What's new in the 8x8 Admin Console March 2026 release?

The March 2026 release of the 8x8 Admin Console introduces updates to license and meeting management:

Manage Speech Analytics licenses

This release introduces license-based management for Speech Analytics in the 8x8 Admin Console. Speech Analytics was previously referred to as Conversation IQ (CIQ).

Administrators can now enable specific Speech Analytics features per license, giving greater control over which AI capabilities are available to users.

This configuration is available in the Transcription Policy section under the CIQ Configuration tab.

Benefits

  • Granular control: Enable only the Speech Analytics features required for each user or team.
  • Flexible configuration: Align AI capabilities with business needs and licensing structure.
  • Simplified management: Manage feature access centrally from the Admin Console.

What has hanged

  • Previously: Speech Analytics features were bundled under a single license.
  • Now: Features can be enabled individually based on the assigned license, allowing for more flexible configuration across teams.

Available features

Administrators can enable the following Speech Analytics features:

  • Summarization: Automatically generate conversation summaries.
  • Action Items: Identify follow-up tasks and commitments.
  • Sentiment Analysis: Detect positive or negative sentiment during interactions.
  • Topics Matching: Identify conversations that match predefined topics.

Important!
- Transcriptions must be enabled before any other Speech Analytics features can be activated.
- Feature availability depends on the assigned license.
- The legacy CIQ license is no longer available for new customers and will be retired after existing customer renewals.

Who this feature is for

UC administrators can now manage Speech Analytics features for users assigned to 8x8 UC X Series licenses.

This feature is designed for administrators who:

  • Manage Speech Analytics capabilities
  • Assign and manage licenses
  • Want to control AI features across teams

Requirements

  • Administrator access to 8x8 Admin Console
  • Speech Analytics add-on licenses enabled
  • Transcriptions must be enabled before other features

How to access the CIQ Configuration page

Administrators can select a license and enable the available features for users associated with that license.

  1. Go to Transcription Policy in 8x8 Admin Console.
  2. Open the CIQ Configuration tab.
  3. Select a license from the Current license list.
  4. Enable the desired Speech Analytics features for users.

The Transcription and Speech Analytics Configuration page with the CIQ Configuration tab selected. The screen displays license selection, a searchable user list, and feature checkboxes for Transcriptions, AI Summarization, Action Items, and Sentiment Analysis

Notes and limitations

  • Feature availability depends on the assigned license.
  • Existing customers using the legacy CIQ license will transition to the new licensing model at renewal.
  • Only new customers currently see the CIQ Configuration tab.

For detailed configuration steps, see Manage Speech Analytics licenses.

Lobby feature control for meetings

Administrators can now enable the Lobby feature at the tenant level in the 8x8 Admin Console, allowing centralized control over how participants join meetings.

What changed

Previously, lobby settings were managed at the meeting level.

Now, enabling the lobby at the tenant level sets it as the default for all meetings.

How it works

When enabled, all participants must wait in the lobby until a meeting moderator grants access.

Benefits

  • Improved security: Screen participants before they join meetings
  • Centralized control: Apply lobby settings across all meetings from a single location
  • Consistent experience: Enforce a standard meeting entry flow

Where to find it

Go to 8x8 Admin Console > Meetings settings to enable the Lobby feature.

8x8 Admin Console Meetings Settings page showing Join before moderator options, with the Enable lobby toggle turned off and highlighted

For detailed meeting configuration steps, see Set up video meetings.

What’s new in the 8x8 Admin Console 1.57.2 release?

The 8x8 Admin Console version 1.57.2 now offers Mutual Transport Layer Security (mTLS) as a new authentication method. This option is available for 8x8 users accessing the service on Android devices.

Mutual Transport Layer Security new authentication for Android devices

Version 1.57.2 introduces Mutual Transport Layer Security (mTLS), a secure, certificate-based authentication method for Android devices.

This mandatory authentication method enhances security and compliance for managed or shared Android devices by replacing passwords with zero-touch certificate verification.

Features

  • Removes the need for visible credentials on shared devices.
  • Reduces risk in frontline and high-turnover environments.
  • Available only for customers using multi SSO integrations.
  • Only one mTLS SSO provider can be active per account.

Benefits

  • Stronger authentication: Only verified Android devices can access 8x8 services
  • Improved compliance: Helps meet strict security and regulatory standards
  • Secure mobile access: Uses certificates instead of passwords to authenticate users on managed devices

Why this change

Traditional login methods on shared or managed Android devices present multiple challenges:

  • Security: Passwords can be reused or exposed on shared devices
  • Productivity: Login prompts interrupt frontline workflows
  • IT overhead: Managing passwords and user access increases support demands
  • Compliance: Shared logins make it harder to track access and maintain audit trails

To address these issues, 8x8 now offers passwordless, certificate-based authentication through mTLS for customers using Multi-SSO.

How mTLS Authentication Works

  • IT deploys a device certificate using a supported Mobile Device Management (MDM) platform (for example, VMware Workspace ONE, Microsoft Intune, SOTI).
  • The device authenticates automatically using its certificate. No login screen is required.
  • The device receives secure tokens to access 8x8 services.
  • If the device is lost or stolen, IT can immediately revoke the certificate.

Behind the scenes:

  • Each certificate is mapped to a specific user ID
  • The certificate is validated against your organization’s Certificate Authority (CA)

Is mTLS right for your organization?

  • mTLS authentication is recommended if your organization:
  • Uses shared or managed Android devices (for example, Zebra, Samsung, Honeywell)
  • Relies on Mobile Device Management (MDM) platforms like VMware Workspace ONE, Microsoft Intune, or SOTI
  • Supports frontline or deskless workers in retail, logistics, healthcare, or warehouse environments
  • Requires strict credential management and access control
  • Operates in high-turnover environments where password exposure is a risk

Benefits by stakeholder

Stakeholder Benefit
End users Frictionless access - devices are ready to use, no login required
IT admins Security teams Operations Centralized control via MDM, fast revocation of compromised devices
Security teams Operations Passwordless authentication, device binding, and audit trail for compliance
Operations Fewer support tickets and faster onboarding for new users

Note: Compatible with all X Series licenses, including Retail Nationwide.

To use mTLS authentication, your organization must have:

  • 8x8 Work for Managed Devices version 12.6.1 or later
  • 8x8 Admin Console version 1.57.2 or later
  • A customer account with Multi-SSO enabled
  • A Mobile Device Management (MDM) platform that supports certificate deployment (for example, VMware, Intune, SOTI)
  • An internal or third-party Certificate Authority (CA)
  • IT capability to create and manage certificate profiles

To set up mTLS authentication:

  1. Log in to 8x8 Admin Console.
  2. Navigate to Home > Identity & Security.

  3. Under Single Sign-On (SSO), click + Add SSO.

    Identity and Security page showing the Single Sign-On Integration (SSO) section with a list of configured providers and the Add SSO button highlighted for adding a new SSO integration

  4. In the Add a new Single Sign-On (SSO) integration dialog:

    • Select mTLS Authentication as the identity provider.
    • (Optional) Enable Set this provider as default, if applicable.
    • Under Label your provider, enter a name for this SSO provider.
    • Under MTLS Authentication settings, upload the root Certificate Authority (CA) in *.cert, *.cer, or *.crt format. Ensure the certificate contains the public key used for verifying sign-in requests.
    • Copy the Customer ID for MDM configuration (used to match device certificates).

  5. Click Add.

  6. Click Save on the Identity & Security page.

Add SSO Integration dialog showing mTLS selected with fields for certificate upload, Customer ID, and provider label

Note: Only one mTLS identity provider can be configured per 8x8 account.

To learn more, see Set up Multiple Single Sign-On for 8x8 Admin Console and Set up Single Sign-On for 8x8 Admin Console.

What's new?

Important! To ensure security standards, 8x8 apps now enforce multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all 8x8 administrator accounts. For details about MFA for admins, read Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA).

Recently, we introduced 8x8 Mobile Admin, a new solution designed for 8x8 Work admins to manage basic admin activities using the 8x8 Work for Mobile app. This new capability offers quick resolutions via the mobile app as well as easy and quick access to a restricted set of top level daily admin tasks (quick updates or changes on demand).

For details about 8x8 Mobile Admin, click here.

Availability

8x8 Mobile Admin is available on:

  • iOS mobile devices
  • Android mobile devices
8x8 Work for Mobile iOS 8x8 Work for Mobile for Android

To learn more about 8x8 Mobile Admin, check out our detailed help.

See our content for all Previous releases.