Critical Cybersecurity Challenges
Growing attacks on the highly vulnerable intersection of information technology and operational technology emphasize the importance of a comprehensive defense strategy.
Critical infrastructure devices susceptible to compromise
Device vulnerabilities in industrial control networks
Missing security patch deployment in OT environments
True resilience requires a holistic approach to operational technology (OT) risk management, encompassing asset visibility, patch levels, vulnerability monitoring, and the availability of updates.
While the prospect of interrupting essential processes or requiring recertification may be daunting, the consequences of leaving exploitable vulnerabilities unchecked pose a far greater risk. Organizations must recognize the imperative nature of a robust OT patch management system as an essential component of their overall cybersecurity strategy.
Global advances for critical infrastructure resilience
To address IoT and OT security threats, governments and industry are advancing multiple standards and policy initiatives. As the market is changing, governments are moving toward mandatory requirements, where noncompliance could result in losing access to a market segment or financial penalties. These requirements will create significant market pressure on IoT and OT device manufacturers to adopt cybersecurity best practices.
Innovating for supply chain resilience
Innovating for supply chain resilience
Given attacks targeting open-source software (OSS) have grown 742 percent on average, securing how developers consume OSS is arguably the most important aspect of any organization’s software supply chain.
Software bills of materials
Microsoft is an advocate for software bills of materials (SBOMs), which provide software transparency to customers. SBOMs enable organizations to manage their supply chain risk for the software that’s deployed across their enterprise.
Modern AI for strengthening the supply chain security landscape
Protecting supply chains depends on strong partnerships between suppliers and their customers. We have been investing in strengthening our digital supply chains by incorporating controls to mitigate evolving AI and privacy risks into our supplier governance processes and providing our suppliers with security awareness training. These controls and training help ensure that our suppliers make the same commitment to safe, secure, and trustworthy AI systems and supply chains that Microsoft has.
Explore other Microsoft Digital Defense Report chapters
Introduction
The power of partnerships is key to overcoming adversity by strengthening defenses and holding cybercriminals accountable.
The State of Cybercrime
While cybercriminals remain hard at work, the public and private sectors are coming together to disrupt their technologies and support the victims of cybercrime.
Nation State Threats
Nation state cyber operations are bringing governments and tech industry players together to build resilience against threats to online security.
Critical Cybersecurity Challenges
As we navigate the ever-changing cybersecurity landscape, holistic defense is a must for resilient organizations, supply chains, and infrastructure.
Innovating for Security and Resilience
As modern AI takes a massive leap forward, it will play a vital role in defending and ensuring the resilience of businesses and society.
Collective Defense
As cyberthreats evolve, collaboration is strengthening knowledge and mitigation across the global security ecosystem.
More on security
Our commitment to earn trust
Microsoft is committed to the responsible use of AI, protecting privacy, and advancing digital safety and cybersecurity.
Cyber Signals
A quarterly cyberthreat intelligence brief informed by the latest Microsoft threat data and research. Cyber Signals gives trends analysis and guidance to help strengthen the first line of defense.
Nation State Reports
Semi-annual reports on specific nation state actors that serve to warn our customers and the global community of threats posed by influence operations and cyber activity, identifying specific sectors and regions at heightened risk.
Microsoft Digital Defense Reports archive
Explore previous Microsoft Digital Defense Reports and see how the threat landscape and online safety has changed in a few short years.
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