Security above all else.

As an advisor to our enterprise clients, I have the opportunity to hear firsthand about key security challenges that CIOs and CISOs encounter daily. These challenges include protecting identities, tenants, networks, and production systems, as well as monitoring, detecting, and remediating threats accordingly. During these discussions, a common query is, "How does Microsoft protect itself?" This question is particularly poignant given Microsoft's status as one of the most targeted companies globally.

A year ago, Microsoft introduced the Secure Future Initiative (SFI) with the aforementioned challenges in mind, aiming to enhance cybersecurity protection across both new products and legacy infrastructure services. The entire organization dedicated itself to constructing the most secure and trusted platform for global innovation. Our approach to the Secure Future Initiative (SFI) is anchored by three principles:

·       Secure by Design: Prioritizing security in the design phase of any product or service.

·       Secure by Default: Implementing and enforcing security protections by default, requiring no additional effort and ensuring they are non-optional.

·       Secure Operations: Continuously improving security controls and monitoring to address current and future threats.

We consistently apply insights gained from past incidents to refine our methods and practices, ensuring that security remains paramount in everything we create and deliver. The Security-first culture established at the personnel, process, and technology levels keeps us ahead of malicious actors.

Security is a collective effort, and advancing the Secure Future Initiative (SFI) is not solely the responsibility of our security teams; it is everyone's top priority and aligns with our customers' greatest needs. When faced with a tradeoff between security and another priority, the decision is unequivocal: Security above all else.

Microsoft operates based on trust, and our success hinges on earning and maintaining that trust. For more information about Microsoft security products and services built on SFI principles, please contact your local Microsoft representative or partner.