Image Source: Threat Post
Microsoft recently launched new cyber security services to fight ransomware and other types of attacks for its security service clients.
Microsoft’s security business is expanding faster than any of its core products, and the company is now beefing up its capabilities with three new services geared to assist enterprises in detecting and responding to cybersecurity issues.
Because Microsoft is a market leader in cloud software and infrastructure, its technology is already the foundation for many enterprises of all sizes. This positions the company to not only provide security software to its client base but also to provide advisory services in a market where demand significantly outnumbers supply.
The investment comes as businesses increase their security spending to combat the growing threat of ransomware assaults and network intrusions. Last year, Microsoft and other technology giants vowed to help fill approximately 500,000 cybersecurity jobs in the United States, and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella stated that yearly cybersecurity research and development investment would increase to $4 billion from $1 billion.
Security is now a $15 billion yearly industry for Microsoft, and it is expected to grow faster than any other key product or service sold by the corporation by 2021.
According to Vasu Jakkal, a Microsoft corporate vice president focusing on security, a large portion of Microsoft’s increased spending is on personnel.
“We’re merely extending the size to meet the demand,” Jakkal explained.
Microsoft Defender Experts for Hunting is one of the new products being released. For $3 per person per month, Microsoft engineers will highlight issues they discover in clients’ devices, Office 365 productivity software installations, cloud services, and identity programs. With the launch, Microsoft will be in direct rivalry with pure-play security software providers such as CrowdStrike.
Microsoft Defender Experts for XDR is also available for $14 per person per month. It’s a time-consuming service that asks Microsoft staff to assist businesses in responding to threats. Today, a variety of corporations, including the Big Four accounting firms, perform this type of job.
Microsoft Security Services for Enterprise, the third major offering, covers an even wider variety of people-driven services.
According to Craig Robinson, an IDC security expert, Microsoft is positioned to increase its market share in managed security services.
“This entire area is booming in the double digits,” Robinson added, citing a labor need.
Google, one of Microsoft’s main cloud competitors, is also looking to expand in the field. Google revealed its intention to acquire Mandiant for $5.4 billion in March. Bloomberg reported in February that Microsoft was in talks to buy Mandiant, which has been assisting government agencies and businesses with breaches for years.
Microsoft must now scale up to fulfill the demand for its new offerings.
“I’m sure Microsoft has 1,000 positions right now, at least in security,” Robinson remarked.
