More and more companies are either fully switching to remote work or keeping offices only for occasional meetings. In these conditions, many representatives of Generation Z are entering the workforce for the first time without having any idea what a typical office day looks like.
In this reality, messengers have become the main communication channel: tasks are discussed in chats rather than emails, and team synchronization is ensured not by meeting rooms, but by group chats and video calls within a single application. But is this enough for effective and secure remote work — and which platforms today meet the requirements of business, legislation, and usability at the same time?
Is it really possible to work in messengers?
The answer is yes, but with an important caveat: only if the right tool is used and clear internal discipline is maintained. Messengers handle key remote work tasks very well:
- Operational coordination — fast task delivery, deadline alignment, clarification of details.
- Flexible project management — task-based chats, participant mentions, contextual discussions.
- Client communication — especially in sales and technical support, where response speed is critical.
- Informal communication — strengthening team spirit through non-work chats and groups.
For fast information exchange and coordinated teamwork in a messenger, it must have essential features: group chats, file sharing, video communication, access control, and end-to-end encryption. Without these, quickly exchanging information and coordinating actions, especially in small teams, becomes difficult.
Requirements for a messenger for remote work in 2025
Today, import substitution is not about company size. Even if your team consists of only 5–10 people, relying on foreign messengers is risky: due to sanctions and legislative changes, they can be blocked at any time. For businesses where correspondence contains personal data or important commercial information, this threatens not only convenience but also legal stability.
The choice of a messenger in 2025 is determined not by interface design, but by compliance with the realities of the Russian market. Companies are increasingly paying attention to the following:
- Data storage within the Russian Federation — mandatory when working with personal data and government contracts.
- Compliance with Federal Law 152-FZ and FSTEC requirements — critical for financial, energy, and public sectors.
- Russian-language support and documentation — without this, resolving issues quickly or scaling the system is almost impossible.
- Integration with internal systems — CRM, ERP, task trackers, email services.
- Scalability — the solution must work equally well for a team of 5 people and for a corporation with thousands of employees.
These conditions are exactly what make most popular foreign messengers unsuitable for serious, long-term use in Russian business.
Working via WhatsApp and Telegram
What if Telegram and WhatsApp are used for work? Many people are accustomed to using them to communicate with family and friends, as well as to handle work-related issues.
WhatsApp and Telegram are still used:
- in small teams (up to 10 people),
- for external communication with clients and contractors,
- in companies without strict data protection requirements.
But here is what you need to know. Despite their widespread use, both messengers do not meet basic corporate security requirements:
- They do not guarantee data storage within the Russian Federation;
- They have not passed FSTEC certification;
- They do not provide tools for centralized account and access management.
In addition, within the territory of the Russian Federation, both messengers may be temporarily or completely unavailable due to regulatory restrictions. Such cases have been repeatedly recorded in recent years.
Fortunately, the Russian market is responding to user needs and offers various specialized messengers as replacements for foreign solutions, or even platforms that integrate into corporate ecosystems and allow all communication tasks to be handled securely and efficiently.
eXpress is exactly such a platform. It is a corporate super app developed in Russia and fully compliant with Russian legislation. It ensures data storage on Russian servers, supports end-to-end encryption, complies with FSTEC standards and Federal Law 152-FZ, and integrates with key business systems — from CRM and ERP to internal employee directories. eXpress is suitable for both small teams and large enterprises, providing a unified secure space for messaging, file sharing, video conferencing, and collaboration.
How the eXpress messenger solves business challenges
In conditions of uncertainty and the risk of blocking foreign messengers, Russian companies are increasingly choosing local solutions. One such platform is eXpress — a corporate super app created in Russia and fully adapted to business needs.
Security and compliance with Russian legislation
eXpress stores all data exclusively on servers located within the Russian Federation, ensuring compliance with Federal Law 152-FZ and FSTEC standards. The platform supports end-to-end encryption, has passed the required certifications, and is used by state corporations, banks, and other organizations with increased information security requirements.
Modern features like Telegram and WhatsApp
Unlike Telegram and WhatsApp — where users value features such as message editing and deletion, self-destructing messages, secret chats, channels, bots, and audio and video calls — eXpress offers corporate-oriented capabilities: flexible search by employees and positions, threads, video conferences with more than 250 participants with recording. The platform also supports modern authentication methods and is available on all devices, from smartphones to desktops.
Deep integration with corporate systems
eXpress can be integrated with various CRM and ERP systems and other IT systems via an open API. This allows the messenger to be embedded into existing IT infrastructure without data duplication or loss of control over business processes.
How to choose a messenger for your team’s tasks?
| Criterion | How to choose a solution |
| Team size | For small teams (2–50 users), a cloud solution is suitable. For 50+ users, cloud or on-premise options can be considered depending on security requirements and company budget. |
| Company budget | With a limited budget and no in-house IT team, a cloud subscription is optimal. With a stable budget and a need for data control, purchasing an on-premise license is preferable. |
| Availability of an internal support team | If there is no in-house IT support, choose a cloud solution with vendor support. If IT specialists are available, on-premise installation with full system control is possible. |
| Security requirements | For working with government contracts, personal data, or in regulated industries, on-premise deployment is recommended for maximum compliance with information security requirements. |
| Need to interact with contractors | If working with external participants is important, choose a solution with flexible guest access settings. |
The choice of a messenger should be based not on formal parameters like the number of employees, but on real needs: the level of information security requirements, the availability of an internal IT team, and the company’s readiness to manage the messenger infrastructure independently.
Rules for working in messengers: recommendations
Even the most advanced messenger will not replace clear rules and a communication culture. To make remote work in messengers effective, implement the following:
Chat naming standards:
Example: [Project] Name, [Department] Tasks, [Client] Company name.
Rules for using channels:
- Only official information in work channels.
- Informal communication — in separate chats.
- Prohibition on discussing salaries, HR decisions, and personal data outside secure channels.
Response policy:
- Do not expect instant responses outside working hours.
- Use mentions only for urgent tasks.
Onboarding new employees:
- A short messenger guide.
- A list of key channels and contact persons.
Regular audit:
- Removal of outdated chats once per quarter.
- Access rights review when roles change.
Conclusion
Effective remote work is impossible without a reliable messenger that complies with legislation. Although WhatsApp and Telegram are familiar to many, they do not provide the required level of data protection, do not store information within the Russian Federation, and may become unavailable due to regulatory restrictions. For businesses, especially those working with personal data or government contracts, this is an unacceptable risk.
Today, Russian companies can choose domestic corporate messengers that combine convenience, security, and full compliance with legal requirements. Such platforms are becoming the foundation of operational business processes, regardless of team size or work format.
