Microsoft Aims to Prevent IT Outages with New Security Capabilities

In response to the CrowdStrike incident in July, Microsoft has announced plans to introduce innovative security measures to avoid similar IT outages in the future. These enhancements will further enhance the existing security features in Windows 11, offering additional protection for solution providers beyond just kernel mode.

Recognizing the importance of ensuring continuity for its customers and ecosystem partners, Microsoft is committed to delivering advanced security capabilities to mitigate potential disruptions during unforeseen events.

The disruption caused by the CrowdStrike global IT outage on July 19, triggered by a flaw in an update on the Falcon Sensor product, resulted in widespread issues across critical sectors such as airlines, banks, healthcare, and media. This incident underscored the need for robust security solutions that can prevent such incidents in the future.

Enhanced Security Capabilities

Microsoft’s upcoming security capabilities will focus on several key areas:

• Addressing performance challenges outside of kernel mode
• Implementing anti-tampering protection for security products
• Enhancing security sensor requirements
• Promoting development and collaboration principles with ecosystem partners
• Emphasizing secure-by-design practices

Microsoft aims to collaborate with its ecosystem partners to ensure the development of these new security features maintains both reliability and security standards.

Security Summit Highlights

Recently, Microsoft hosted a security summit on September 10, bringing together various endpoint security vendors like CrowdStrike, ESET, SentinelOne, and Sophos, along with government officials from the US and Europe. The summit emphasized the need for diverse security options on Windows platforms and discussed strategies to enhance resiliency in critical infrastructure.

Attendees also explored immediate opportunities to support customer safety and resilience, including the adoption of Safe Deployment Practices (SDP) and the establishment of shared best practices within the security community.

By prioritizing security innovation and collaboration, Microsoft is paving the way for a more secure and reliable digital ecosystem for all stakeholders.

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