Microsoft, Darktrace Partner For Cloud Cybersecurity

With concerns over such data as personal information and intellectual property on the rise, Microsoft is linking up with cybersecurity company Darktrace to offer an artificial intelligence (AI) defense across the cloud.

The companies said in a press release that their combined security system provides “self-learning AI that detects and autonomously responds to cyberthreats.” The partnership will cover multiplatform environments and Microsoft products, including Microsoft 365 and cloud applications like Azure Sentinel.

The partnership comes as organizations and workforces across the globe have come to rely on cloud infrastructure. The release said that the companies’ combined system will thwart cyberattacks and automate threat investigations.

“As cyberattacks become increasingly sophisticated, AI is adding a deeper level of protection in detecting these threats,” said Clare Barclay, CEO, Microsoft UK. “The partnership between Microsoft and Darktrace will help keep organizations secure, enabling them to focus on their core business and customers.”

“I am proud to be partnering with Microsoft, bringing Darktrace’s Cyber AI and autonomous response into joint customer environments,” said Poppy Gustafsson, CEO, Darktrace.

In the press release, the companies highlighted Antigena Email, which uses Darktrace’s autonomous response technology and will be hosted on Microsoft Azure. They also noted that the integrated Azure Sentinel and Darktrace products will allow users to send and view threat alerts and automated threat investigation reports inside Sentinel.

According to Mastercard, AI is key to thwarting cyberfraud. Only advanced technologies can help firms like Mastercard meet consumer expectations while keeping them safe, Mastercard Executive Vice President Laura Quevedo told PYMNTS.

Financial institutions (FIs) predicted that cybersecurity spending would be on a roll this year, per a survey by Deloitte & Touche LLP. According to that survey, 64 percent of executives at FIs ranked cybersecurity as their top concern in expected budget increases. The pandemic has only spurred such spending, as companies rushed to adopt digital practices.

The SEC warned last October that cyberattacks on corporations had been increasing, and businesses were advised to include multi-factor authentication to prevent credential compromises.