Microsoft is taking a different approach to securing its Azure cloud. It wants to use AI more broadly to develop more secure software and respond to incidents more quickly.

None other than Brad Smith and head of security Charlie Bell do it “Secure Future” initiative. explained in blog posts. Microsoft came under heavy fire earlier this year after a large-scale espionage campaign by Chinese hackers through Exchange Online came to light. The software giant was accused of engaging in “irresponsible security practices” and not taking decisive action against gaps in its own security.

Smith says a new approach is needed to combat an “unprecedented increase in state-sponsored attacks.” Exchange and other Microsoft products are a popular target because they are used by many organizations. The Secure Future Initiative consists of three parts:

• Software development
• Identity protection
• Incident response

AI shield

Across all three components, there is one constant factor: AI. Microsoft makes no secret of the fact that it is a big fan of artificial intelligence and therefore wants to use the technology more broadly in cybersecurity. The goal is to build an “AI protective shield” around the Azure cloud.

This starts with the fact that we offer safe products in the first place. Microsoft will use CodeQL from its subsidiary Github to identify vulnerabilities in code during programming. Microsoft wants to implement a system of “continuous security” in the software cycle.

A second part concerns the protection of user accounts. The idea behind this is to make it as easy as possible for users to activate the greatest possible protection for their account without having to adjust the settings themselves. Microsoft notes that it already enables MFA by default for Azure customers, which AWS will also require starting next year. Above all, Microsoft wants to better hide identification keys from outsiders; It just so happened that the aforementioned espionage attack went wrong.

Finally, Microsoft also wants to be able to respond more quickly to security breaches in Azure. This is also an accusation that the software giant has already received in the past. With the help of AI, Microsoft claims it can intervene in an incident up to fifty percent faster.