Yammer

Yammer is an enterprise social networking service designed to improve internal communication and collaboration within organizations. It provides private and public networks where employees can join communities, post updates, share files, ask questions, and participate in discussions. Features include real-time feeds, groups (communities), announcements, polls, and searchable archives. Users can like and comment on posts, attach documents, images, and links, and organize conversations around topics or projects. Yammer is accessible via web and mobile apps and integrates with other Microsoft 365 services such as Outlook, SharePoint, and Teams.

Yammer originated in 2008 as a standalone company founded by David Sacks and Adam Pisoni. Microsoft acquired Yammer in 2012 for about $1.2 billion. Since the acquisition, Yammer has been positioned as part of the Microsoft 365 suite, with its networks managed through the Microsoft 365 admin centers and delivered as a social layer within the broader collaboration platform.

Administration and security are provided through enterprise controls typical of Microsoft 365, including domain-based network access, single sign-on, and data governance features such as retention policies and eDiscovery. These tools allow organizations to manage user access, content visibility, and compliance requirements within Yammer.

Usage and role: Yammer is used to surface knowledge across departments, run company-wide announcements, and support communities of practice. It is often deployed alongside Teams and other Microsoft 365 apps, serving as a more open or cross-organizational communication channel rather than a replacement for traditional email or chat.

Current status: Yammer remains an active component of Microsoft 365, with ongoing updates and integrations that align it with the broader Microsoft 365 experience.