Microsoft, a massive technology company, has expressed concern about the increasing threats presented by cyberattacks, claiming that over 600 million cyberattacks occur every day against its clients worldwide.
Microsoft warns of a quickly changing threat landscape in its most recent Digital Defence Report, where nation-states and cybercriminals are using increasingly sophisticated strategies and technologies.
In turn, it claimed that this presents serious hazards to people, organisations, and vital infrastructure across the globe.
“Even Microsoft has been the victim of well-orchestrated attacks by determined and well-resourced adversaries, and our customers face more than 600 million cybercriminal and nation-state attacks every day, ranging from ransomware to phishing to identity attacks,” the company noted.
More Involvement From State Actors
The research asserts that nation-state actors are now more prevalent in the cyber realm and that the scope and complexity of the risks have increased.
In addition, it stated that the state-sponsored hackers are running influence operations, sabotaging, and setting up backdoors for upcoming disturbances in addition to stealing data.
Chris Burt, Microsoft’s Corporate Vice President of Customer Security and Trust, stressed that the stakes are higher than ever, particularly given the growing threat that cyberattacks pose to human health.
He pointed out that during the previous 12 months, ransomware attacks successfully targeted 389 healthcare facilities in the US alone, resulting in network outages, postponed medical procedures, and canceled appointments.
Cybersecurity Precautions
In light of these emerging dangers, Microsoft’s research also emphasised that merely following conventional cyber hygiene procedures will no longer be adequate.
Rather, the business promotes a more comprehensive dedication to fundamental cybersecurity procedures at every level, from executives to individual users.
Burt also urged a worldwide effort to employ more potent deterrent tactics in order to lower the frequency of attacks. This would entail nations enforcing severe penalties for malevolent cyber activity, including transgressions of global cyber standards.
“While we have seen efforts to establish international norms of conduct in cyberspace, these have yet to yield meaningful consequences for violators.
“Nation-state attacks remain undeterred, growing in both volume and aggression. Cybercriminals, too, continue to operate with impunity, often within safe havens where governments turn a blind eye,” Burt noted.
Microsoft announced the Secure Future Initiative, a company-wide initiative to prioritize security and strengthen internal defenses, in response to major attacks on its corporate infrastructure.
The business intends to disseminate these insights to assist other entities in strengthening their security posture.
Satya Nadella, the CEO of Microsoft, stressed the value of teamwork by saying, “This is a consequential time. We are at the threshold of an AI-powered world. It is up to us to make the best use of AI, and it will require effort from both the public and business sectors to ensure that defenders win this tug-of-war with attackers.”
AI’s Role
Microsoft’s research did point out some encouraging future prospects despite the bleak picture.
This year’s version places a lot of emphasis on how artificial intelligence (AI) affects defence tactics as well as cyberattacks. Microsoft is hopeful that AI-powered cybersecurity solutions will give defenders an “asymmetric advantage” soon, even if it is expected that AI will increase attackers’ capabilities.
The business also emphasizes how important it will be for organizations, governments, and the IT sector to work together to create a safer online environment.
