of the Council had put forward a proposal which, if agreed on, would take us closer to a world of constant scanning and surveillance. Thankfully, at the last minute, the vote on Chat Control was removed from the agenda as seemingly the council was not able to agree on a position.

Since it was first proposed, the EU’s Regulation to prevent and combat child sexual abuse (aka Chat Control) has gained the attention of security experts, academics, civil society, and the private sector for all the wrong reasons. Early versions of the Commission's proposal included requirements for media scanning and effectively entail the mass surveillance of Europeans.

In our most recent version of ESS 24.05 we’re pleased to offer a Windows MSI (Microsoft Installer) build of Element Desktop. Many larger customers prefer MSI files for software installation. They can automate deployments across many devices, ensuring consistency and reducing manual effort. As well as MSI builds we’ve also enhanced the way our message notifications work for all users. And we’ve improved Group Sync: our advanced identity and access management tool for IT administrators.

The server-side key backup is an encrypted copy of your Matrix client’s message keys, securely stored on your Matrix homeserver. To ensure those keys can only ever be accessed by you, they are encrypted on your device, with a key that’s kept only on your devices and known as the backup key. In order to use your backup, you must have access to either.

We're thrilled to announce the latest long-term support (LTS) release of Element Server Suite. This release represents a significant leap forward, especially for some of our larger customers who are using our previous LTS release of ESS which came out in October last year. This release focuses on enhanced reliability, new features, crucial bug fixes and improved security measures. Let's delve into the highlights brought to the table in this version.

We are excited to announce a ground-breaking collaboration between Element and BigBlueButton, marking a significant step forward in the realm of virtual classroom technology in the education sector. This partnership signifies our joint commitment to revolutionising online communication and collaboration, and we are ecstatic about the possibilities that lie ahead.

The new Secure Communications Solutions Landscape Q2 2024 (subscription required) report, from Forrester Research, categorises the secure communications marketplace as having progressed from ‘Emerging’ to now be identified as ‘Established.’ There are many milestones on any journey, but we feel this is a significant one.