Microsoft Launches Secure Future Initiative to Enhance Cybersecurity, Emphasize AI-based Defense and Push for International Cyber Norms

Microsoft's Secure Future Initiative aims to bolster security with AI-based cyber defenses, improve software development practices, and advance international cyber norms amidst increasing cyber threats and recent scrutiny over security vulnerabilities in its products.

Microsoft has introduced its Secure Future Initiative (SFI), an expansive cybersecurity strategy that utilises AI-based defenses, aims to promote better software development practices and endeavours to advance international cyber norms.
The AI-based defense pillar of SFI includes the development of an AI-based 'cyber shield', where Microsoft's global network of data centres will collaborate with its advanced foundation AI models. The AI component will maximize threat detection and analysis capacity, and will help speed up the response to cyberattacks.
Another key component of SFI is the push for significant engineering improvements. Some of these advancements include incorporating AI-powered secure code analysis into software development, strengthening identity protection, cutting the time to mitigate cloud vulnerabilities by 50%, and ensuring more transparent reporting by Microsoft concerning its cloud platforms.
Microsoft's SFI also looks forward to promote a strong application of international cybersecurity norms. The company calls for nations to regard cloud services as critical infrastructure that are protected by international law and should therefore not be compromised by cyber operations.
The SFI comes at a time when Microsoft has faced criticisms due to vulnerabilities in its products that resulted in attacks on its system and those of its customers. As part of the initiative, Microsoft aims to reduce response and patch release times required for addressing vulnerabilities, particularly those in the cloud, by 50%.