Microsoft is educating programmers about the intricacies of threat analysis and intelligence
In a significant move towards enhancing cybersecurity, Microsoft has launched its Secure Future Initiative (SFI), a comprehensive overhaul of its cybersecurity strategy across core platforms and services. This initiative is anchored by the integration of threat intelligence into the company's software development process, a strategy aimed at fostering a "Secure by Design" approach.
Sherrod DeGrippo, Microsoft's director of threat intelligence strategy, led a workshop for 100 software developers and engineering leaders at Microsoft's headquarters, with the objective of familiarising them with threat intelligence. The workshop was a new initiative within the SFI, and marked DeGrippo's first time talking to internal non-security audiences about threat intelligence.
During the workshop, participants learned about the operating models of Russia- and China-linked threat groups, shedding light on the complexities of these entities. Interestingly, none of the participants expressed a favourite threat group, indicating a lack of interest and understanding among software developers about these groups. However, by the end of the workshop, DeGrippo claimed that everyone had developed a favourite threat group, suggesting a newfound appreciation for the intricacies of threat intelligence.
Threat intelligence plays a crucial role in the SFI by operationalising proactive security measures. Microsoft's security ecosystem empowers architects to integrate threat indicators from various sources into detection platforms like Microsoft Sentinel. Sentinel helps to surface complex attack patterns and trigger decisive defensive actions.
Furthermore, the Microsoft Sentinel data lake centralises security data and enriches it with threat indicators, allowing for AI-driven models to have full context. This centralised approach enables proactive detection of cyber threats and real-time response capabilities.
The SFI also emphasises the tight integration of threat intelligence with cloud and AI operations. By moving the CISO team closer to Cloud + AI operations, Microsoft ensures that threat intelligence informs not only security decisions but also product and AI model design. This integration ensures that security is deeply embedded in the development process, leveraging threat intelligence to anticipate and mitigate potential threats.
In response to the damning report released by the Cyber Safety Review Board about security failures at Microsoft that allowed a China-affiliated threat group to compromise Microsoft Exchange accounts in May 2023, Microsoft's corporate VP and chief cybersecurity advisor, Bret Arsenault, emphasised the need for a security-first approach in software development.
Arsenault's sentiments were echoed by DeGrippo, who emphasised the need for more cross-functional activities and getting threat intelligence built into everything the company does. The security-first revival at Microsoft followed a pair of sweeping nation-state linked attacks on Microsoft's infrastructure and services, underscoring the importance of proactive cybersecurity measures.
The hope, according to DeGrippo, lies with software developers to make the best choices under the SFI principles. By equipping developers with the knowledge and tools to understand and respond to cyber threats, Microsoft aims to create a culture of cybersecurity that is integrated into every aspect of its operations.
- Sherrod DeGrippo, Microsoft's director of threat intelligence strategy, emphasized the importance of incorporating threat intelligence into every aspect of the company's operations, including software development, as part of the Secure Future Initiative (SFI).
- The Microsoft Sentinel data lake, a key component of the SFI, centralizes security data and enriches it with threat indicators, enabling AI-driven models to have full context and facilitate proactive detection of cyber threats.
- The SFI also prioritizes the tight integration of threat intelligence with data-and-cloud-computing and technology, ensuring that threat intelligence informs not only security decisions but also product and AI model design, thereby enabling a security-first approach in software development.
