VendorScore · Data-access posture

Can Slack read my data?

Plain-language data-access score from Slack’s public trust docs — EKM included. Strong SOC 2 ≠ zero-knowledge.

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Public documentation review only. Not a pen test. Not legal advice. Evidence dated 2026-10-06.

Clear answer

Yes, Slack can read your data by design — even with EKM. EKM improves custody and revoke, not zero-knowledge.

62 / 100 overall

Scored config: Enterprise Grid/Enterprise+ with Slack EKM (customer AWS KMS). Evidence 2026-10-06.

Key custody58 Plaintext access42 Encryption claims68 Subprocessors55 Auditability88

Dimension scores

Dimension	Score
Key custody	58
Plaintext access	42
Encryption claims	68
Subprocessors	55
Auditability	88
Overall (equal-weight average)	62

Higher = better customer control / less inherent vendor plaintext access for the scored configuration. Strong compliance ≠ no read access.

Evidence (public)

slack.com/trust/security — SOC 2, ISO, TLS + at-rest encryption
EKM help article — Customer AWS KMS; metadata may stay on Slack keys
EKM product page — Decrypts with authorized key use; not E2EE/ZK
Security at Slack — Default Slack-managed keys at rest
Salesforce Trust & Compliance — Slack SPARC/NLI / subprocessors via Salesforce legal

Caveats

Default (no EKM): key custody and plaintext scores would be lower (~35–40); Slack holds keys.
Slack Connect / apps / AI features may expand data paths — check current SPARC/NLI.
Staff access procedures and exact subprocessors for your org: confirm under NDA / trust portal.
This score answers data-access posture, not Slack vs storage products.

FAQ

Can Slack read my data?

Yes, by design. Even with Slack EKM, Slack uses your keys to serve messages and files. EKM improves key custody and revoke, not zero-knowledge. VendorScore rates Slack 62/100 overall on Enterprise Grid/Enterprise+ with EKM, based on public trust docs (evidence 2026-10-06).

Does Slack EKM mean Slack cannot read my messages?

No. EKM puts encryption keys in your AWS KMS and improves custody and revoke. Slack still decrypts with authorized key use to run search, notifications, and the product. It is not end-to-end or zero-knowledge messaging.

What does VendorScore’s Slack score cover?

Five equal-weight dimensions (0–100): key custody (58), plaintext access (42), encryption claims (68), subprocessors (55), and auditability (88). Overall 62. Public documentation review only — not a pen test and not legal advice.

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