Microsoft is reportedly putting its cybersecurity measures at "No. 1 priority" amid government scrutiny following multiple data breaches on the company within the past 12 months.
In an earnings call last week via Axios, CEO Satya Nadella told analysts that the company will put more effort into bolstering its security systems from future cyberattacks.
It can be remembered that a data breach on Microsoft last January compromised several corporate emails of its leadership members, allowing hackers to steal the company's service source code.
Later reports indicated that several government agencies using Microsoft cloud services reported several unauthorized log-in attempts from the stolen emails.
This was the second cyberattack on the tech giant in just one year with the first one being reported back in July where Chinese hackers were able to steal its customers' cloud emails.
Several government emails from the US and Europe were reportedly affected by the attack.
Microsoft Under Fire for Cybersecurity Issues
The commitment follows a blistering criticism from the Cyber Safety Review Board, blaming a "corporate culture that deprioritized enterprise security investments and rigorous risk management" as the cause for the past cyberattacks.
The board ordered the company to provide specific timelines for future reforms to improve its security systems.
Among the recommended improvements were focused on better protective measures on Microsoft's cloud services and identity authenticators for log-in processes.
The two processes were often the common targets of hackers in the past for several vulnerabilities in the system.
Microsoft is also urged to become more transparent with the cyberattacks, including the adoption of "incident and vulnerability disclosure practices."
Also Read : Microsoft Scrutinized Over 'Inadequate' Security Practices in the US, Calls for 'Overhaul'
Microsoft Braces for AI-Powered Cyberattacks
As one of the major backers of AI development, Microsoft is expecting an increase in AI-powered cyberattacks soon as seen by previous incidents.
An earlier report from the company, in partnership with OpenAI, has noted that state-sponsored hackers are ramping up operations using the companies' very own AI chatbots.
Threat actors supposedly use the chatbots to automate several processes, as well as generate believable emails and letters to dupe unsuspecting victims to steal their credentials.
Microsoft, which provides its services to government agencies and major businesses around the world, has warned leaders to increase precautions from future attacks.
Both Microsoft and OpenAI have since pledged to double efforts to prevent threat actors from using their products for criminal acts.
