Slack Technologies Inc. has introduced Enterprise Grid, a messaging platform that is specifically designed for large companies.

Enterprise Grid provides large enterprises, such as early users PayPal, Capital One and IBM, with greater flexibility. It includes features such as unlimited workspaces, shared channels, administrative controls and security integrations.

Slack also plans to add a universal search function to Enterprise Grid that will allow users to search messages across the entire organization.

Here’s a look at how to access and set up teams and shared channels in Slack Enterprise Grid:

Create and manage teams

Organization owners and administrators can create teams on their organization by going to the “Organization” page of the Admin Dashboards > Teams > Create a Team > create a name and domain > click Create Team.

Add team members to teams

Organization owners and administrators can add team members to a team on their organization in two ways:

Add individuals from the organization’s directory

On the Organization page > click Teams > search and select the relevant team. In the “Members” section > click Add Members > select team members to add to the team > click Add to Team.

Add groups from the identity provider

On the Organization page > click Teams > search and select the relevant team > click IDP Groups > click Connect IDP Groups > search and add multiple groups or an individual group > click Connect to Team.

To disconnect an IDP group, go to the Organization page > click Teams > search and select the relevant team > click IDP Groups > hover over the IDP group that needs to be disconnected > click the gear icon > click Disconnect from Team.

Add guests to teams

On the Invitation page, click the relevant team name > click Invite people (select whether to invite them as a Multi-Channel or Single-Channel Guest) > enter the relevant details, including email address, first and last name > click “Add another” to invite more people or “Invite many people at once” to invite people in bulk > click edit/add to select the relevant channels that they will have access to > click Invite.  

Set and manage team access

Team owners and administrators can set one of three levels of discovery for teams:

Discoverable and open to join: The team is visible to all members of the organization and anyone can join.

Discoverable, but new members need to request access to join: Team members can request to join these teams and any existing channel members can approve the request.

Tip: When a request comes through to join the team, any person can either click the “Add to Team” or “Don’t Add to Team” button.

Unlisted teams: These teams are hidden from organization members. The team owner and administrators will need to invite new members to the unlisted team.

To set the relevant team discovery preference, click the team name > Team Menu > hover over Administration > click Team Settings. When the team site opens, click Team Access > select how people can find and join the team > click Save.

How individuals can discover and join teams

As a member of an Enterprise organization, individuals can find teams by clicking their team name > in the Team Menu, click “Find more teams” > browse the list and click the “Join” button if it is an open team or click the “Request to Join” button to receive approval.

If your request to join is approved, you will receive a Slackbot message.

Shared channels

Enterprise Grid introduces shared channels that allow administrators to connect various teams and departments when working on a common project without being exposed to irrelevant or sensitive information.

Tip: The shared channel icon will show next to the channel’s name if it is shared.  

Shared channel settings

Organization owners and administrators can decide which organization members can create, modify or convert shared channels.

On the Settings page of the Admin Dashboard > click Shared Channel Settings > select the relevant option: Everyone except guests; Org Admins/Owners and Team Admins/Owners; Org Admins/Owners; or Org Admins/Owners and selected members and user groups.

Note: Some apps and custom bots may not work in shared channels.

To convert an existing channel to  shared channel, click the gear icon > in the Channels Settings menu, click “Additional options…” > click “Convert this channel to a shared channel” > decide on who can access the shared channel > click Convert to Shared Channel.

If you are interested in trying Enterprise Grid, you can contact Slack’s sales team.

Source: Slack

Images via Slack