The Salt team has spent the last 5-10 years producing blogs, comparison documents and webinars which highlight our credentials versus consumer apps. To get the message across we frequently reference real-life issues our customers have faced – without naming the customer in order to protect their reputation. However, several recent events have done such a great job at highlighting the dangers of using consumer messaging apps for sensitive discussions that I feel like taking the rest of the week off in order to enjoy some Spring sunshine. But before I go…
On Monday 24th March 2025, the Atlantic ran a story, “The Trump administration accidentally texted me its war plans”, which highlighted how The Atlantic’s editor in chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, was inadvertently added to a Signal group chat by National Security Advisor, Michael Waltz. However, the inclusion of the journalist is only part of the story. The fact that they are using Signal which, just the previous week ,was being called out by Ukrainian officials as being unsupportive in helping to undermine the Russian efforts to use the Signal app to target Ukrainians involved in the ongoing war.
If you deal in sensitive information, then you or your colleagues are potentially under threat by state actors. Or, just as bad, your organisation or government could be massively undermined by group chat mishaps.
For businesses and government agencies handling sensitive information, consumer apps like Signal pose significant risks and they have chosen to carry those risks up to this point. Is this a turning point? If you’re asking the question, “well what is the alternative?”, then we believe we have the answer. Salt Communications provides a closed, enterprise-controlled system designed specifically to protect your data and conversations. It feels like a consumer app but it’s not. It also has additional features which make you and your company more efficient in day-to-day business exchanges, or when escalating sensitive information in a hurry when managing a critical moment.
Why Consumer Messaging Apps Are Not Enough
Apps like Signal are popular for personal use, but they lack the enterprise-level security, control, and compliance features businesses need. Here’s a direct comparison of the two platforms:
Salt Communications vs. Signal: A Security & Compliance Comparison
| Feature | Salt Communications | Signal |
| System Structure | Closed system with organisational controls | Open system, anyone can be added |
| Security | Enterprise-grade encryption with administrative oversight | End-to-end encryption with limited controls |
| Data Protection | On-premise deployment & secure hosting options | Cloud-based with limited organisational control over data |
| User Verification | Requires organisational authentication | No verification required for users |
| Business-Specific Features | Secure broadcasting, live event reporting, and project tracking | Limited to personal messaging only |
| Accountability | Enforced identity verification within organisations | Anyone can sign up anonymously |
| Risk of Unauthorised Access | No external contacts unless approved | Open to any contact in user’s phonebook |
The Risks of Using Signal for Business
The recent security lapse highlights a major flaw of consumer apps—the lack of administrative oversight. When employees or officials use Signal, there is no way to prevent unauthorised contacts from being added, increasing the risk of accidental exposure or targeted attacks.
Consumer apps like Signal are not designed for classified environments and can be misused in ways that pose serious security risks. Without proper controls, organisations have no visibility or governance over communications, making these platforms unsuitable for handling sensitive or classified information.
For organisations that value security, compliance, and control, Salt Communications is the clear choice. Unlike Signal, Salt offers:
✅ Strict access control – Only approved contacts can communicate within your network.
✅ Enterprise security – Protects against zero-day vulnerabilities and cyber threats.
✅ Data sovereignty – Allows organisations to host data securely in-region or on-premise.
✅ Compliance features – Supports regulatory needs with optional message archiving.
Protect Your Communications Before It’s Too Late
Don’t wait for a data breach to take action. Whether you’re in government, finance, policing, military, or any industry handling confidential data, your organisation cannot afford to rely on consumer messaging apps such as Signal.
About the Author
Nicole Heron, Marketing Manager at Salt Communications. Nicole has been working within the Salt Communications Marketing team for several years and has played a crucial role in building Salt Communications reputation. Nicole implements many of Salt Communications digital efforts as well as managing Salt Communications presence at events, both virtual and in person events for the company.
Nicole can be reached online at LinkedIn, X (Twitter) or by emailing [email protected] and at our company website https://saltcommunications.com/
