Chat and Collaboration Services at NC State
NC State provides several chat and collaboration tools to meet various business needs.
- To see a comparison of available video conferencing tools, visit: Web Conferencing Services at NC State.
- For audio-only options, visit the Audio & Video Conferencing Solutions page.
The following topics should not be discussed or shared on any chat platform:
- Personnel topics
- Red or Purple data
- Meeting minutes or process documentation
- Should be retained in a permanent format, such as a Google Doc
Centrally-supported collaboration tools include:
- Google Chat – free
- Microsoft Teams – free
- Cisco Jabber – free for Chat (Telephony service via Cisco Jabber requires campus telephone number)
Tools not centrally supported:
- Slack
- Slack security and retention guidance (coming soon)
- Minimum requirement for Slack to conduct university business (coming soon)
Standard Features by All Centrally-Supported Services
- Direct messages (person to person)
- Group messages
- Persistent Collaboration Spaces (Rooms)
- File sharing
- Mobile Apps
- Video conferencing integration
- Windows and Mac Support
- Bots and Apps
- External users, depending on settings
Extended Features by Service
| Feature | Google Chat | Microsoft Teams | Cisco Jabber |
|---|---|---|---|
| Help Desk Support | Yes |
Some support |
Yes |
| Approved Data Classification Level | Yellow | Yellow | Green |
| Chat Retention Periods | Rooms – 18 months
Direct Messages – 24 hours by default; user configurable to 18 months |
18 months | 18 months |
| Browsable Rooms | No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Web Client | Yes |
Yes |
No |
| Desktop Client | Yes |
Yes |
Yes (Windows, Mac, XMPP) |
| Webhook Support | Yes |
Yes |
No |
If you require assistance in selecting the best option for your needs, contact the NC State Help Desk or your school or department technical support representative.