AI transformation starts with security. This theme was echoed throughout Microsoft Ignite 2024, with security discussions drawing a large audience and securing a top spot as the conference’s most attended session.
Hundreds of security and IT professionals gathered early for the Microsoft Ignite security forum, which kicked off with insights from Microsoft security product leaders on threat intelligence and AI research. The event began with a keynote address from Microsoft Chairman and CEO Satya Nadella. He highlighted the important role of data governance in the AI era, and highlighted upcoming changes to Microsoft Purview in particular.
“In the age of AI, data governance will play an even more important and central role,” Nadella said.
Microsoft Ignite 2024: Key announcements and innovations
Microsoft Executive Vice President of Security Charlie Bell and Corporate Vice President Vasu Jakkal provided an overview of the current security environment and Microsoft’s innovative responses to its challenges.
Jakkal highlighted the importance of AI in supporting security professionals, giving examples of how Microsoft Security Copilot and Microsoft Labs AI are being used to enhance threat identification. I explained.
One of the standout announcements was the general availability of Microsoft Security Exposure Management. This innovative solution provides security professionals with a graph-based approach to proactive threat protection, dynamically creating a comprehensive view of the entire attack surface.
Free Webinar on API Vulnerability and Penetration Testing Best Practices: Free Registration
Microsoft security breach management
Microsoft’s new Security Exposure Management solution provides a unified view of assets and their connections, enabling a thorough assessment of an organization’s security posture.
This approach minimizes over-privileged and credential-related risks and establishes and maintains a comprehensive asset inventory.
Microsoft Security Copilot has generated significant interest, with nearly 70% of Fortune 500 companies already using Microsoft 365 Copilot. The growing influence of the Copilot stack will be further expanded with the introduction of Azure AI Foundry, which enables organizations to design, customize, and manage next-generation AI apps and agents at scale.
Additionally, Microsoft Entra Suite, designed to secure employee access and automate identity lifecycle workflows, was highlighted for its enhanced capabilities.
During the Microsoft Security general session, speakers explored how AI can strengthen cyber defenses by more efficiently predicting, detecting, and responding to threats. AI-powered detection has already identified patterns in network traffic and automated responses minimize negative impact to your organization.
Building on the buzz from Ignite, Microsoft Security will host a series of AMA sessions on December 3rd. These sessions will feature experts ready to tackle topics such as Security Copilot, Entra Suite, Defender for Cloud, and Security Service Edge (SSE). You can stream it on LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.
Featured sessions today, December 3rd from 7:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
7:00 AM – 8:00 AM Pacific Time: Security Co-Pilot
Learn how to respond quickly to cyber threats and assess your risk exposure with insights from our product teams. 8:00am – 8:30am Pacific Time: Microsoft Entra Suite
Review best practices for securing access between cloud-native and on-premises apps. 8:30-9:00 AM Pacific Time: Microsoft Defender for Cloud
Get feature-specific recommendations and learn about the latest updates. 9:00am – 9:30am PT: Security Services Edge (SSE)
Explore our partnerships and integrated security solutions. 9:30am – 10:30am Pacific Time: Microsoft Security Breach Management
Learn how to maintain a strong security posture with a unified view of your attack surface. 10:30-11:30 AM PT: AI Security
Prepare your infrastructure to securely deploy AI and protect sensitive data.
Microsoft Ignite 2024 showcased how AI transformation requires robust security measures and set the stage for future innovations and partnerships in the cybersecurity landscape.
Leveraging 2024 MITER ATT&CK Results for SME and MSP Cybersecurity Leaders – Join the Free Webinar
