In a world where technology is connecting almost everything, whether it’s the electrical grid, phone systems, cars or the appliances that heat our home and cool our food.
IoT continues to thrive, so does the threat of devastating cyber-attacks, for example, last year’s ransomware attack that hit the NHS and disrupted their operating systems. With the development of technologies, these attacks are becoming more sophisticated and more common.
We understand that businesses within the technological industry have a great responsibility to ensure that risk is mitigated when it comes to cyber-attacks on businesses most vital and confidential data and information.
Microsoft have launched new offerings to take security where it needs to go and where it has not gone before, the edge. A new series of services and features have been unveiled that will aim to harden not only our intelligent cloud but also the billions of connected devices that live on its edge. These services aim to make security easier for our customers to manage.
Azure Sphere
Over the past decade, alterations have been made repeatedly to ensure that security protection is strengthened. This expertise and advances have now been combined to secure billions of connected devices that will sit on the edge of the world’s computing network.
There is an introduction of security protection that is incorporated into the next generation the cloud and edge devices powered by microcontroller units (MCUs). This set of cloud-connected devices, run MCU chips that will power everything from household appliances such as a kettle to industrial equipment on factory floors. These connected devices are increasingly intelligent and connected, improving daily life in countless ways.
However, if these devices are not secure, they could make people, communities and countries incredibly vulnerable to cyber-attacks in more ways than ever before.
Azure sphere provides and connects three critical pieces and advances:
- Based on Microsoft’s development of a new class of MCUs with 5x more power of legacy MCUs. The IP will be licensed for the new MCUs with royalty-free silicon to manufacturers, removing barriers for silicon partners who want to develop and manufacture Azure Sphere chips.
- Provide new chips with a customised operating system for IoT security.
- Feature a turnkey cloud security service that guard every Azure Sphere device, including the ability to update and upgrade security protection over a 10 year period.
By combining the approach to Azure Sphere, the best hardware, services and software is bought together through innovation. Azure Sphere represents a crucial step for Microsoft by integrating innovation throughout every aspect of technology. It is thought that this solution will bring better security, resilience and developer agility to IoT devices than anything else on the current market.
New cloud offerings
In the past, there had been hesitancy over moving to the cloud due to feared security risks. However, the cloud is almost more secure than on-premise environments.
Over the past year, Microsoft have been working tirelessly in order to strengthen their solutions. As Microsoft Dynamics 365 is a cloud-based service, new security innovations are rapidly developed and deployed, based on learnings and insights from Microsoft Intelligent Security Graphs.
New offerings:
- Automated threat detection and remediation tools to help simplify and streamline processes.
- A Solution that ensures compromised devices can’t access sensitive data, by connecting a feature called Conditional Access to Windows Defender ATP, adding an extra layer of risk-level assessment.
- Microsoft Security Graph API, allowing Microsoft connected products to be powered by the Microsoft Intelligent Security Graph.
Shared responsibility of security
Security has become a shared responsibility within an organisation. The continuing rise in security threats requires that employees within an organisation work together in new ways across the technical sector.
Today’s big security challenges required bold and impactful ideas. Whether it be strengthening current products, utilising big data to identify and disrupt threats, Microsoft provide solutions that deliver a world-class security system.
So, how can Columbus help your business?
Columbus provide a solution to security, Dynamic Security Management, which is an innovative tool that enhances the security setup and monitoring of Microsoft Dynamics AX2012, through the improved separation of duties and enhanced security.
DSM will use the data from the track of each employee’s working procedure in AX2012 and automatically find the best matching security role, show what is missing in terms of access within the security role and which duties and privileges can be added to create full coverage of the recorded working process.
Dynamic Security Management is an innovative matching solution in AX which will automatically lead your business through the process and ensures that your business’s ERP data is secure.
Want to know more?
