Sergey Pedchenko, Head of Technological Development at Yandex 360, answers questions from the IXBT.pro analytical department.
<b>What global goals were set for the team when planning updates to Yandex 360? How do they relate to current market trends?</b>
Our key goal in developing the strategy is to provide businesses with complete freedom of choice and predictability. We see that the market is moving in three main directions: increased security requirements, deep integration of AI into everyday workflows, and the need for flexible deployment models. Our updates are a direct response to these requests. We focused not on disparate functions, but on creating a holistic virtual workspace with cross-service interaction, where ease of use, security, and powerful tools for collaboration and automation are combined with the ability to choose between cloud, hybrid, and on-premises models. In addition, it is important for us that customers receive a unified set of capabilities, so we set ourselves the task of ensuring that our on-premises solutions do not differ in functionality from cloud solutions. We want companies to choose a deployment model not based on limitations, but solely due to internal necessity: in some areas, it is simply impossible to use cloud solutions.
<a></a><b>Name 3–5 recent key changes that you consider breakthrough in Yandex 360. What is their uniqueness compared to previous releases?</b>
Here, we must immediately mention neural networks in Yandex 360 services. Recently, we introduced Alice Pro, an AI assistant that will gradually be integrated into all services of our virtual office. Alice Pro is already integrated into Mail. It combines information from emails and uploaded files into your personal knowledge base.
The AI theme does not end there. Now, AI-based functions are available in Tables, which will help you cope with tasks faster. And importantly, we were among the first in the world to do this. And we didn't just add AI functionality, but deeply integrated these capabilities into the structure of the service. Thanks to this, neural networks can analyze, structure data, translate texts in cells into another language, compress them into short theses, and more. And all this without real chances of hallucinations, since the neural network uses RAG technology in its work. It allows you to work exclusively with user data, and not rely on the internal data of the neural network.
It is also worth noting that our on-premises solutions will not differ in functionality from SaaS. This is, in fact, an extremely important announcement for companies that, for one reason or another, cannot use cloud solutions in their work. Previously, such companies had to choose: either the maximum functionality of a cloud service, or a limited one, but with a local installation. Now this question no longer arises: the choice is made based on internal or legislative requirements. But here, too, it must be understood that companies are increasingly choosing a third way - a hybrid one. It combines the two previous ones: where local data storage is necessary, you can use on-premises, and where the requirements are not so critical, you can use SaaS.
Communication for any company is one of the key tools for growth. And here, too, we offer new solutions. Previously, we announced federations - the ability to combine several companies into a single information space, thanks to which employees from different companies can work together in Yandex 360 services: schedule meetings, correspond, make calls, and quickly find each other in the contacts of Mail, Messenger, and Calendar.
We continue to develop the Telemost service, which this year has already received neural network features, and in the near future will expand its capabilities by introducing messenger functionality. This will make it a universal communication tool for both business and personal tasks.
In general, we should not forget about small but important changes. Thus, shared drives have appeared in the virtual office - these are special storage locations where you can store files, work together with colleagues, and search for the necessary information. Shared drives can be used by employees who have received access from the organization's administrator. The administrator can create, delete shared drives, clear the recycle bin, and configure access.
<a></a><b>How does the new Yandex 360 strategy combine AI, on-premises solutions, and security into a single ecosystem? What is the fundamental difference from the approaches of competitors?</b>
Our strategy is based on the principle of "one platform - different models." The virtual office has unified interfaces, functions, and logic. The difference is in the location of data storage and processing.
Security is a cross-cutting element of the entire system: unified policies, audit, two-factor authentication, a Secure Client, which we will launch next year and thereby increase the level of data security. We offer not a set of disparate tools, but a holistic, flexible, and secure environment for work. But we do not forget about functionality either. Thus, AI can work both in our cloud (maximum simplicity and speed of implementation) and in the on-premises environment, although the latter requires more resources.
We hear the market's requests for ease of use of the virtual office and increasing its efficiency, and not creating functions for the sake of functions, and we satisfy them.
<a></a><b>How does the strategy affect TCO (total cost of ownership) for business? Compare the costs of cloud, hybrid, and on-premises models, taking into account AI functions</b><b>.</b>
Our strategy just gives businesses a tool to manage TCO through the choice of the optimal model. If the key factors are speed and minimizing initial investments, then the cloud SaaS model will be the most profitable. You get all updates, including new AI functions, in particular, Alice Pro, automatically, without the cost of infrastructure and its maintenance. It is in the cloud that the launch of AI is most optimal in terms of resources.
When the requirements for control and data security come to the fore, then on-premises is indispensable. Here, TCO is different: capital investments in equipment and deployment are required, but you get full control over the life cycle and data. For on-premises AI, significant computing power is needed. The hybrid model, which we also support, allows you to flexibly distribute the load and costs, for example, leaving critical data on your side, and taking collaboration and communication tools from the cloud. Thus, we do not impose one model, but allow you to choose an economically justified path.
<a></a><b>What three directions of strategy development do you consider priorities for 2025–2026? How will they respond to the growing demands of business in the field of data sovereignty and AI automation?</b>
If we highlight three key vectors, then it is, firstly, the deep development of the built-in AI assistant. We will expand the contextual understanding of Alice Pro, introducing it into even more work scenarios. It should become not just a function, but a real personal assistant who anticipates the employee's tasks.
Secondly, it is the deepening of security capabilities. We are actively working on strengthening built-in audit and control tools, as well as on integrations into ready-made information security platforms, such as Yandex Security Deck.
And thirdly, it is the movement towards a unified super-application for work. We see a demand for maximum convenience and seamlessness. Our goal is that the transition between mail, documents, chat, and video meetings is not just fast, but contextually linked, creating a truly holistic digital work environment.
<a></a><b>How has the collaborative work platform (Documents, Tables, Presentations) been updated? Have functions for synchronous teamwork in real time appeared?</b>
Yes, this year we focused on working in large teams. Thus, more than 400 people can already use the document editor simultaneously, while each of their actions will be recorded and taken into account. Joint editing will be useful in large-scale projects with a large number of participants: for example, when working on annual reports or corporate regulations.
To provide hundreds of users with the opportunity to work together on a document, Yandex 360 created its own implementation of CRDT (Conflict-free Replicated Data Types) technology. It is used where it is necessary to constantly synchronize data, for example, in online games, messengers, and note services.
As for Presentations, next year we are preparing a major update for this service as well. Firstly, it will also switch to its own technological solution, and, secondly, it will receive a number of important features, which we will talk about closer to the announcement.
<a></a><b>What new project management tools have been added to Yandex 360? How do they integrate with existing services?</b>
Our main tool for project management is Yandex Tracker. We are constantly developing it and making it more convenient and efficient. Thus, in September, we completely changed the approach to the mobile version. A large-scale update focused on simplifying the interface and improving navigation. The ability to view task boards has been added. In addition, more attention was paid to integration with products that are part of the Yandex 360 virtual office. A separate menu has appeared on the main page for switching to other services. To enter applications or open Mail, Documents, Calendar, or Telemost in a mobile browser, just click on a special button at the bottom of the screen.
Changes have also affected comments. They can be sorted - for example, from old to new or vice versa, and long messages can now be scrolled. A light version of the editor is built into the text editing in discussions. It allows you to highlight key phrases, change the design, and also leave short reactions if there is no need to write a detailed answer.
To help users quickly learn about new messages, a notification section has appeared in the application. An icon in the form of a bell has been added to the bottom panel. There you can view notifications separately or mark several at once as read. This option reduces the likelihood of missing important events.
<a></a><b>What AI technologies are integrated into Yandex 360 services? Give examples of automating routine tasks through AI.</b>
We are implementing AI not as a separate "feature", but as an assistant that becomes part of familiar tools. Our goal is to take on as much routine as possible so that a person can focus on meanings and solutions.
Speaking specifically, AI in Mail analyzes user behavior patterns. Anonymized data includes, for example, the format of interaction with letters: which of them people open, which ones they mark as important, and which ones they delete. Based on more than 1000 parameters, the neural network creates a personalized digest - highlights the most important letters: from customers, colleagues, with approaching deadlines. This radically changes the morning ritual of sorting out the mailbox - instead of an hour of studying letters, you see the essence in 5 minutes.
In the Document editor, AI is built directly into the editor interface. It helps not only to correct errors, but also to rewrite the text in a different style, shorten it, make a plan, or even generate a draft based on theses. It's like a smart co-author at hand.
One of the most popular scenarios is in Telemost. The neural network transcribes the conversation in real time, and after the meeting gives a structured retelling with the allocation of solutions, deadlines, and speakers. You don't need to rely on memory or take notes - the whole essence is recorded automatically.
For working with data, we have seriously upgraded Tables. Now you can work with them in natural language: ask to "show sales dynamics by region for the quarter" or "highlight the top 10 clients." The system itself will understand the request, build the necessary formula or diagram. This removes the barrier in the form of complex Excel functions.
And, of course, Alice Pro. This is already the next step - an assistant who can analyze the context. In Mail, she can, for example, independently find the details, the term of the contract, or the final amount of the invoice in the correspondence chain and instantly give you an answer. You can "feed" her a document - and she will highlight the essence, find hidden contradictions or overdue obligations. Now she is actively working with Mail, and the plans include her deep integration into all services of the ecosystem.
Thus, AI for us is not an abstract technology, but a concrete assistant for parsing mail, stenographing meetings, editing texts, and analyzing data, which already saves our users hours every week.
<a></a><b>What specific business tasks (besides routine operations) is the AI assistant in Yandex 360 capable of solving? Give examples of scenarios where it replaces or complements the work of employees.</b>
It is able to enhance analytical and management functions. For example, to conduct an analysis of large volumes of feedback from mail with the allocation of common topics. Or to prepare preliminary reports based on data from Tables and discussions in the chat. That is, it becomes a "partner" who processes information, leaving the person to work with the context, make decisions, and communicate.
<a></a><b>Tell us about the scalability of solutions. How does Yandex 360 adapt to the needs of large corporations with thousands of employees?</b>
The architecture was originally designed for scalability. For corporations, centralized administration through group policies is important, and not management "by users". In addition, we provide deep integration with existing systems through standard APIs for process automation.
<a></a><b>What new administration capabilities have IT specialists received? Has the management of access rights and security settings been simplified?</b>
It has been greatly simplified. Expanded action logs, two-factor authentication, and more flexible management of it, fine-tuning of access rights to Disks and meeting parameters have appeared. In development is a unified support center, which will allow the IT department to more effectively process employee requests on Yandex 360 issues.
<a></a><b>How have the updates affected the speed of services? Have algorithms been optimized to reduce the load on the infrastructure?</b>
<a></a>It is important for us that updates work for users and do not cause them inconvenience. Therefore, we not only add new features, but also constantly improve our technologies. Optimization is a continuous process. In addition, the transition to our own technological solutions allows us to achieve a huge advantage: we managed not only to fully integrate AI into a significant part of the services, but also, without losses, for example, to bring conferences in Telemost to a new level. Thus, it became possible to hold meetings for up to 1000 people. And in Documents, as I said earlier, it is now possible for several hundred users to edit a document. Also, the service is able to process large files without any delays.
<a></a><b>What is the key difference between the "Secure Client" and standard encryption mechanisms? How does it close the risks that traditional DLP systems do not cover?</b>
The "Secure Client" is not a replacement for security tools, but an additional superstructure to ensure a comprehensive approach to information security. It will be a single application for accessing all services of the virtual office, which is designed to ensure maximum data protection when working with both corporate and personal devices of employees. It will be created on the basis of technologies used by Yandex Browser for organizations.
The main task of the product is to ensure maximum data security. The client includes a built-in secure storage, where all information is encrypted. Leak prevention and environment control policies restrict the transfer of data to third-party applications. Thus, documents cannot be, for example, copied to a third-party messenger or intercepted through the device's file system.
The Secure Client supports the BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) model, allowing employees to safely work from personal devices without risk to corporate information. Administrators will be able to restrict access to services from other clients, directing users exclusively to a secure environment.
<a></a><b>How are the "Secure Client" and AI services integrated into existing IT landscapes (ERP, CRM, Active Directory)? Give examples of seamless integration.</b>
Standard APIs are used for integration. Thus, the Secure Client can be integrated into any customer's information security solution. We initially wanted not to overcomplicate the structure, but to carefully integrate into it in order to provide a new level of security.
<a></a><b>What are the plans for the future? What services or functions does the team plan to develop in the upcoming releases of Yandex 360?</b>
A large team is working on the Yandex 360 virtual office, which looks at the product as a whole, and does not concentrate on specific services. Therefore, the development of the product is synchronous, and not in leaps and bounds. We presented the main results and announcements as part of our own Yandex Connect conference this year. Firstly, we are going to integrate Alice Pro into our other services. Secondly, by the end of 2026, we will prepare on-premises versions of all our services. Thirdly, we will continue to develop our main services so that they grow and develop together with the business that uses them.
