Slack vs. Discord — What is Better for Cybersecurity

Slack vs Discord: Uncover which platform offers superior cybersecurity with robust security features, compliance, & collaboration tools.

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Jeff Harms

Reviewed by Jeff Harms

Director, Advisory Services at OCD tech

Updated September, 18

Usability & Integration: Slack vs Discord

Discover how Slack and Discord compare on usability and integration for business productivity.

Slack Usability and Integration for Business

Slack stands out for its intuitive user experience that balances ease of use with robust security measures, including MFA prompts, secure logins, and role-based access controls, ensuring employees can work efficiently while adhering to cybersecurity best practices. The administration and setup process is streamlined and practical, allowing IT teams to easily configure conditional access policies, default encryption, and other security settings through an accessible interface. Its seamless integration with platforms such as Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, CRM systems, and SSO solutions—further enhanced by Slack/Teams bridging, APIs, and automation tools—ensures data portability and secure migration without introducing vulnerabilities. Additionally, both mobile and desktop applications support secure access, making it a reliable tool for organizations focused on maintaining comprehensive cybersecurity while facilitating smooth inter-platform operations.

Discord Usability and Integration for Business

Discord is widely recognized for its intuitive design, enabling effortless employee adoption while maintaining a robust cybersecurity posture through features like MFA prompts, secure logins, and role-based access. Its administration and setup process is streamlined, allowing security teams to configure and monitor policies such as conditional access policies and encryption defaults with ease, ensuring that management settings remain centralized and straightforward. Moreover, Discord’s robust integration framework supports seamless connectivity with major platforms including Google Workspace, Microsoft 365, and SSO systems, as well as CRM and automation tools, effectively eliminating potential security gaps across these systems. The platform also facilitates efficient migration, reliable data portability, and secure access on both mobile and desktop devices, making it a well-rounded solution for organizations that prioritize both usability and cybersecurity.

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Security and Compliance: Slack vs Discord

See how Slack and Discord compare on security and compliance, including data protection, regulations, and business trust.

Slack

Data Security & Encryption

Data Protection and encryption are fundamental aspects of Slack’s security approach. Slack uses advanced encryption standards to protect data during transit and at rest, ensuring messages and files remain confidential. This robust encryption process minimizes the risk of unauthorized data access and maintains the integrity of sensitive information.

Discord

Data Security & Encryption

Discord employs advanced encryption algorithms to protect data in transit and at rest, ensuring that both messages and files remain inaccessible to unauthorized actors. The platform integrates robust encryption standards to safeguard sensitive communications. This approach reinforces user privacy and builds trust in every interaction.

Slack

Authentication & Access Control

Authentication and access control are critical for preventing unauthorized account usage. Slack implements multi-factor authentication and strict permission levels to ensure that only validated users can access specific data. By enforcing these measures, Slack reduces the risk of security breaches and protects user privacy.

Discord

Authentication & Access Control

Discord leverages multi-factor authentication and role-based access control to prevent unauthorized access to user accounts and administrative functions. By enforcing stringent authentication protocols, the system ensures that only verified users can execute critical actions. This layered security model minimizes vulnerabilities and maintains the integrity of user data.

Slack

Compliance & Certifications

Regulatory compliance and certifications demonstrate Slack’s commitment to meeting various international standards. Regular audits and adherence to frameworks such as GDPR and SOC 2 ensure that security policies are up-to-date and rigorously enforced. These efforts instill confidence in businesses that require stringent compliance to protect their sensitive information.

Discord

Compliance & Certifications

Discord complies with major legal frameworks, such as GDPR, and adheres to industry-standard certifications to ensure high levels of regulatory compliance. The platform continuously updates its policies and procedures to align with evolving legal and data protection requirements. This commitment to conformity solidifies its reputation as a secure and compliant communication service.

Slack

Incident Response & Reliability

Incident response and risk management are key to handling potential security threats effectively. Slack maintains a dedicated team and structured policies to detect, respond to, and mitigate incidents in a timely manner. This proactive approach helps minimize impact and ensures continuous improvement in security practices.

Discord

Incident Response & Reliability

Discord maintains a proactive stance on incident response by implementing real-time monitoring and robust risk management procedures. In the event of a security breach, the platform's comprehensive response strategy allows for rapid identification and containment, thereby reducing potential impact. Ongoing risk assessments and adaptive security measures further enhance the platform's resilience against emerging threats.

Cost and Value: Slack vs Discord

Compare the cost and value of Slack and Discord to see which offers better pricing, affordability, and long-term benefits.

Cost & Value for Slack  Slack offers tiered licensing options that range from a free version with limited features to paid plans starting around $6.67 per user/month for the standard tier and up to $12.50 per user/month for enhanced features, with Enterprise Grid pricing tailored to large organizations. While these subscription costs are transparent, hidden expenses may include initial setup, detailed employee training, and potential investments in additional security add-ons such as enhanced encryption or compliance monitoring tools. Considering that data breaches can cost companies over $4M (according to IBM research) and lead to significant downtime and compliance fines, Slack’s built-in cybersecurity features can yield substantial potential savings by reducing costly security incidents. Overall, when evaluated from a cybersecurity perspective, the return on investment for Slack is strong as its tiered pricing structure combined with advanced security features can mitigate the risks of major data breaches and associated penalties, making it a valuable tool for both communication and risk management. 

Discord’s licensing costs are straightforward: the platform offers a robust free version while premium features under Discord Nitro generally range from $4.99 to $9.99 per month. However, beyond these clear subscription fees, there are hidden costs to consider, including the expenses for setup, user training, and additional investments in security add-ons to ensure compliance with data protection standards. This means that while the base tool is economically accessible, real-world deployment may require extra time and resources to optimize secure usage.

Investing in enhanced cybersecurity capabilities can lead to substantial long-term savings. Preventing a data breach—which, according to IBM, can exceed $4M in damage—underscores the importance of choosing platforms with robust security features. By averting downtime, mitigating compliance fines, and ensuring data integrity, businesses benefit from an impressive return on investment in security, making platforms like Discord not only cost-effective but also critical to maintaining overall operational resilience.

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Final Recommendation: Slack vs Discord for Cybersecurity

 

Final Recommendation

 

In the debate of Slack vs Discord for cybersecurity, both platforms offer distinct benefits that cater to different business needs. Slack excels in environments requiring rigorous security, strong integrations, and regulatory compliance, making it suitable for enterprises and organizations with sensitive operations. In contrast, Discord stands out as a cost-effective and user-friendly option that favors creative teams and startups seeking dynamic community engagement and transparent communication. Slack is ideal for businesses with high security and sophisticated collaboration demands, while Discord provides an engaging, flexible platform for teams emphasizing ease of use and affordability. This balanced perspective underscores that the final choice should align with your organization’s priorities, security posture, and operational workflow. Ultimately, selecting the right tool will enhance both your cybersecurity measures and overall team productivity.

 

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Read How to Enable MFA on these tools

Enabling MFA is one of the most effective ways to strengthen account security. We’ll walk through how to turn on multi-factor authentication (MFA), making it clear which steps are required and how the user experience compares across the two tools.

How to enable 2FA/MFA on a Slack account?

Learn how to enable 2FA/MFA on your Slack account for stronger security. Step-by-step guide to protect your data and prevent unauthorized access.

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Audit. Security. Assurance.

IT Audit | Cybersecurity | IT Assurance | IT Security Consultants – OCD Tech is a technology consulting firm serving the IT security and consulting needs of businesses in Boston (MA), Braintree (MA) and across New England. We primarily serve Fortune 500 companies including auto dealers, financial institutions, higher education, government contractors, and not-for-profit organizations with SOC 2 reporting, CMMC readiness, IT Security Audits, Penetration Testing and Vulnerability Assessments. We also provide dark web monitoring, DFARS compliance, and IT general controls review.

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